The Organization for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR), a European intergovernmental organization that facilitates and manages collaborative armament programs, has delivered the first maritime mine countermeasures (MMCM) system to France.
The first milestone was reached in 2021 with the delivery of two prototypes/demonstrators to France and the UK shortly after its production launch.
Meanwhile, the industry, national experts, managers, and OCCAR faced a number of challenges during the development of this technology.
The system is expected to ultimately allow the rapid destruction of sea mines in “a more cost-effective and safer manner” than in the past, to avoid human intervention during dangerous operations.
The French Navy (Marine Nationale) has been trained and is now ready to further develop this new concept.
This technology of drones will be remotely controlled from a portable operation center. This first capability will allow the French Navy to conduct operations in complex environments.
The operations include uncrewed sonar survey missions up to sea state 4 to maintain precise mapping of the sea floor.
“This is the beginning of a new story in the art of underwater mine disposal,” OCCAR noted.