Exail said the order confirms the momentum among European navies to modernise mine countermeasure operations by adopting unmanned systems that improve safety and efficiency. As a European specialist in this field, the company said it is supporting the transition towards more autonomous and effective approaches to mine warfare.
The K-Ster vehicles ordered by European navies will be manufactured at Exail’s assembly facility in Ostend, Belgium, which opened in 2022 and is now fully operational. The site supports major mine countermeasure modernisation programmes and is expected to play a central role in meeting increased production needs.
Jérôme Bendell, Head of Exail’s Maritime Systems business line, said: “We are very proud to see European navies renewing their confidence in our mine neutralisation solutions. This new order confirms both the proven operational reliability of K-Ster and Exail’s central role in supporting the modernisation of MCM capabilities for NATO navies.”
He added: “With our Ostend site now fully scaled up, we are prepared to support navies in the deployment of next-generation MCM capabilities.” According to Exail, the order will help strengthen maritime security by protecting sea lines of communication, safeguarding critical infrastructure and enhancing control of the underwater domain for European nations.
