Belgium and the Netherlands have signed a contract with Exail for the procurement of K-STER mine clearance systems.
Press release from Exail Technologies
EXAIL Technologies has signed a contract worth almost 60 million euros for the Belgian and Dutch navies. This contract is part of the BENL program, which aims to equip both navies with twelve robotic systems for underwater mine countermeasures. As part of this contract, Exail will supply several hundred K-STER drones, enabling the navies to carry out comprehensive mine clearance missions.
K-STER drones are used in the final phase of missions to neutralize underwater threats previously identified by other drones in the UMIS system. They are “expendable” drones that are destroyed during the mine neutralization process. They are mass-produced at the drone assembly site in Ostend, Belgium, thus benefiting from industrial volume effects.
This contract underlines the specificities of Exail’s business model in the field of maritime robotic systems: after an initial contract, each contract generates additional revenue to meet the needs of customers over many years. These contracts can include consumables such as K-STER drones, but also spare parts, operational maintenance of the systems, complementary services and functional upgrades of Hardware And softwareIn terms of the number of robots, this is the largest order in the company’s history. It marks the transition to industrial-scale production.
The BENL programme continues to progress. The first vessel, built by partner Naval Group, successfully completed its first sea trials in July. It integrates inertial navigation systems and sonar systems from Exail, which have fully met expectations.
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Comments from Naval News:
K-STER is an expendable mine clearance system developed in 2008 by Exail (then known as ECA GROUP). successful PAP This remotely operated vehicle uses the latest technologies and R&D developments and is intended for underwater mine countermeasures. This sea-proven solution enables mine neutralization while keeping the crew safe. Operators can control the drone from a command and control unit outside the minefield, either on board a ship or from land – in which case the K-STER can be deployed automatically from a USV platform.
Equipped with a tiltable shaped charge, the K-STER can neutralize all types of mines, from seabed mines, floating mines, historical mines to the most intelligent mines. Its unique propulsion architecture allows it to withstand strong water currents and get as close to the mine as possible. Safety features include insensitive ammunition and multi-pin safety interlocks until the last shot.
Existing end users include Navy of the Republic of Singapore and the Lithuanian Navy.
The systems for this new contract will likely be manufactured at Exail’s new plant in Ostend, Belgium.
