Maritime robotics firm Exail has hailed a new €40 million order for mine countermeasures (MCM) drones placed on behalf of European navies by NATO agency NSPA.
As per a company press statement, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency is buying “hundreds” more of its K-Ster mine neutralization vehicles under a framework agreement established back in 2024.
It noted: “This procurement confirms the strong momentum among European navies to comprehensively modernize their mine countermeasure (MCM) capabilities through the adoption of autonomous systems.”
Head of Exail Maritime Systems Jérôme Bendell said: “We are very proud to see European navies renewing their confidence in our mine neutralization solutions. This new order confirms both the proven operational reliability of K-Ster and Exail’s central role in supporting the modernization of MCM capabilities.”
The K-Ster remote operated vehicles (ROVs) are attritable drones designed to be destroyed while neutralising underwater threats identified by the other uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) which form part of Exail’s wider UMIS (Uncrewed MCM Integrated System) autonomous minesweeping system.
The suite of systems includes Inspector 90 uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and Seascan ROVs, plus aerial drones, sonars and control software.
The extra K-Ster vehicles just ordered by the NSPA will be manufactured at Exail’s production base in Ostend, Belgium.
Exail’s autonomous MCM suite is being integrated into the 12 new rMCM vessels being produced in a joint programme for the Dutch and Belgian navies. The first Belgian ship, BNS Oostende, was commissioned into active service at the start of November last year.
The first Dutch boat in the programme, HNLMS Vlissingen, began sea trials in late March 2025 and is due to be commissioned imminently.
Other operators of Exail’s MCM suite include the Indonesian Navy, which agreed to buy four Inspector 90 USVs and Seascan and K-Ster ROVs in June last year. The Republic of Singapore, Latvia and Kazakhstan are among other naval forces also using Exail’s MCM systems.
- You can read more details on the Exail website