Exail announces the signing of an important order for several hundred K-STER mine neutralization drones, destined for several navies. This new order, worth around €40 million, is the second largest order for K-STER drones ever recorded, just after the €60 million order received in 2024.
Exail press release
The K-STER drones are used in the last phase of the missions in order to neutralize the underwater threats previously identified by the other drones of the UMIS demining system. These are “consumable” drones that are destroyed when the mine is neutralized. They constitute a portion of the recurring revenue that is generated throughout the operational life of the UMIS systems.
Exail now has a backlog of more than 1,000 autonomous drones and the capacity to produce them in the coming years. Production of the K-STERS will be carried out at the Ostend site (Belgium), which is now fully operational to support the ramp-up of major MCM modernization programs.
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Naval News comments:
K-STER is an expendable mine disposal system developed by Exail (then known as ECA GROUP) in 2008. Inheriting from the successful PAP solution and benefitting from the latest technologies and R&D development, this Remotely Operated Vehicle is dedicated to underwater mine countermeasures. This sea proven solution allows to neutralise mine while keeping crew safe. Operators can run the drone from a command and control unit located outside of the minefield, whether onboard a ship or from the land – in this case, the K-STER can be automatically deployed from an USV platform.
Designed with tiltable shape charge, the K-STER can neutralize all kinds of mines from sea bottom mines, floating mines, historical mines to the smartest mines. Its unique propulsion architecture allows to stand strong water currents and approach the mine to its closest. Safety characteristics includes insensitive ammunition & multi-pole safety interlocks until the final firing.
Existing end-users include the Republic of Singapore Navy and the Lithuanian Navy.
The systems will be produced at the new Exail factory located in Ostend, Belgium:
Update:
In a new press release issues 06/01/2026, Exail says the order was placed via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA):
This order is part of the framework agreement established in 2024, which allows all the Alliance navies to procure these systems rapidly through a streamlined acquisition process.
This procurement confirms the strong momentum among European navies to comprehensively modernize their mine countermeasure (MCM) capabilities through the adoption of autonomous systems. As a European leader in mine countermeasures, Exail plays a key role in the ongoing transition toward unmanned, safer and more efficient MCM operations.
