Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

Synqor Astute – Naval Power Webinar Registration
  • News
  • Event News
    • Euronaval 2020
    • SNA 2020
    • MADEX 2019
    • PACIFIC 2019
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
You are at :Home»News»MMCM Program Enters Manufacture Stage with Initial Production Contract Award

MMCM Program Enters Manufacture Stage with Initial Production Contract Award

The Franco-British Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) project today reached the manufacture stage, with a £184M contract awarded to Thales UK. The contract is for three sets comprising portable operation center, UUV, towed sonar & mine neutralization system.

Nathan Gain 26 Nov 2020

A £184 million contract will support more than 200 jobs and give the Royal Navy increased capability to remotely detect and neutralise sea mines, the UK MoD Defence Equipment & Support agency announced on Nov. 26.

More than 200 UK jobs will be supported by a newly-signed contract to build technologically advanced autonomous systems able to defeat modern sea mine threats while reducing risks to life during Royal Navy mine hunting operations.

Following a successful demonstration phase and trials, the UK has invested £184 million in the Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) programme through a joint production contract with France.

The investment will see around 215 jobs supported in the UK at Thales sites in Templecombe (Somerset) and Plymouth as well as in the wider supply chain including L3 Harris in Portsmouth, Stonehaven in Aberdeen and Alba Ultrasound in Glasgow.

When operational, the new system will give the Royal Navy increased capability to remotely detect and neutralise sea mines. It is designed to potentially replace conventional crewed minehunting vessels, such as the Royal Navy’s Hunt and Sandown-class ships, with autonomous systems.

The UK element of the production contract was negotiated by the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) team at DE&S.

“We are constantly working with industry to identify innovative equipment that will provide the Royal Navy with cutting-edge capability. This system is an exciting development and the collaborative working between DE&S, industry, the Royal Navy and our French colleagues is helping make it a reality”



Barry Miller, MHC team leader

The contract sees the purchase of three sets of equipment. Each set comprises a portable operation centre, an autonomous surface vessel, towed sonar and a mine neutralisation system.

Sea mines constitute a growing threat and users of this system will be able to detect and neutralise mines from miles away ensuring they can keep vital sea lanes open with much-reduced risk to ships and the lives of sailors.

DE&S CEO Sir Simon Bollom said: “This ground-breaking technology brings with it a step-change in capability for the Royal Navy which is a bold step into the digital and autonomous world. I’m incredibly proud of DE&S and the Royal Navy team who have worked tirelessly with our French colleagues to deliver on this contract.”

DE&S picture

The MMCM programme was set up to deliver cutting-edge minehunting equipment to the navies in the UK and France. The programme contract will be placed by the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) acting as the Contracting Management Authority on behalf of both nations.

First Sea Lord Admiral Tony Radakin said: “I am enormously excited by the potential of the future mine hunting capability. This will allow us to deliver mine hunting more effectively, more efficiently and more safely, and to integrate even more closely with our French counterparts in this important area.”

The first equipment is due to be delivered in late 2022. It will commence operational evaluation prior to entering service with the Royal Navy.

Naval News comments:

The French Minister of the Armed Forces, approved last month the launch of the SLAMF (Système de lutte anti-mines futur) Future Mine Warfare System Program. The SLAM-F / MMCM mine warfare system will allow French and British sailors to operate remotely and stay out of the mine field through the use of unmanned systems. However, many questions remain regarding the exact type of UUVs and USVs France and the Royal Navy plan to procure.

DE&S Mine Warfare MMCM OCCAR Royal Navy Thales UK United Kingdom 2020-11-26
Nathan Gain
Tags DE&S Mine Warfare MMCM OCCAR Royal Navy Thales UK United Kingdom
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More

Authors

Posted by : Nathan Gain
Nathan is based in Namur, Belgium. He holds an MA in modern history with a minor in international relations from the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL – Belgium). Fascinated by military history he naturally turned to the defense sector after graduating and is particularly interested in Northern European and Belgian defense issues as well as in anything related to naval aviation.

Related Articles

UK’s P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft facility on schedule

UK’s P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft facility on schedule

Naval News Staff 22 Feb 2019
The future home of the UK’s P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft is on target for completion, the Royal Air Force stated on Feb. 22, 2019. Once established the facility will hold up to three aircraft, along with maintenance facilities, planning rooms, and office space for the operators and support staff.
Prevail unveils proposal for Royal Navy’s future Littoral Strike Ship

Prevail unveils proposal for Royal Navy’s future Littoral Strike Ship

Nathan Gain 26 Feb 2019
British company Prevail Partners is the first to officially unveil its design proposal for the Royal Navy’s two future Littoral Strike Ships announced earlier this month by the UK Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson.
Final River-Class Batch 2 OPV ‘HMS Spey’ Commissioned With Royal Navy

Final River-Class Batch 2 OPV ‘HMS Spey’ Commissioned With Royal Navy

Xavier Vavasseur 08 Jan 2021
HMS Spey is the fifth of and final River-class Batch 2 OPV on order from ...

Recent posts

IAI’s ELTA & HENSOLDT to Collaborate on Submarine Communications and Surveillance Systems
Euronaval 2020

IAI’s ELTA & HENSOLDT to Collaborate on Submarine Communications and Surveillance Systems

27 Oct 2020
Euronaval Online: Exhibition Report
Euronaval 2020

Euronaval Online: Exhibition Report

27 Oct 2020

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

© Naval News 2019 - 2020
All Rights Reserved
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok