The cutting-edge 5000 m² facility will be operational in 2022.
In 2019, the Belgian Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy decided to award the supply of 12 mine counter measure (MCM) vessels (6 for each country) along with their dedicated unmanned systems for mine warfare to Belgium Naval & Robotics (a joint company by Naval Group and ECA Group).
Many Belgian companies are involved in this nearly €2 billion contract as partners and suppliers. Subsidiaries have been created in Belgium by the two companies to facilitate these exchanges. On ECA Group’s side, the investment for the construction of the factory and the start of production represents around €10 million.
All the naval drones ordered by the Belgian and Dutch navies will be produced there: the A18-M, the T18-M towed sonar, the INSPECTOR 125 surface drone (USV), the Seascan and K-STER mine inspection and neutralization drones (ROV MIDS), launch & recovery systems as well as surface equipment.
Production and maintenance tasks for the current and future customers will require the recruitment of more than 70 employees on the Belgian soil. ECA Group calls for different profiles, from engineers to technicians and support workers.
