In 2019, the Dutch and Belgian navies decided to award the supply of 12 minesweepers (6 for each country) and the dedicated unmanned systems for mine clearance at sea to the consortium Belgium Naval & Robotics, set up by Naval Group and ECA Group. Many Belgian companies are involved in this nearly 2 billion contract as partner and supplier. Subsidiaries have been created in Belgium by the two companies to facilitate these exchanges.
The company ECA Robotics Belgium, the Belgian subsidiary of ECA Group, will manufacture the next generation of naval drones for this contract but also for future export sales, at its plant in Ostend. It concerns disruptive technologies that are the core of the innovative 'stand-off' mine hunting concept that Belgium Naval & Robotics proposes to the 2 navies, both world leaders in the field of mine counter measures: The mother ship and therefore its crew, stay away from the danger zone. The unmanned systems clear the mines autonomously and are controlled from the mother ship.
These unmanned systems will be manufactured in a new factory to be built in Ostend. PORT OSTENDE grants ECA Group a concession for the building of the factory on the former site of Beliard in the port area. The plant with a surface of 5000 m² will be built on this location and will be operational in 2022.
The investment for the construction of the factory and the start of production represents around €10M. All the naval drones (submarines and surface) of ECA group to be delivered to the Belgian and Dutch navies will be produced in this factory: the submarine drone A18-M, the towed sonar T18-M, the surface drone (USV) INSPECTOR 125 and the mine inspection and neutralization drones (ROV MIDS) Seascan and K-STER and launch & recovery systems drone-drone as well as surface equipment.
Since its establishment in 1936, ECA Group has been a leader in the field of innovation and develops innovative technological solutions for the detection and clearance of mines. To date, over 30 navies worldwide use these solutions to make waterways safer.
Since its establishment in 1936, ECA Group has been a leader in the field of innovation and develops innovative technological solutions for the detection and clearance of mines. To date, over 30 navies worldwide use these solutions to make waterways safer.
Steven Luys states:
We are pleased to build our factory in the Port of Oostende, near the navy and with direct access to the North Sea.
iXblue and ECA Group recently demonstrated successful subsea asset tracking in shallow waters...
Read MoreMeet ECA Group during Rencontres Régionales Sud de la Défense 2022 in Toulon, on 6...
Read MoreECA Group performed successful sea trials of its R7 ROV, the latest addition to its ROV range, in...
Read MoreECA Group will welcome you on its stand during World Defense Show, taking place at the Riyadh...
Read MoreMeet ECA Group at INDO PACIFIC 2022 on stand 3S1 to discover its solutions for Naval Robotics and...
Read MoreMeet ECA Group at SEA TECH WEEK 2022, taking place from 26 - 30 September 2022 in Brest to...
Read MoreMeet ECA Group at UDT, taking place from 7 - 9 June 2022 in Rotterdam to present its expertise in...
Read MoreMeet ECA GROUP at EDEX 2021, in Egypt International Centre from 29 November to 02 December...
Read MoreECA GROUP, lead partner of a consortium composed of A-NSE, ATHANOR and CERBAIR, has...
Read MoreECA ROBOTICS Belgium is honoured to inaugurate its offices in Mouscron in Belgium in the presence...
Read More