Belgium and the Netherlands to transfer 7 MCM vessels to Bulgaria
Belgium and the Netherlands will transfer a total of seven Tripartite mine countermeasure (MCM) vessels to Bulgaria free of charge.
Belgian Ministry of Defense press release – Translation by Naval News
Belgium will transfer its four Tripartite MCM vessels to Bulgaria free of charge in order to provide operational support to the Bulgarian navy and, to a certain extent, to Ukraine. The Council of Ministers approved the Ministry of Defence’s proposal on Friday 12 September. Bulgaria will cover the costs of restoring the vessels to full operational readiness. The Council of Ministers also took note of the Netherlands’ decision to join this initiative.
Given the importance of strong mine countermeasure capabilities in the Black Sea region and Bulgaria’s keen interest in acquiring Belgian and Dutch MCM vessels, the two countries have agreed to the transfer of four Belgian MCM vessels and three Dutch MCM vessels, including spare parts and a tactical simulator. Further administrative and technical discussions between the three parties concerned will now be initiated with a view to concluding a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
However, the transfer is subject to certain conditions. Bulgaria will therefore be responsible for financing commissioning and maintenance. This must be carried out as far as possible through mainly Belgian economic operators and activities. To this end, Bulgaria may make use of existing defence agreements or new public procurement contracts.
Bulgaria will also provide Ukraine with the necessary assistance in the form of training and coaching for crews of this class of vessels. In June 2025, Belgium and the Netherlands donated two MCM vessels to Ukraine, with a third vessel to follow at the end of this year.
The phasing out of the current MCM vessels will depend on the delivery and commissioning of the future rMCM capability. The Belgian and Dutch navies are expected to receive their first vessels under the Replacement Mine Countermeasure (rMCM) programme later this year. This programme provides for six vessels for each country, equipped with MCM toolkits capable of remotely detecting and destroying sea mines. Initially, the vessel equipped with the MCM toolkit will be capable of performing the same tasks as the current capability. At the same time, continuous development of the systems is necessary in order to gradually improve capabilities and adapt them to future operational requirements.
The future RMCM capacity will be built in France as part of a joint Belgian-Dutch modernisation programme aimed at replacing the old Tripartite minehunters. The new fleet will play a central role in ensuring safety at sea, both in European waters and in international operations. The combination of cutting-edge technology and increased operational flexibility makes these vessels an essential link in the protection of shipping lanes, infrastructure and maritime interests.
