Next-Generation Mine Countermeasures Vessel

The Next-Generation Mine Countermeasures Vessel, known as the City-class or Vlissingen-class, is a naval platform developed by Damen Naval for the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Belgian Navy. Introduced in 2024, the 82-meter mothership replaces traditional human divers with a deployed swarm of autonomous surface and underwater drones for mine detection and neutralisation. The vessel displaces 2,800 tonnes at full load and is powered by a combined diesel-electric and diesel (CODLAD) propulsion system featuring Anglo Belgian Corporation generators and MEP electric motors.

The system’s core capability lies in its mission bay, which houses and deploys unmanned systems for stand-off minehunting. The vessel carries a package of autonomous surface vehicles (USVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) that operate independently of the mothership. This architecture allows the crew, numbering approximately twelve, to conduct mine countermeasures from a safe distance, significantly reducing the risk to personnel compared to legacy methods. The integration of these drones transforms the ship from a direct-response platform into a command node for a distributed robotic fleet.

Belgium and the Netherlands are the primary operators of the City-class, having secured the vessels through a €2 billion contract signed in May 2019 for twelve units. Construction began in November 2021, with the first ship, Zr. Ms. Vlissingen, delivered to the Belgian Navy in March 2026. The Royal Netherlands Navy has also welcomed its first unit under the same programme. As of early 2026, one ship is in active service, with five more under construction to fulfill the total order of twelve.

The programme represents a shift toward automated naval warfare, leveraging autonomous technology to handle the hazardous task of mine clearance. By deploying a swarm of drones, the City-class aims to increase the speed and safety of mine countermeasures operations in contested waters. The vessel’s design emphasizes modularity and automation, positioning it as a modern solution to the persistent threat of naval mines in European waters.