On 29 May, the French Minister of Defense, Mme Florence Parly, was presented the progress of the Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) programme in Brest, France.
MMCM is a mine warfare system, composed of Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) and Underwater Unmanned Vehicles (UUVs), aiming at replacing French Marine Nationale and UK Royal Navy. MMCMs will operate quicker, with improved sonar capabilities, monitored from distance by operators in a Portable Operation Center. Each USV is able to launch and recover a towed sonar or a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), with a munition to defeat the mines.
MMCM system © Thales
MMCM development has been contracted by OCCAR, on behalf of France and the united Kingdom, to Thales Defense Mission Systems France. The main sub-contractors are Thales UK and L3 ASV from the UK, ECA from France and SAAB from Sweden. The two prototypes have started their sea trials.
Mme Parly confirmed FR intention to order this year 4 additional MMCM systems, once the prototypes will achieve their qualification.
To know more of the MMCM Programme, please visit our web.