WASHINGTON -- The Dutch Ministry of Defense (MoD) has announced the selection of French F21 MK2 heavyweight torpedoes for its four future Orka-class submarines. The announcement marks a significant change in the Orka-class program, given that the MoD’s initial plan was to integrate American-made MK48 torpedoes, which are currently used by the Royal Netherlands Navy aboard the in-service Walrus-class submarines.

In supporting its decision, the Dutch MoD cited rapid technological developments, specifically the threat of manned and unmanned systems equipped with anti-torpedo weapons, and the need to combat these with a high precision advanced heavyweight torpedo such as the F21 MK2. The supplier of this weapon system is the French Naval Group, which also builds the Orka-class submarines. Delivery of the first Orka-class submarine is scheduled for 2033.

The selection of the F21 MK2 torpedo also signifies enhanced cooperation with France, which uses the same weapon system. Sharing knowledge about deployment tactics contributes to the weapon’s effectiveness.

Source: Naval News
Associated URL: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/03/dutch-mod-selects-f21-mk2-torpedoes-over-mk48-for-future-submarines/

ILE LONGUE, France -- French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that the lead boat of the country's next generation of nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) will be named Invincible. The announcement also stated that the submarine is expected to be operational by 2036.

The SNLE-3G (Third Generation Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine) project is planned to succeed the currently in-service Le Triomphant class from the mid 2030s. Four of these submarines are planned. Prime contractor, Naval Group, cut steel for the lead boat, Invincible, in March 2024. The French Navy has plans for a launch in the early 2030s.

The incoming submarine class is larger than the current Le Triomphant class by about 30 ft (10 m) and is believed to displace a total of 15,000+ tons. The SNLE-3G will maintain the Le Triomphant class' 16 ballistic missile silos and four torpedo tubes.

Source: Naval News
Associated URL: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/03/future-french-ballistic-missile-submarines-will-be-named-invincible-class/
Author: Xavier Vavasseur 

WASHINGTON -- Vlissingen, the second mine countermeasure (MCM) vessel of the rMCM program and the first for the Royal Netherlands Navy, was delivered on February 27th, 2026 in Den Helder.

According to the press release from Naval Group, HNLMS Vlissingen and its predecessor, the M940 Oostende, are the first ships with the capacity to carry, launch, and reconfigure a set of surface drones (USVs), underwater drones (UUVs), and aerial drones (UAVs). They are also reportedly the first to implement a fully robotic system for the detection, classification, identification, and neutralisation of mines. According to Naval Group, these vessels can withstand underwater explosions and have very low acoustic, electrical, and magnetic signatures.

The rMCM program was originally awarded in 2019 to Belgium Naval & Robotics, the consortium formed by Naval Group and Exail. The program aims to provide the Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy with twelve mine countermeasures vessels and around a hundred drones integrated inside a toolbox that will equip the vessels. Following the award, a tripartite agreement between France, Belgium, and the Netherlands was signed in September 2023 to formalize their cooperation in the field of mine warfare.

Naval Group is responsible for the design of the vessels. Exail designs and delivers the naval drones. The vessels are being built and assembled by Piriou, under the industrial project management of Kership, a joint venture between Naval Group and Piriou.

Source: Naval Group
Associated URL: https://www.naval-group.com/en/delivery-vlissingen-second-mine-countermeasure-vessel-belgian-dutch-rmcm-programme