Belgium Contracts Specialized Drones and Boats for Ukrainian De-Mining Efforts

Belgium has ordered three specialized TRIDENT vessels designated for launching K-STER C underwater mine-countermeasure drones for Ukraine, according to Militarnyi on September 25.

The Belgian Ministry of Defense allocated €9.9 million ($11.3 million) for the procurement, with the contract officially awarded to Exail Robotics Belgium through a negotiated procedure without prior publication.

The TRIDENT (Tactical RHIB for Identification and Disposal of Explosive Naval Threats) serves as a tactical craft designed to locate and eliminate explosive naval hazards.

Manufactured by Belgian company Exail, the K-STER C is a lightweight underwater drone designed to destroy mines using a shaped charge integrated into its forward section.

Its swiveling warhead allows precise targeting of various submerged explosive devices, while its construction incorporates stealth technologies to minimize acoustic and magnetic signatures.

The device measures 1,500 mm in length, 445 mm in height, and weighs 55 kg in air. The head can tilt and rotate from +90° to −90°, enabling operators to neutralize targets from optimal angles.

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Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the propulsion system relies on two horizontal and two vertical thrusters. It features a dual-frequency sonar for long-range detection and close-range targeting, along with a day/night camera and searchlight.

The drone operates autonomously for up to one hour, reaches top speeds of 5 knots (with operational speeds ranging from 0 to 3 knots), functions at depths down to 300 meters, and maintains an operational radius of up to 1,500 meters.

On June 18, 2026, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken outlined new plans for the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, announcing an increase in both the number and operational status of aircraft to be transferred. Speaking to journalists ahead of the NATO Defense Ministers Meeting, Francken said Belgium had revised its earlier commitments and would provide more F-16s than previously pledged.

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