Belgium will transfer its four Tripartite Mine Hunters (CMTs) to Bulgaria free of charge, providing operational support to the Bulgarian Navy and limited assistance to Ukraine, the Belgian Defence Ministry confirmed in a media statement.
The Council of Ministers approved the Ministry of Defence’s proposal on September 12, allowing Bulgaria to receive the vessels while covering the costs of restoring them to full operational readiness.
The statement also highlighted the Netherlands’ decision to join the initiative, transferring three of its minehunters to Bulgaria. This combined effort aims to strengthen Bulgaria’s mine countermeasures capabilities in the Black Sea region.
“Given the importance of a strong mine countermeasures capability and Bulgaria’s keen interest in these vessels, Belgium and the Netherlands agreed to transfer four Belgian and three Dutch CMTs, including spare parts and tactical simulators,” the ministry added.
Further administrative and technical discussions between the three countries will now take place to finalize a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the transfer.
The statement noted certain conditions tied to the transfer. Bulgaria will assume responsibility for financing the commissioning and maintenance, preferably through Belgian economic operators or existing defence agreements. New public procurement contracts may also be used.
In addition to operational support, Bulgaria is tasked with providing Ukraine training and crew education for ships of this class. Belgium and the Netherlands had previously donated two mine-hunting vessels to Ukraine in June 2025, with a third vessel scheduled for delivery later this year.
The phased retirement of the current CMTs will coincide with the commissioning of the future replacement Mine Countermeasure (rMCM) capability. Belgium and the Netherlands are expected to receive the first rMCM ship later this year.
This modernization program will provide each country with six vessels equipped with advanced MCM toolkits capable of remotely detecting and destroying sea mines. Initial capabilities will mirror current vessels, with ongoing development planned to meet future operational requirements.
The new RMCM vessels are being built in France under the joint Belgian-Dutch program and will replace the older Tripartite minehunters. The upgraded fleet will play a central role in ensuring maritime security in European waters and international operations.
According to the Belgian Defence Ministry, combining advanced technology with increased operational flexibility ensures these vessels remain a vital link in protecting waterways, maritime infrastructure, and broader strategic interests.
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