5/5
For the Belgian Navy, partnerships like this strengthen operational excellence and support European technological sovereignty.
The future of defence is collaborative.
#BelgianNavy #MAHI #Alpha8 #DefenceInnovation #MaritimeSecurity 🌊✨
4/5
MAHI’s ambition is clear:
To become a European leader in maritime autonomy and to keep people out of harm’s way through smart, reliable technology 🚢🔧
Innovation serving safety, that’s the goal.
3/5
Admiral Tanguy Botman reminded us of a key truth:
“What happens in the North Sea doesn’t stay in the North Sea; it affects Europe’s security.”
Unmanned systems are becoming essential for modern defence 🌍🛡️
2/5
The Alpha‑8 isn’t just a new platform, it’s a symbol of how far maritime autonomy has come.
High‑performance, unmanned, and built entirely in Belgium, it shows what collaboration can achieve 💡🤝
1/5
A new milestone in maritime autonomy 🌊🚀
Yesterday, the Belgian Navy joined MAHI in Mechelen for the unveiling of the Alpha‑8, a fully Belgian‑built unmanned demonstration vessel.
A proud moment for Belgian innovation 🇧🇪✨
🔐 One thing is clear: international cooperation and technological innovation are more crucial than ever for ensuring our maritime security. (4/4)
@com-belgiannavy.bsky.social
passageways to the impressive bridge and the areas where our drones are deployed, every part of the ship drew great interest.
🤝 The visit continued at Exail in Ostend, where the guests received insight into the technological innovations that make this program possible. (3/4)
NATO countries, as well as various Asian and Middle Eastern partners, paid a visit to the new mine warfare vessel M940 Oostende.
🚢 During an extensive tour, they were introduced to the innovative concept behind our mine countermeasures capability. From the wide (2/4)
🌍 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺
Yesterday, the Naval Base in Zeebrugge welcomed several high‑level visitors. A delegation of defence attachés from (1/4)
🔍 Why is that so essential today?
You can read all about it in the article on mil.be (SEE NEXT POSTS).
🛡️ Tip: it’s not just about our safety, it’s about yours too!
📦 By controlling them from containers, we can use the same capabilities at sea, alongside the quay, or even in a foreign port. It makes us much more flexible and ready to deploy at short notice.
🛰️ 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿?
Our new mine warfare vessels can deploy underwater drones, surface drones and aerial drones, but these systems can also operate away from the ship.
5/5 🔑 Key Takeaway
Tomorrow’s maritime security is built today: through alliances, technological innovation, and rapid adaptation to emerging threats.
#MaritimeSecurity #SeabedDefence #Innovation #HybridThreats
4/5 🤝 Cooperation & Innovation
International frameworks like SeaSEC and national initiatives like Seasecure showcase the importance of sensors, AI, and autonomous systems. 🚤🤖
3/5 🛡 Protecting Critical Infrastructure
Cables, pipelines, and offshore installations need continuous monitoring. Security cannot rely on navies alone.
2/5 ⚠️ Hybrid Threats
Cyberattacks, covert sabotage, and “ambiguous” civilian vessels make the maritime domain increasingly complex and vulnerable.
1/5 🌊 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗚𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗡𝗔𝗩𝗬 𝗔𝗧 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 & 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 :
Global trade, undersea cables, pipelines, offshore wind farms --> our societies depend on the maritime domain more than ever and the Belgian Navy was there to share its expertise⚓🌍
🔎 These low profile exchanges strengthen trust between NATO partners. That trust is essential when teams eventually have to operate side by side.
NL :
www.mil.be/nl/news/belg...
🌍 Both teams compared routines, observed each other in the water and shared practical experience. Small moments that make cooperation smoother.
FR :
www.mil.be/fr/news/plon...
“As members of the same alliance, training together helps us work together when it really matters,” says Tristan from the Belgian team.
🤝 Belgian and Slovenian Very Shallow Water teams trained together at the lakes of l’Eau d’Heure. The goal was simple: understand each other’s way of working in shallow water conditions.
Read full article on : www.mil.be/fr/news/form... for FR
or :
www.mil.be/nl/news/trai... for NL
5/5
Exercises like this prove one thing: preparation saves lives at sea. 🌊🚨
Realism, coordination, adaptability — and above all, learning together.
Because at sea, nothing replaces experience… except training that feels like it. ⚓💪
4/5
Teamwork is everything. 🤝
Medics and crew must sync instantly — especially in tight spaces under stress.
They trained leadership, communication, and crisis management skills essential during real operations 🧭⚠️.
3/5
During a MASSCAL exercise, students from the 17th Medical Company faced simulated explosions 💥, gunshot wounds 🔫, and trapped victims.
Limited equipment means adapting fast. On a ship, every minute matters. ⏱️🔥
2/5
A minehunter is built for precision, not comfort.
Narrow corridors, steep ladders, watertight doors, constant vibration… 🚢😮💨
Even moving a casualty becomes a mission. Coordination isn’t optional — it’s survival.
What does it take to save lives at sea? 🌊🚑
1/5
What does it really take to save lives at sea?
Two intense days aboard the Belgian Navy’s mine warfare vessel Lobelia ⚓🐚 gave medical students and sailors a realistic, high‑pressure taste of maritime emergency care — far beyond classroom theory.
Throughout the year, we’ll look back each month at key moments of our naval history.
Follow our channels and discover what the Belgian Navy has achieved over 80 years at sea. 🌊
Non Multa Sed Multum. ⚓
