Constructed over the course of 2021, the new plant develops and produces maritime drone systems. These are used by the Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy for the purpose of mine clearance. “Our drone-based technology drastically changes the face of mine hunting,” assures Steven Luys, CEO of the Belgian ECA GROUP division. 

In 2019, ECA GROUP obtained a contract – together with French company Naval Group – to supply 12 next-generation minesweepers and dedicated unmanned systems to the Belgian Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy. For this, the Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium was established. 

The local division of ECA GROUP in Mouscron and Ostend (Flanders) is responsible for manufacturing the innovative naval drones that will be used to detect, classify, identify and neutralize mines at sea by unmanned vessels. Initially, the drones will serve the Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy – both world leaders in the field of mine neutralization – but the idea is to ultimately assemble them for the global market from the Port of Ostend, where ECA GROUP established its new plant.

Apart from the abundant local talent pool, the choice of Ostend, in Flanders, was primarily triggered by pragmatic factors. “Obviously, we wanted to be close to the sea,” says Steven Luys. “But Ostend is also where Eguermin, the Belgian-Dutch Navy’s mine clearance school, is based. There, sailors will be taught to use our innovative drone-based system.” 

In Flanders, ECA GROUP is also in great company. The French group decided to become part of the Blue Cluster, one of Flanders’ spearhead clusters and a network of successful maritime companies and skilled people within the maritime sector. 

Steven Luys: “We are keen to work with these key players, leveraging the knowledge that is present within the local blue economy and adding the expertise of ECA GROUP to ensure mutual growth. When it comes to mine countermeasures, the Belgian Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy are NATO’s flagships. ECA GROUP’s innovative tech adds to that. Through the local marine school, all drone and demining know-how percolates throughout the entire ecosystem.”

“Thanks to the excellent support of organizations such as Flanders Investment & Trade and Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship, our early days in Flanders have been extremely welcoming,” Steven Luys recalls. “These agencies put us in touch with the right people and funding partners. To give the investment project an additional boost, Flanders even granted EUR 1 million in structural transformation support.”