The new mine countermeasures vessels that the navies of Belgium and the Netherlands are procuring will be equipped with Bofors 40 Mk4 naval guns supplied by BAE Systems.
The company announced on Wednesday a contract for the delivery of 12 guns for the Mine Counter Measures Vessels (MCMV) program.
The shipbuilding company Kership will install the guns on the fleet of 12 mine hunting vessels – six for Belgium, six for the Netherlands – with the first ship scheduled for delivery to the Belgian Navy in 2024.
The Bofors 40 Mk4 is a lightweight naval gun system that will give the mine hunting vessels a greater level of defense against surface, air, and shore-based threats.
“The Bofors 40 Mk4 is a highly automated naval gun which will provide the Belgian and Dutch navies with significant firepower and great range,” said Lena Gillström, managing director for BAE Systems Bofors in Karlskoga, Sweden. “This latest contract expands the number of European nations using the Bofors 40 Mk4, and reflects the growing interest we are seeing in the region.”
The Bofors 40 Mk4 naval gun is the latest generation in the 40mm family and has most recently selected by Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
