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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

In doing so, our ships contribute to the broader maritime surveillance along our coastline. ⚓ Even when these tasks become routine, our crews remain attentive and ready to respond whenever necessary. 🛡️ A clear example of the monitoring we carry out every day.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

🔍 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽? 🌊 Last week, the patrol vessels Castor and Pollux monitored a ship sailing through the Exclusive Economic Zone. For our patrol vessels, following non NATO maritime traffic is part of their daily routine.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

🇧🇪The Belgian Navy participated in #nato exercise Cold Response in Norway. 🇳🇴 What did we do? Whom did we work with? Why did we train in this environment? ⏩Watch the full video on Youtube. youtu.be/OwaiuvFq9LE #WeAreNato

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

🔙After their deployment with the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) at the end of last year, they’re departing from Zeebrugge today for a mission of nearly three months in the Baltic Sea.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

⚓ 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗢 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘁: 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗮 🔙 The crew of the minehunter Primula is on the move once more.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

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 🌊✨

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

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.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

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 🌍🛡️

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

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 💡🤝

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

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 🇧🇪✨

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

🔐 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

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

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)

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

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)

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

🌍 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)

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

🔍 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!

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

📦 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.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

🛰️ 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.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

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

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

4/5 🤝 Cooperation & Innovation International frameworks like SeaSEC and national initiatives like Seasecure showcase the importance of sensors, AI, and autonomous systems. 🚤🤖

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

3/5 🛡 Protecting Critical Infrastructure Cables, pipelines, and offshore installations need continuous monitoring. Security cannot rely on navies alone.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

2/5 ⚠️ Hybrid Threats Cyberattacks, covert sabotage, and “ambiguous” civilian vessels make the maritime domain increasingly complex and vulnerable.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

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⚓🌍

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

“As members of the same alliance, training together helps us work together when it really matters,” says Tristan from the Belgian team.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

🤝 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.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

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. ⚓💪

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

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 🧭⚠️.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

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. ⏱️🔥

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

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.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

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.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

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. ⚓

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

🎉 Do you know who’s celebrating a birthday today? The Belgian Navy ! 80 years strong. 🇧🇪 This 1 February marks 80 years since the creation of what became today’s modern Belgian Navy. Eight decades proving that effectiveness is not about numbers, but about quality.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

...𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵.” 🔗 Want to know more? The full article will be online soon on mil.be. (5/5)

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

🌊 These drones can also be effectively deployed next to the ship.🗣️ Lieutenant Commander du Bus de Warnaffe, commanding officer of the Mine Countermeasures Module Group (MMG), summarises the concept perfectly: “𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺... (4/5)

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

• 🤿 underwater drones (to detect and neutralise mines) • 🛥️ surface drones (to enter risk zones and transport underwater drones) • 🚁 air drones (for observation and detecting floating or moored mines) (3/5)

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

working with the containerised toolbox, a mobile control container that will play a key role in future mine countermeasures. ⛴️ The new mine warfare vessels act as mothership platforms that can deploy different types of drones: (2/5)

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

🕹️ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗯𝗼𝘅 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝘆 ⚓ The Belgian Navy continues to move forward in 2026. After the arrival of the new mine countermeasures vessel Oostende, another step followed this week in Zeebrugge: (1/5)

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

[VSW | 4/4] 🎮🛡️The exercise also introduced a new Slovenian system: VIPER Mine Disposal. Reusable after mine neutralisation and operated with an Xbox controller, it sparked strong interest among Belgian operators. International cooperation turns experience into real capability, in the field.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

[VSW | 3/4] 🌊⚙️Used for years by the Belgian Navy, the Lakes of Eau d’Heure offer realistic conditions for shallow-water training. This is where the VSW team develops its expertise with autonomous underwater drones, capable of detecting suspicious objects and analysing the seabed.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

[VSW | 2/4] 💪🌍In a constantly evolving environment, joint training like these matters more than ever. Belgian and Slovenian teams share similar equipment and procedures, making cooperation in the field smoother and more efficient. Learning to work together is not an option, it’s a necessity.

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

[VSW | 1/4] ⚓🇧🇪🤝🇸🇮 At the Lakes of Eau d’Heure, the Belgian Navy’s VSW (Very Shallow Water) team welcomed the Slovenian Navy for a joint training exercise. For several days, both teams worked side by side, testing underwater technologies and comparing methods. 🌊

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

[80Y - 4/4] ⚓ From this small but determined wartime core, the Belgian Naval Force will emerge after the war. Built step by step, with limited means but a clear purpose: to ensure a Belgian presence at sea, in service of the nation. 🇧🇪🌊 #TheBelgianNavy #80YearsBelgianNavy

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

[80Y - 3/4] 🤝 Belgian sailors are spread across fleets. The solution is simple: bring them together. On 3 April 1941, the Belgian Section of the Royal Navy is created. For the first time in years, Belgian sailors serve together again. #TheBelgianNavy #80YearsBelgianNavy

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

[80Y - 2/4] 🌍 As the war breaks out, thousands of Belgians reach the UK. Belgians join the war within the Royal Navy and volunteers serve on Allied ships. #TheBelgianNavy #80YearsBelgianNavy

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thebelgiannavy.bsky.social @thebelgiannavy.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

[80Y - 1/4] ⚓ 80 YEARS OF THE BELGIAN NAVY In 2026, the Belgian Navy marks 80 years of service at sea and commitment in a changing world. Each month, we’ll look back at a key moment of that journey. Today: back to the beginning. 🌊 #TheBelgianNavy #80YearsBelgianNavy

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