UK and France launch next phase of MMCM programme

Minister of Defence Harriet Baldwin has announced the launch of the next phase of a £117 million joint Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) programme.

Baldwin, along with Laurent Collet-Billon, the French Minister for Defence, declared that the MMCM programme will develop cutting edge maritime mine warfare capability, to keep the UK and France at the forefront of autonomous systems technology. The development and deployment of unmanned mine clearance vehicle will also help keep personnel safe in challenging maritime environments.

The MMCM programme builds on the commitment of the 2010 Lancaster House Treaty to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the UK and France in order to improve collective defence capability within Europe and NATO.

Commenting on the development, Baldwin said: “This innovative project further strengthens the UK-French defence relationship and supports cutting edge research on both sides of the Channel. The development of advanced autonomous mine counter measures capability will safeguard our strategic interests, secure around 150 jobs in the UK supply chain, and protect our brave and skilled personnel.

Collet-Billon added: “Harriett Baldwin, Minister for Defence Procurement, and I launched today the construction phase of the MMCM project, cornerstone of France’s ‘Système de lutte anti-mines future’ (SLAMF) programme.

“It is a step further in the accomplishment of the strategy initiated since the Lancaster House Summit in 2010 aimed at strengthening the effectiveness and operational interoperability of our mine warfare systems, and to support the excellence of the Franco-British industrial base.”