An Exail underwater drone.

ST Engineering iDirect has won a key new navy based contract in Europe. Its Manufacturing Competence Center (MCC) has been selected by Exail, a high-tech industrial company specializing in robotics, maritime and navigation technologies, to deliver the electronics for the underwater drones of the joint Mine Counter Measure Program (MCM) of the Belgian and Dutch navies. ST Engineering iDirect announced the deal, Nov. 12.

The replacement Mine Counter Measure program (rMCM) was awarded to Belgium Naval & Robotics, a Naval Group-Exail consortium initiated to provide Belgium and Dutch navies with new mine warfare capabilities based on a unique stand-off approach, including surface, underwater and aerial drones. ST Engineering iDirect’s MCC is located in Erpe-Mere, Belgium.

“ST Engineering iDirect’s MCC facilities and its team’s unrivaled knowledge, are truly second-to-none. Working with them to deliver our electronic boards will enable us to bring our innovation to life. By collaborating with another Belgian-based enterprise, not only are we working to enable more autonomy in the EU supply chain, but we are also illustrating the talent we have to offer in such critical and demanding markets here in Belgium and across Europe.” Steven Luys, CEO of Exail, said in a statement.