Chess Dynamics has been awarded a contract by French shipbuilders KERSHIP for the supply of electro-optical surveillance systems across 12 innovative new Mine Counter Measures Vessels (MCMV), which are being supplied to the Belgian and Royal Netherlands Navies.

News of this contract award gives Chess its fourth and fifth European naval customers for the Sea Eagle FCEO product.

Working through Naval Group, responsible for naval systems design for KERSHIP, Chess has beaten strong competition for this key European naval electro optical systems contract. MCMV is a new concept 2800-ton militarized ship specialised in mine warfare innovatively built around a ‘toolbox’ of autonomous mine countermeasures drones. The MCMV procurement programme is well underway and has achieved its ‘Systems Functional Review’ (SFR) milestone in May.

Providing an all-weather, 24-hour surveillance, tracking and target data solution, Chess Dynamics will be delivering its Sea Eagle FCEO systems which will be interfaced with the ships’ combat management and gun fire control systems. This contract will bring the number of Sea Eagle FCEO systems delivered to over 110 worldwide.

The solution for two systems for each of the 12 ships, is to be fully integrated with other sensors on the vessels through the combat management system. It will also supply tracking and targeting data with merged stabilised TV and infra-red images to enable enhanced visual surveillance for the various roles that these vessels will be conducting.

As part of the Chess Dynamics’ Sea Eagle family of systems, the FCEO offers a stabilised integrated electro-optical and tracking system comprising a high-power thermal imaging camera, powerful HD TV camera and an eye-safe laser range finder. This in turn delivers 360˚ azimuth coverage, facilitating continuous electro optical verification of contacts.

Dave Eldridge, Chess Dynamics Sales Director commented, “The news of this contract award has been greatly received by all at Chess Dynamics. The business is committed to delivering surveillance and gun fire control system solutions which are ideally suited to harsh maritime environments and enable our customers to meet the multiple operational requirements within naval, coastal and border environments.

“These systems will be delivered from our Naval Centre of Excellence in Plymouth. Significant investment has been made to retain and recruit the necessary expertise to develop and evolve our Sea Eagle family of systems, incorporating industry-leading technology and designs. This contract award of our Sea Eagle equipment is a testament to our continual development and commitment to working in partnership with our customers” Eldridge continued.

The well-established Sea Eagle FCEO system is the leader in its class, commissioned with numerous navies globally and with over 90 units delivered it has an envious reputation, being well-proved in service.