Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper) October 31, 2026 – Belgium has officially transferred the first of four Tripartite-class minehunters, BNS Bellis, to the Bulgarian Navy under a trilateral defense agreement aimed at strengthening maritime security across the Black Sea. The transaction forms part of a broader memorandum of understanding involving Belgium, the Netherlands, and Bulgaria to transfer seven mine countermeasure vessels in total to the Bulgarian fleet. While Belgium and the Netherlands phase out these vessels in favour of automated mine-hunting platforms, Bulgaria will finance the maintenance and operation of the fleet within active NATO security structures.
Belgium Defense officially executed the handover of the Tripartite-class minehunter BNS Bellis to representatives of the Bulgarian Navy on October 30. The official transfer represents the first step in a scheduled delivery of four decommissioned Belgian mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels. The initiative operates under a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the defense ministries of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Bulgaria, which structures the systematic handover of seven operational minehunters to modernize Bulgaria’s naval capacity.
Second Life Cycle for Tripartite Fleet Capabilities
The naval agreement provides a secondary operational life cycle for the Tripartite fleet as both Belgium and the Netherlands execute their Replacement Mine Counter Measures (rMCM) program. Under the rMCM modernization schedule, the Belgian and Dutch navies are replacing legacy hulls with new City-class vessels equipped with advanced unmanned surface, underwater, and aerial systems. Despite being phased out by Western European forces, the specialized minehunter platforms retain significant operational capability for mine detection, identification, and disposal.
Bulgaria is responsible for financing the recommissioning, technical maintenance, and ongoing operational deployment of the acquired vessels. To ensure high fleet availability, the transfer agreement includes technical support and industrial overhauls facilitated by Belgian defense firms. The arrangement ensures that mature naval hardware remains active inside the NATO alliance structure while supporting local defense industrial participation in Belgium.
Strengthening NATO Collective Defense in the Black Sea Region
Maritime safety and freedom of navigation across the Black Sea have faced increasing disruption from drifting sea mines and security threats targeting commercial shipping routes. The inclusion of BNS Bellis directly enhances the operational capabilities of the Bulgarian Navy to conduct mine-clearing patrols, guard maritime critical infrastructure, and secure regional sea lines of communication. The vessel will also integrate into joint operations with the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group, established alongside regional allies Romania and Türkiye.
Lieutenant-General Bernard Phaleg, Belgium’s Director General Material Resources and National Armaments Director, highlighted the strategic alignment of the transfer during the handover proceedings. “Thanks to the transfer of the ship to Bulgaria, a proven capability remains operational within NATO,” Phaleg stated. “We are thus strengthening an ally, supporting security in the Black Sea region, and ensuring that the investments and expertise accumulated over decades continue to demonstrate their value.”
Support for Allied Ukrainian Fleet Operational Training
In addition to fulfilling domestic coastal defense duties, Bulgaria’s newly expanded minehunter fleet will support international training efforts. Under the provisions of the multilateral framework, Bulgarian naval personnel will assist in coaching and training Ukrainian naval crews operating similar Tripartite-class platforms transferred by international partners. This cooperative framework aims to standardize operational tactics across partner fleets, ensuring long-term navigational safety across the Black Sea basin and surrounding waters.
The remaining three Belgian Tripartite minehunters designated under the transfer agreement are undergoing scheduled overhauls and technical checks in Belgium prior to their formal commissioning into the Bulgarian Navy. Deliveries of the remaining vessels and associated tactical simulation systems are scheduled to proceed in phases as maintenance milestones are completed.
