Group : Mine CounterMeasures Vessels
Status : Under Development
Origin : Germany
Contractors : Abeking & Rasmussen, NVL
Total Production : ?

The MJ 2000 is an experimental minehunting vessel based on SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) technology hull design being developed by Lurssen and Abeking and Rasmussen shipyards for the German Navy. The MJ 2000 is being designed for all-weather capability and material and staff protection while carrying out detection and disposal of buried mines with a 100 percent effectiveness. The twin hull approach offers superior seakeeping capabilities during launching and recovering of sonar, ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) and sensitive equipment. Moreover, the twin hull has improved shock resistance over mono-hull vessels.

The MJ 2000 vessel will act as control ship for two surface drones each equipped with different types of sonar and thus providing improved mine hunting and route survey. The control ship will carry a mine avoidance sonar as well as a decompression chamber and clearance divers. The MJ 2000 concept does not include minesweeping capabilites. The vessel will be equipped with hard and soft kill weapons for self-defense purposes only. The German Navy plans call for the MJ 2000 to achieve an early operational capability by 2006 with the current fleet of minehunters (MJ 333 and MJ 332) to be converted into control ships.