In Ukraine, factory tests of two assault landing craft of Project 58503 “Centaur-LK” were completed. Verification of ship systems and assemblies took place in the Black Sea off the coast of Odessa region. This was reported on the YouTube channel of the television station "Breeze" of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
“The boats are built according to NATO standards, so they are significantly different from other ships or boats of the national Soviet Navy. The control system operates in automatic mode. Both the radar station and the modern navigation equipment work efficiently on board, ”the description of the test video says.
The advantages of the “Centaur” of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine include maneuverability, the ability to withstand unrest at three points, an armored corps, significant autonomy and stealth for enemy radar and infrared means. The boat accommodates up to 32 troops and is capable of covering distances of up to 500 miles (310 km).
Earlier, NSDC Secretary Alexander Turchinov praised the Centaurs for their compliance with “the best world standards.” However, far from all adhere to this point of view in the country. For example, in May 2019, a military expert, the head of the Ukrainian military center Taras Chmut, criticized the new boat for insufficient seaworthiness and low speed on UMN TV channel.
“The boat, which is in theory, in the characteristics on paper, in the model that is tested in a special pool, is one thing ... It turns out that he should stand upright, and he has some kind of trim or roll. In theory, all this can be good, walking is fast, fast. But in practice, something doesn’t work with something ... and questions, questions, questions, ”Chmut said.
Two Ukrainian "Centaurs" were laid in 2016 and launched in September 2018. The Ministry of Defense has appointed the Research and Design Center for Shipbuilding as the developer of project 58503.
The construction of the boats is carried out by the Forge on Rybalsky (Kiev), which previously belonged to Petro Poroshenko. In November 2018, the ex-president sold over 50% of the shares of the company Evins Limited, the beneficiary of which is the former vice prime minister of Ukraine, oligarch Sergey Tigipko.
Unrealized plans
The prototype of the "Centaur" was the Swedish assault landing boat Stridsbat 90 of Dockstavar. The ship's capabilities made it possible to patrol the coastal waters and carry out landing operations. On the basis of a similar concept of combat use, in 2013 the Russian boat of project 03160 Raptor was designed.
At the end of May 2019, the head of the shipbuilding department of the Ukrainian Navy command, Captain 1st Rank Vasily Radchuk said that the Centaur was superior to Stridsbat 90. According to him, the Ukrainian boat is “more effective in combat and has improved sailing features.”
- Exercises of the Ukrainian Navy
- © navy.mil.gov.ua
Radchuk admitted that the military discovered a number of shortcomings on the Centaurs. However, he said that the necessary changes were made to the design of the boat hull and its power plant. The officer noted that the ship has a roll of four degrees, but it supposedly "is a plus for this type of boat."
In an interview with RT, doctor of military sciences, retired 1st-rank captain Konstantin Sivkov noted that the Ukrainian boat “does not represent military value”. The course of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on the construction of "Centaurs" is evidence of the degradation of the shipbuilding industry, the expert said.
“In Soviet times, destroyers and aircraft carriers were built on the territory of Ukraine, now the country is pulling the production of boats with difficulty. There is no military sense in these attempts. Kiev calls Russia its main adversary, but it’s useless to build boats for real confrontation with our Black Sea Fleet, ”Sivkov explained.
After the loss of Crimea, the base of the Navy’s military personnel is the frigate of project 1135.1 Getman Sagaidachny, the corvette of project 1124P Vinnitsa, and several small strike ships. In 2014, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine decided to resume the production of boats of Project 58150 Gyurza-M. The military department expected to get 18 ships by 2020. However, only six units have been built to date.
Kiev is currently negotiating with French colleagues about the possible launch of the joint production of OCEA FPB 98 patrol boats. Last year, the US Navy received two decommissioned Island-class vessels intended to protect the coastal strip.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine does not hide the fact that efforts to increase the number of boats in the fleet’s combat structure are caused by a lack of money for the construction and purchase of larger ships. Over the past eight years, the head corvette of project 58250 Vladimir the Great has been in unfinished condition.
In June 2018, the naval commander Igor Voronchenko predicted the collapse of the entire shipbuilding industry in Ukraine if the state does not find funds for the implementation of the program for the production of ships of project 58250. Initially, Kiev planned to build 12 corvettes by 2026, then the series was reduced to four units.
In July 2019, Minister of Defense Stepan Poltorak reported to President Vladimir Zelensky about the need to allocate 6.8 billion hryvnias (about $ 270 million) for the completion of Vladimir the Great. At the moment, nothing is reported on the decision of the Ukrainian leader.
Meanwhile, the project of a promising Doe-type boat with a displacement of 455 tons is at risk of failure. The ship should receive a Neptune anti-ship missile launcher (eight units). By 2021, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine plans to receive three ships, but to date, not a single one has been laid.
Ambition and Resources
The type of fleet that Ukraine creates is commonly called the “mosquito”. Countries that own such naval forces are betting on the construction of small ships. It is assumed that with their competent tactical use, a military advantage over an enemy who has larger ships can be ensured.
On September 4, at a press conference at the Kiev Gorshenin Institute of Management Problems, lieutenant general of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the ex-deputy head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Yuriy Radkovets announced the inability of the country's "mosquito" fleet to defend national interests. In his opinion, Kiev is obliged to create full-fledged naval forces. In particular, he called on the current leadership of Ukraine to purchase "frigates from the Americans."
In November 2018, Igor Voronchenko announced that the United States was ready to sell Oliver Hazard Perry patrol ships with a displacement of 4.2 thousand tons to Kiev, which are gradually being withdrawn from the fleet. The main weapon of the frigate are Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
- Frigate Oliver Hazard Perry USS Underwood (FFG-36)
- AFP
- © HO / PERUVIAN NAVY
Konstantin Sivkov believes that the acquisition of used patrol ships will not increase the combat and operational capabilities of the Navy. According to the expert, Ukraine needs to start the construction of its own frigates and corvettes, but Kiev has already lost its scientific and technical base.
“American frigates like Oliver are out of date. Not surprisingly, Americans are looking for a way to get rid of them, and even for the money. Moreover, it is completely incomprehensible how Kiev is going to exploit them - for this we need a specific material base. She is not in Ukraine, nor is there money to buy ships, ”said Sivkov.
A similar point of view is held by the head of the Bureau of Military-Political Analysis Alexander Mikhailov. In an interview with RT, the expert noted that with the purchase of Oliver Hazard Perry, the Ukrainian Navy will receive new problems.
“The experience of operating the flagship of the Naval Forces of Ukraine“ Getman Sagaidachny ”indicates that Ukraine is not able to properly handle marine equipment and carry out its high-quality repairs. The frigate almost does not go to sea and is constantly welded to the mooring wall of the port. If Ukrainians buy American frigates, they will face the same fate. In addition, the contract itself will place a heavy burden on the budget of Ukraine, ”Mikhailov explained.
The expert believes that the United States and other Western countries will not sell Ukraine truly modern warships that can withstand the Russian Black Sea Fleet. For this reason, Kiev will continue to build boats, the specialist noted.
“In the politics of Kiev, there is an obvious discrepancy between ambitions and resources that the state really has,” Mikhailov summed up.