The Department of State has approved the possible delivery to Ukraine of a batch of new Mark VI patrol boats in the amount of $ 600 million. The relevant information was published by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
The US Foreign Office has authorized the delivery to Ukraine of a total of 16 Mark VI patrol boats, related equipment and weapons, including radars, acoustic systems, friend-or-foe identification systems, MSI Seahawk ship guns and long-range acoustic systems (LRAD).
- Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba
- Reuters
- © Fabrizio Bensch
"The proposed deal will help achieve the goals of the United States' foreign policy and national security by increasing the security level of the partner country, which acts in the name of political stability and economic development in Europe," the agency said.
It is also noted that the future contract “will strengthen the ability of Ukraine to counter current and future threats” and will allow the use of modern high-speed short-range vessels to protect territorial waters.
“The proposed deal on the acquisition of equipment and its maintenance will not violate the balance of forces in the region,” the DSCA statement said.
The report also notes that the government of Ukraine requested the American side to sell the boats. However, it is too early to talk about a specific contract - the decision of the State Department means only that the deal could potentially take place.
Kiev has already responded to Washington’s decision: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that this step by the US side “demonstrates the level of trust and partnership” between the countries.
Schwalenny The U.S. Department of State is able to purchase up to 16 MK VI patrol boats for the Ukrainian Navy @UA_NAVY demonstrator ryven dovіri partnerships between Ukraine and the USA. At the same time, I would like to see Ukraine’s defense at sea, and to ensure stability and security in Europe.
- Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) June 18, 2020“Together we strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities at sea, ensure stability and security in Europe,” the Ukrainian minister wrote on Twitter.
American patrol
Recall that the first new generation patrol boat Mark VI, developed by SAFE Boats International, first entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 2015. In 2016, boats of this model were deployed to serve in the Gulf region.
As a military expert, retired colonel Viktor Litovkin, said in a conversation with RT, Mark VI boats can guard maritime borders, including the fight against smugglers.
“But if Kiev hopes that the supply of these boats will be a step towards equalizing the capabilities of the Ukrainian fleet with the Russian Black Sea fleet, then these are suicidal ideas. Today, Ukraine needs a coastal fleet, and thanks to these boats it will receive it. But the armament on these boats is so weak that it is not necessary to say that Ukraine will have a strong fleet, ”the expert emphasized.
Note that for the first time information about the possible transfer of Mark VI boats to Ukraine appeared in March 2020. Then the CNN television channel reported the likelihood of this, citing sources in Congress and the US administration. It was clarified that the US Congress was informed of the Pentagon’s plans to supply Kiev with radars, boats and other equipment in the amount of $ 125 million. It was reported that the delivery would be carried out in the framework of aid allocated to the Ukrainian side for a total of $ 250 million. The Pentagon then declined to comment on this information.
At the same time, the amount indicated in the DSCA report - $ 600 million - more than doubles the amount of gratuitous aid allocated to Ukraine by American partners on the defense line. However, experts believe that part of this assistance will be used specifically to cover the costs of Kiev for the supply of patrol boats (in the event that the transaction takes place at all).
- Artillery boat P175 "Berdyansk"
- © Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
Although Ukraine is forced to apply to the IMF again and again for credit support because of financial difficulties, the government does not spare funds for military spending, analysts say. Despite the fact that the total revenue of the Ukrainian budget this year will be $ 36 billion, the Ministry of Defense will have at its disposal about $ 9 billion.
“Part of these funds may be used to purchase American weapons. In addition, the assistance provided by the USA may partially cover the amount of the contract, ”said Rostislav Ishchenko, president of the Center for System Analysis and Forecasting, in a RT commentary.
A similar point of view is shared by Andrei Suzdaltsev, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and World Politics at the HSE.
“Most likely, Kiev’s partial costs for the purchase of American boats will be covered by American help,” the expert suggested in an interview with RT.
Resource scarcity
Earlier, Kiev already received American military boats, but not new ones, but decommissioned from the US Navy. In 2018, Washington donated two Island class patrol boats to the Ukrainian side as a “gift”; both vessels have been in operation since 1988. At the same time, according to media reports, Kiev still had to pay about $ 10 million for ship transportation and staff training.
In 2019, the Ukrainian Cabinet disseminated information on negotiations with the French authorities on the supply of 20 new French-made patrol boats OCEA FPB 98 to Ukraine. Negotiations were also reported between Paris and Kiev on the possible launch of a joint production of such ships.
- Boat OCEA FPB 98
- © KabminUA
The FPB 98 multi-purpose boat is designed to provide coastal protection and allows for a general maritime presence to deter the illegal activities of smugglers, pirates and poachers, as well as to protect the marine environment and search missions.
However, Ukrainian sailors have not yet received a single French boat, although the concept of a “mosquito fleet” promoted by the Ukrainian command implies the presence of a large number of combat boats. Within the framework of this concept, it is supposed to use a "flock" of small boats to deal with the large warships of a possible enemy.
At the same time, experts doubt the effectiveness of this tactic.
“By and large, the“ mosquito flock ”of Ukraine is capable of fighting only with smugglers. Kiev does not have the means and technical capabilities to fully realize this idea, Ukrainian sailors have only a small number of boats that are not protected from the air, ”said Viktor Litovkin.
Import Substitution Policy
The idea of creating the so-called “mosquito fleet” as part of the Ukrainian Navy was compelled. Although during the years of being part of the Russian Empire and then the USSR, the territories in the south of modern Ukraine were turned into one of the largest shipbuilding centers in the world, after gaining independence, the young state was not able to preserve the shipbuilding industry. And this despite the fact that after the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine inherited a large navy, numbering 30 warships, one submarine and three dozen escort ships.
However, the old ships gradually exhausted their resources, and difficulties replenished the fleet with new ships. In 2018, Vice Admiral of the Ukrainian Navy Igor Voronchenko said that the authorities’ refusal to allocate funds for the construction of the corvette from the Vladimir Veliky series of project 58250 will lead Ukrainian shipbuilding to a point of no return. At the same time, it was a relatively modest amount of just over $ 50 million.
- Vice Admiral of the Ukrainian Navy Igor Voronchenko
- Reuters
- © Valentyn Ogirenko
The head of state in 2019, Vladimir Zelensky, promised that project 58250 would be revived. However, experts doubt that the Ukrainian authorities will really be engaged in the revival of domestic shipbuilding instead of purchasing equipment in the west.
According to Rostislav Ishchenko, first of all, Kiev is guided by political motives in this matter.
“From a political point of view, the purchase of boats from the United States supposedly demonstrates that the current government of Ukraine enjoys American support, although this will not increase the combat effectiveness of the Ukrainian Navy. If such a contract is signed, this will be an example of political procurement. In this context, it’s more profitable for the authorities to send millions of dollars to American manufacturers, rather than domestic enterprises, ”the expert explained.
Such a policy is bewildering even among the Ukrainian military. According to a RT source in the country's Navy, the Ukrainian fleet is in poor condition.
“And it is not clear why to buy these American boats, instead of placing orders at Ukrainian plants? Buying a batch of patrol boats will not improve the combat effectiveness of our naval forces, ”the source said.
According to Andriy Suzdaltsev, now Ukrainian shipbuilding is in a vicious circle, it is extremely difficult to get out of it.
“Today, Ukrainian statehood is built on corruption, in such conditions it is impossible to create large projects. In addition, Ukraine does not have enough technology, and in the current situation it can get them only in the west. But for this, Kiev must demonstrate a hostile attitude towards Russia, and also ask for military assistance and supplies. This is a vicious circle that Ukraine is not ready to break, ”the expert summed up.