Island-class patrol boats arrive in Ukraine
Two Island-class patrol boats aboard cargo ship Ocean Grand. (Photo: Ukrainian Navy via Facebook)
The arrival of two ex-USCG boats follows the delivery of another pair of Island-class craft to Ukraine in 2019.
Two former US Coast Guard Island-class patrol boats destined for the Ukrainian Navy have arrived at the port of Odessa.
The Ukrainian Navy announced the arrival of the two cutters in a 23 November Facebook post, adding that the pair would soon begin operations in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.
Ukrainian sailors recently completed training with the US Coast Guard, readying them to operate the Island-class boats.
Delivery of the boats builds on years of support from the US into developing Ukraine’s military capabilities following the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea.
The Island-class boats have been supplied to Ukraine under the US Excess Defence Articles programme, typically used to modernise partner armed forces with surplus US defence equipment.
According to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Ukraine has requested a total of five Island-class boats, including the four already delivered.
Last week, Shephard reported on progress on UK efforts to support Ukraine’s naval development in the form of loans worth up to £1.7 billion ($2.29 billion), to cover the procurement of second-hand Sandown-class minehunters, eight new missile ships, the development of naval bases, a frigate capability, and weapons.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Is the US Navy’s Golden Fleet initiative achievable?]()
Is the US Navy’s Golden Fleet initiative achievable?
The effort to provide the US Navy with Trump-class battleships might face financial, production and doctrinal obstacles.
-
![How will SAFE shape naval procurement for Canada and its highest-receiving members?]()
How will SAFE shape naval procurement for Canada and its highest-receiving members?
Canada’s inclusion on the EU’s Security Action for Europe initiative is set to enhance the country’s defence procurement strategy with important implications for some of its naval programmes, while Poland and Romania have also secured significant SAFE funding.
-
![Thales wins DE&S contract for portable autonomous command centres]()
Thales wins DE&S contract for portable autonomous command centres
The agreement to provide portable autonomous command centres to the UK Royal Navy will enhance the service’s Mine Counter Measure operations and further integrate autonomous and uncrewed systems into its fleet.
-
![Maritime defence in the Mediterranean faces challenges from vulnerable land power]()
Maritime defence in the Mediterranean faces challenges from vulnerable land power
As an indispensable energy crossroads, the Mediterranean is at serious risk from grey zone disruption. As navies increasingly employ AI data centres, what happens when cutting-edge defence technologies rely on the very infrastructure most susceptible to hybrid tactics?
