Ukraine to acquire Sandown minehunters, eight missile boats from UK
The Ukrainian MoD, Babcock and the UK government signed a Memorandum of Implementation on 21 June. (Photo: Babcock)
The UK has stepped up efforts to bolster Ukraine’s navy with a comprehensive agreement covering new ships, training, and the regeneration of naval facilities.
The Ukrainian Navy is set to receive two of the UK’s Sandown-class minehunters and eight Babcock-developed missile boats following a tripartite Memorandum of Implementation (MoI) signed in Odessa by the Ukrainian MoD, the UK government and Babcock.
The deal also paves the way for the potential sale of Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 frigate design to Ukraine – while the UK shipbuilder did not mention this platform by name, it alluded to it when referring to plans to deliver a ‘modern frigate capability’.
The MoI was signed on 21 June in Odessa aboard the Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system]()
MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system
MARSOC is procuring the Shark Marine Dive Tablet 2 to address a longstanding combat diver navigation capability gap, improving underwater positioning, situational awareness and integration with existing diver propulsion vehicles.
-
![SOF Week 2026: NSW expands commercial UxS push to maritime platforms as USASOC advances FPV drone effort]()
SOF Week 2026: NSW expands commercial UxS push to maritime platforms as USASOC advances FPV drone effort
The US Army Special Operations Command and Naval Special Warfare are accelerating efforts to integrate commercial uncrewed systems, with NSW broadening its solicitation to include USVs and UUVs alongside new requirements for ISR, kinetic operations and swarm technologies.
-
![SOF Week 2026: US Navy USV completes record eight-day autonomous mission]()
SOF Week 2026: US Navy USV completes record eight-day autonomous mission
The MARTAC T38 Devil Ray USV has set a new endurance benchmark as the US Navy pushes deeper into autonomous maritime warfare.
-
![A closer look at the US Navy’s $268 billion investment in shipbuilding by 2031]()
A closer look at the US Navy’s $268 billion investment in shipbuilding by 2031
The recently released USN 2026 Shipbuilding Plan anticipates the procurement of 185 crewed and uncrewed platforms in the next five years.
