WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department has approved the possible foreign military sale of up to 16 Mark VI patrol boats and related equipment to Ukraine for an estimated cost of $600 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a June 17 release. The DSCA has delivered the required certification to Congress of the possible sale.
Ukraine’s government had requested the boats along with 32 MSI Seahawk A2 gun systems; 20 Electro-Optics-Infrared Radar systems (16 installed and 4 spares); 16 Long-Range Acoustic Device five-kilometer loudspeaker systems; 16 Identification Friend or Foe systems; and 40 Mk44 cannons (32 installed and eight spares).
As part of the sale, Ukraine also requested communication equipment; support equipment; spare and repair parts; tools and test equipment; technical data and publications; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support; and other related elements of logistics support.
“The proposed sale will improve Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a modern, fast, short-range vessel,” the release said. “Ukraine will utilize the vessels to better defend its territorial waters and protect other maritime interests.”
The prime contractor will be SAFE Boats International of Bremerton, Washington.
