Ukraine’s Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has said the launching of a middle-sized reconnaissance ship built at the Kuznya on Rybalsky shipyard in Kyiv is a victory.
“In the entire history of Ukraine there have not been many instances when powerful armored boats, amphibious boats were launched, and today we have launched a middle-sized reconnaissance ship, which is unique in Ukraine in terms of equipment and ability to perform tasks. This is a huge breakthrough and it is a victory! It is a victory for everyone who works at the Kuznya on Rybalsky plant. It is a victory for the Navy, which will put the ship into service,” Poltorak said on Facebook on Tuesday.
The defense minister said financial resources covered the production of armored boats this year and the start of the production of ships which will be equipped with the coastal anti-ship missile complex “Neptun” (“Neptune”).
Poltorak said a week ago he signed an order for the next stage of the reform of the management of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“Today, I am glad that the Naval Forces, which were in a very serious condition, are quickly gaining momentum. The combat capabilities of the Naval Forces have increased significantly in recent years,” he said.
According to the ezine Ukrainian Military Portal, the ship launched on Tuesday was built on the basis of the 502 EM vessel. It has a length of 54.8 m, displacement of 1,220 tonnes, capable of sailing 7,200 nautical miles reaching the speed of 11.6 knots. It has a crew of 29 people.
“What characteristics the new ship will have and how it will be outfitted is not currently known,” the ezine said.
Construction of the ship was announced in March 2017 by the Naval Forces deputy commander.
Medium-sized reconnaissance ships are engaged in radio interception of communication channels, retransmission of closed communication channels, telemetric reconnaissance, electronic reconnaissance, identification and systematization of sources of electromagnetic radiation, measurement of physical fields, compilation of acoustic and electromagnetic signatures of ships and submarines, control of sea communications, tracking enemy ships and monitoring artillery and missile launches.
