Ukraine previously signed a memorandum with the UK to secure £1.25 billion in funding to build new military vessels for the Ukrainian Navy, the first ship will be constructed in the UK and the remaining 7 vessels will be built in Ukraine.

More recently (and what has allowed this to move forward), Babcock signed a Cooperation Agreement with Ukroboronprom in support of Ukraine’s Naval Capabilities Enhancement Programme.

Ukroboronprom State Concern is a strategic manufacturer of weapons and military hardware in Ukraine that consolidates state enterprises to meet the needs of the defence and security forces of Ukraine.

“This signing enables Babcock to continue to build on the recent signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Implementation (MoI) in Odesa between the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the UK Government and Babcock, which confirmed Babcock as the designated prime industrial partner. Working collaboratively with Ukroboronprom, Babcock plans to invigorate the supply chain for Ukraine by working with local companies across the UNCEP which will help to deliver jobs, skills and wider economic benefits.

Babcock is well-placed to support Ukraine’s ambitions for the UNCEP, with an established history of designing, building and managing the integration of some of the world’s most complex ships, from small combat boats and rescue craft to offshore patrol vessels and aircraft carriers, coupled with significant experience in the new build, refurbishment and management of modern shipyard and naval base facilities.”

NavyLookout have reported, and they are the first to do so, that the lead ship of the P50-U FIACs to be built for Ukraine will be built at the Babcock facility in Rosyth. You can read more from the excellent NavyLookout here.

Small warships for Ukraine to be built in Scotland

I would also fully recommend following NavyLookout on Twitter by clicking here.

Babcock CEO David Lockwood said:

“We are delighted to sign a Cooperation Agreement with Ukroboronprom in London. As the designated prime industrial partner in delivering the Ukraine Naval Capabilities Enhancement Programme it is vital and important that we find innovative ways to collaborate. Working alongside Ukroboronprom we have a team of experts dedicated to ensuring that our engagement with Ukrainian sub-contractors and Ukrainian Government agencies progresses quickly to deliver a modern naval fleet and maritime support infrastructure in Ukraine.”

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Dern
Dern
2 years ago

Try saying Ukroboronprom fast 5 times.

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago

Interesting news. Another small piece in the national shipbuilding jigsaw.

dave12
dave12
2 years ago

Not much of argument considering Russian troops are actually on Ukraine soil even though Russia feels it has a right to have the Ukraine as buffer state.

Reaper
Reaper
2 years ago

Look at what Russia done to the Ukrainian navy, Sinking container ships at the base to they can’t leave,…

Reaper
Reaper
2 years ago

For the Funding we should have built half of them..

Patrick
Patrick
2 years ago
Reply to  Reaper

Definitely, UK yards should be building all of them.

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  Patrick

But then they would not have got the order this is the way it works now and so if you want to be involved you have to play this game. Babcock is looking for ongoing business especially in managing infrastructure.

Andrew
Andrew
2 years ago

Ukraine can’t join NATO until it permanently settles one way or another it’s borders with Russia.. it’s one of the conditions it has to meet before it can apply to join.

Mr Bell
Mr Bell
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

So thatll be never then. Russian forces have just parked the bus. No way Ukraine will ever have the firepower to expel Russia from Crimea and Eastern Ukraine Don region

DRS
DRS
2 years ago

Are the 1st river class (BAE) the closest to these? Looks a bit smaller. Custom design or using something already out there?

DRS
DRS
2 years ago
Reply to  DRS

should ready the NL article! clikely based on: Vosper Thornycroft-designed Barzan 

ATH
ATH
2 years ago
Reply to  DRS

These are much smaller than the B1 rivers and also build to do a very different job.
The B1 Rivers are long range, high endurance ocean patrol boats. These proposed ships are high speed, moderate range, low endurance but heavily armed fast attack craft.
Different missions resulting in very different ships.

farouk
farouk
2 years ago

So having a closer butchers at the above happy snap and I notice one of the carriers, then I notice how tight the fit is for said ship to leave its little protective den. Talk about scraping paint.

DaveyB
DaveyB
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk

If I remember correctly when the carriers were leaving the basin, they had only four feet of water under the keel and a 1ft either side through the gate. Probably lubed the sides just in case!

Mr Bell
Mr Bell
2 years ago
Reply to  DaveyB

😄😆😅🤣😅😆 thats one big pot of lube. Doubt youd get that into a brown paper bag at Boots the chemist.

DaveyB
DaveyB
2 years ago
Reply to  DaveyB

Oops, my bad. As she passed over the lock gate, HMS QE only had 19 inches of clearance under the keel.

PaulSergeant
PaulSergeant
2 years ago
Reply to  DaveyB

Maybe the 4 feet was the clearance under the Forth bridge at low tide, although I have in my mind it was only 2 feet.

Lusty
Lusty
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk

I bet the dabbers were clenched!

David Steeper
David Steeper
2 years ago

Encroachment ? No it’s strictly business. We’re helping to build Ukraine’s forces so they can better protect the Rodina from Western influence. Russia should thank us. I’m sure in private at least they do.

farouk
farouk
2 years ago

JR wrote: “”NATO furthering it’s encroachment around Russia?”” Russia has the second largest land border of any country at 12577 miles bar China. It borders 14 different countries: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland), Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the People’s Republic of China and North Korea. Of the above 14, 5 NATO countries sit next to Russia : Norway, Estonia and Latvia have a direct border with Russia, the other two Lithuania and Poland surround the tiny Kaliningrad enclave in total NATO countries border 628 miles of Russia, which even if doubled would still come in at under 1/10th of… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by farouk
Dern
Dern
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk

Kaliningrad? I believe you mean Koenigsberg.

PaulSergeant
PaulSergeant
2 years ago
Reply to  Dern

My history gets a bit hazy. Koenigsberg, was that in the german province of pomerania annexed by poland?

Dern
Dern
2 years ago
Reply to  PaulSergeant

Nope, it was in Ostpreussen and ethnically cleansed by the Russians.

PaulSergeant
PaulSergeant
2 years ago
Reply to  Dern

Thanks. So was pomerania ethnically cleansed by the poles?

Dern
Dern
2 years ago
Reply to  PaulSergeant

Technically also by the Russians. The Poles had very little do do with the Genocide other than occupying the lands that where suddenly empty (after Eastern Poland was ethnically cleansed of poles by the Russians as well I might add).

magenta
magenta
2 years ago
Reply to  Dern

I thought Königsberg was renamed Kaliningrad in ’46.

Dern
Dern
2 years ago
Reply to  magenta

Only if you support Russian Genocides.

magenta
magenta
2 years ago
Reply to  Dern

Dern, of course I don’t support genocide, ethnic cleansing or massacres committed by Russians or any other people, including the massacres committed by Teutonic Knights in 1255. it would be helpful if you could give further context, which Russian genocide are you referring to? there have been so many to date; place, time, name? Also, I was wondering, do you view this event from a personal perspective or as an outsider with an interest in history. Obviously you need not answer that question, although it does help to explicate the frame of reference, as I wouldn’t wish to upset you… Read more »

Dern
Dern
2 years ago
Reply to  magenta

The Potato famine wasn’t deliberately aimed at exterminating the Irish, the Holdomor was deliberately aimed at exterminating the Ukranians.
The British, unlike the Russians have generally given back/granted independence to the places they occupied, and many of them have been renamed. So not sure what the anti-British angle here is. But enough “whataboutism”

The Russian actions in Eastern Europe where the deliberate destruction of ethnic groups that they didn’t like, and they get a free pass on it because “they where on our side.”
No, it’s not comparable. It was irredeemably evil.

magenta
magenta
2 years ago
Reply to  Dern

So you didn’t give further information re the genocide and Königsberg, are you able elucidate on that, if not I’ll assume you can’t back it up. I wasn’t drawing parallels between the Irish potato famine and Stalin’s acts in the Ukraine, I was drawing your attention to “intent” but I’ll have to assume that you didn’t read the commentary.  You say “Holdomor was deliberately aimed at exterminating the Ukranians to my understanding it is not generally seen or agreed upon as an act of genocide, in my opinion it was a crime against humanity bordering on genocide, semantics aside it… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by magenta
Marius
Marius
2 years ago
Reply to  Dern

Glad to note the name Königsberg is not totally forgotten. 🙂

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk

So that large countries have written into International law the never ending ability to threaten and intimidate and indeed if they wish it invade smaller weaker neighbours, yes I can see how Russia and China would just love that policy of yours. Not my idea of a fair and free world mind while the concept that those or indeed other countries build up their weaponry purely out of a sense of threat simply has no basis in fact or reality beyond them using it as an excuse to do so. Many an aggressor has used this excuse throughout history and… Read more »

expat
expat
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk

Define Westernisation.

Johan
Johan
2 years ago
Reply to  expat

USA sells bombs/bandages/bullets to everyside

Mark B
Mark B
2 years ago

Easiest way for Russia to solve this problem would be for Russians to put in place a truely democratic peace loving Government and join NATO.

Mr Bell
Mr Bell
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark B

Agree that would be the most sensible outcome. Pronlem is Putin is a dictator. No way to expel him. Dodgy rigged elections? You betcha.
Imprieonment and abuse, nagh attempted murder of political opposition. You betcha.
Russia is a steaming pile of shite under Putin. Just a pity the EU are such loyal and desperate customers for Russias gas exports.

Mark B
Mark B
2 years ago
Reply to  Mr Bell

I tend to agree there is a lot of wishful thinking in my statement. That said a lot of people thought the Soviet union would not fall and there would never be peace in NI.

The Stand Off Rocket Man
The Stand Off Rocket Man
2 years ago
Reply to  Mr Bell

He will drop dead sooner or later and then things will get interesting. He will have a plan in place for that inevitable outcome, and the betting is on the Russian Defence Minister to become President, ie General Shoygu.

There are actually some really nice places in Russia, but the overall standard of living is low once you get out of the big cities.

The Stand Off Rocket Man
The Stand Off Rocket Man
2 years ago

But who knows? When he does cop it maybe chaos will ensue, some type of revolution… it’s time for one in Russia!

Ulya
Ulya
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark B

Democratic and peace loving, I’m assuming you are not putting US/UK as an example. Of more importance, what value is there to Russia joining NATO? How do you think it would solve anything?

Mark B
Mark B
2 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

Interesting reply. No attempt to defend the current Russian Government as you cannot defend the indefensible. Both the UK and the US get the Governments the people choose (inspite of attempts to subvert that). Truely democratic countries tend to be peaceful and the population generally have every interest in defending themselves but no interest in attacking other countries in modern times. As for NATO any country will know that if they attack a NATO country they are in danger of getting a response from any or all other NATO countries.Perhaps a reason why Greece and Turkey have not come to… Read more »

Ulya
Ulya
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark B

I don’t feel the need to defend my government because I don’t actually care if you like it or not, I have the government I voted for, western approval is not required, and I’m assuming you are trying to justify the UK/US actions in the ME to make yourself feel better and so you can continue to think of yourself as “the good guys”, I will smile at your comments and move on, they are meaningless words to me. I’m more curious about my 2 questions you didn’t answer in any real way. I’ll ask them again but try to… Read more »

Mark B
Mark B
2 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

I’ll start with your last point. Any true democracy has no interest in waging war as an aggressor there are simply no votes in it. Providing a deterent against attack certainly or defending your allies certainly but otherwise you will get thrown out of office.

On your comment about an American dominated organisation I think you might be falling for your own Government’s propaganda. NATO countries will have nothing to do with making an unprovoked attack on another country.

dave12
dave12
2 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

It is interesting seeing a fanatic at work on the comment section.

Damo
Damo
2 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

If America is your biggest security concern, joining them in a military collective defence pact eliminates your big fear over night doesn’t it? And your real fear should be China racing up the East and nicking the raw minerals you haven’t the money to excavate

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  Damo

Indeed China is I suspect it’s greatest fear actually whatever it’s public stance. I can only speculate but I suspect Russia is willing to pursue a balancing act here some might say a pact with the devil but probably their only available policy tbh. China is the future and Russia intends to play the role of the useful idiot the longer it goes on but does give it some relative strength or illusion of it for the foreseeable future. It keeps the rest of the World guessing and in fear both in Europe and the Far East which suits both… Read more »

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

Wow there you go a totally one eyed view of the realities no one has any reason whatsoever to fear Russia apparently and it’s actions despite in our very personal case having both a nuclear and biological attack on our shores instigated by that regime in the past decade. Had the opposite happened I wonder how close to all out war we would have become. So no we really don’t have to care a fig about your views of us and our actions either. Whatever the faults in our democracies and there are many I point out here and elsewhere… Read more »

magenta
magenta
2 years ago
Reply to  Spyinthesky

Spyinthesky […in our very personal case having both a nuclear and biological attack on our shores instigated by that regime in the past decade….]

Out of interest, what Russian nuclear attack on the UK shores in the last 10 years … or even longer? interested in that.

Edited because I used the built in quote marks and I didn’t like the look it produced, so reverted to my style as seen at top.

Last edited 2 years ago by magenta
Posse Comitatus
Posse Comitatus
2 years ago
Reply to  magenta

Seriously??

1. The use of Polonium to kill Litvinenko.

2. The use of Novichok in an attempt to murder the Skripals in Salisbury.

Do try and keep up.

magenta
magenta
2 years ago

Thank you, no seriously … Thank you PC. I knew the incident involving Alexander Mishkin and Colonel Anatoliy Vladimirovich Chepiga and the now named Denis Sergeev. It was the Po-210 incident that I had entirely forgotten about, mea culpa domine.
Please allow me to present some music to sooth your irascibility at my memory lapse. Seriously (again) do you believe the PC Act was an encumbrance to Trump?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1tSVVhRRfg

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

We need to end the Russia’s isolation. I would build a high speed rail link from Moscow to Frankfurt.

PaulSergeant
PaulSergeant
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

But would the rail gauge be russian or the narrower european? Changing gauge can so slow down high speed rail. Incidentally, did you know that the russian word for railway station “vokzal” comes from vauxhall station?

Dern
Dern
2 years ago
Reply to  PaulSergeant

Probably the Narrower European as Europe already has a Highspeed Rail system and Russia doesn’t.

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago
Reply to  PaulSergeant

Well thx for that. I learned something. Obviously the 4ft 8 1/2 inch standard would be our contribution to the design. We would loan the Evening Star for the inaugural run.

Frank62
Frank62
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

Sure;y you couldn’t do that on your own! Get some mates to help.

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago
Reply to  Frank62

Well, the thing is Putin has to want to end the isolation. But he actually cultivates a bunker mentality. It’s how he keeps himself in power as the saviour of his people.

The Stand Off Rocket Man
The Stand Off Rocket Man
2 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

One ‘value’ of Russia joining NATO is that Russia could destroy the pact from within, and if Russia were to become part of NATO that is exactly what it would try and do.

But as I said lower down, the last thing NATO needs is Russia joining it. The mentality is just too different.

The Stand Off Rocket Man
The Stand Off Rocket Man
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark B

Nah, you never want Russia as part of NATO. The mentality is ‘too’ different, and it would just lead to problems.

Mark B
Mark B
2 years ago

Mentality of the Government or the Russian people? Certainly there is a long way to go before Russia could ever be considered as even a propertly democratic power. That said the amount of time between Nazi Germany and West Germany becoming part of Nato was not that long.

The Stand Off Rocket Man
The Stand Off Rocket Man
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark B

Both! At least in general. You’ve got to remember that Russia isn’t just made up of ethnic Russians but of many other nationalities as well, and they make up around 25% or more of the population and they all have their own mentalities. Germans have a mentality much closer to our own though, it’s just that they fell for a madman in a particular part of history, one which i’m sure they don’t wish to repeat. People here are very easily lead (more so than in the UK for example), for a number of reasons, but things are changing, especially… Read more »

Mark B
Mark B
2 years ago

Point taken. I certainly agree there is little the west can or should do. It is for the Russian people.

The Stand Off Rocket Man
The Stand Off Rocket Man
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark B

Yep! Unfortunately much of the population is too drunk and lazy to even work never mind start a revolution. Like I said, the interesting moment is what will happen when Putin pops his clogs.

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago

Depressing but accurate take I fear.

expat
expat
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark B

I think they considered in 20 years ago

Grant
Grant
2 years ago

This contract was supposed to stimulate ship building in the UK and the levelling up agenda, but instead we’re throwing more money at the Scots. Would rather these were built anywhere else…. even France

David Steeper
David Steeper
2 years ago
Reply to  Grant

Whoa with you till that final sentence ! lol

Grant
Grant
2 years ago
Reply to  David Steeper

I know I went too far!

David Steeper
David Steeper
2 years ago
Reply to  Grant

Yes you should be ashamed. 😁

Alan Reid
Alan Reid
2 years ago
Reply to  Grant

” … throwing more money at the Scots”.
I assume you mean fellow UK citizens and businesses, Grant!
As opposed to “throwing more money” at workers at BAE Barrow-in-Furness” – or BAE Warton? The Clyde/Forth complex has become the centre of excellence for warship building in the UK, just as Barrow is for submarines, or Warton for fighter jets. Really, I don’t see the reason for such bogus grievance and gripe.

Andy P
Andy P
2 years ago
Reply to  Alan Reid

To be fair, its taken quite a while to get round to the ‘Jock bashing’, the Russians and the French have drawn a fair bit of fire. You don’t have to be a top brain to see that the UK has areas that specialise in certain industries and that’s not just defence. For better or for worse we tend to put all our eggs in one basket for financial reasons and that’s probably as good as any reason I suppose. Who knew that one company produces 60% of our commercial CO2 (the good stuff, not the stuff Greta is always… Read more »

david
david
2 years ago

“Around”! as Russia is a massive country. Being around Russia is a large part of the world. Complaining someone is near you implies an unwillingness to socialize and be a good neighbour. Now Russia has annexed parts of Ukraine, Russia has moved their borders nearer “other” people and now they can complain they are surrounded! Lol!

Pete
Pete
2 years ago

Need to start selecting external targets to shoot at. Won’t be able to stand upright if you follow a strategy of shooting yourself in the foot. You appear to be confusing having a majority of SMPs as being the same as a majority of the electorate.

Barry Larking
Barry Larking
2 years ago

I imagine the Scottish government is working flat out to find the bad news aspect to this story.

Johan
Johan
2 years ago

And then the UKRAINE will sell it to china.

GR
GR
2 years ago

NATO doesn’t seek members, they seek NATO, and maybe they wouldn’t find it neccessary to do so if Russia didn’t keep threatening them. NATO is a strictly defensive alliance and poses no threat to Russia as long as Russia leaves them alone and doesn’t attack them.

Putin isn’t an idiot and he must know this, but he deliberately assumes otherwise because every despot needs a foreign bogeyman to distract from his the horrendous rule.