Frigates Follow Tanks

In the experts' opinion, the Ukrainian exposition was favorably distinguished by presenting exhibits of different profiles: eight designs of new ships developed by the Kazenny Research and Design Shipbuilding Center of Mykolayiv, a wide range of gas-turbine engines (Mashproekt Research and Production Enterprise of Mykolayiv), advertising materials on ships, naval radiolocation (the Kvant and Kvant-Radiolokatsiya companies of Kyiv), and underwater acoustics equipment (Slavutych Research and Production Amalgamation). Engineering developments for the frigate (Sapsan-2100) and corvette (Mistral and Mirazh) warship classes, as well as gas turbine engines drew, special attention from the exhibition hosts.

As Shipbuilding Center Chief Designer Serhiy Kryvko told The Day, Pakistani interest is quite understandable: the age of the Pakistani fleet composed mostly of frigates is nearing 25 years. Now they are in the process of studying an option to purchase new ships. Maintaining the combat readiness of the operating frigates became especially pressing there after the UK (following the US) imposed an embargo on supplying military hardware to Pakistan.

It would be premature to discuss specific contracts now, but there is a chance that Ukraine will soon export naval technology to Pakistan, in addition to tanks. In Ukraine itself, both such tanks and fighting ships are unclaimed.