• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

MCM Cherkasy ex-Sandown

On 11 December 2023, the British and Norwegian defense ministers announced that the UK and Norway are joining forces to lease the maritime coalition in support of Ukraine. Allies and partners have a close dialogue about how we can organize military support for Ukraine in the future. Various coalitions have been established to support Ukraine.

"Great Britain, Norway and other countries will help Ukraine to strengthen security along the coast and at sea. Ukraine will receive support to build a permanent maritime capacity", says Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp). "I would like to thank Great Britain for taking the initiative to create this coalition, and for hosting the launch of the "Maritime Capability Coalition" here in London today. The defense of Ukraine is important for Euro-Atlantic security".

"The goal is to further develop the work that allies and partners do to support Ukraine, both in the short and long term. Now the UK, Norway and other countries want to help Ukraine build a permanent maritime capacity. This is a long-term project and the support will require a lot of work for many years to come,"" says Gram.

As a maritime nation, Norway can contribute with maritime expertise, new technological solutions and innovative thinking. "We must help Ukraine in the work to open trade routes and free movement in the Black Sea. We aim to strengthen Ukraine's naval defenses and improve Ukraine's ability to operate along its own coast. Norway has carried out training of Ukrainian soldiers in small boat operations and will be able to build on this support when the concrete plans for further development are complete", says the Minister of Defence.

Norway will take part in the leadership of the newly formed coalition, where several countries are expected to join. Various capability coalitions have been established. These are various specialized subgroups within different capacities, such as within air defense and the maritime sector. The aim is to further develop the work that allies and partners do to support Ukraine, in the short and long term.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed Ukraine’s procurement of two Royal Navy Sandown Class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) by Ukraine through UK Export Finance. The two Royal Navy minehunter ships are being transferred from the Royal Navy to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in a move to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to operate at sea.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “These minehunters will deliver vital capability to Ukraine which will help save lives at sea and open up vital export routes, which have been severely limited since Putin launched his illegal full-scale invasion."

Babcock was awarded 15 December 2023 a three-year contract to support and maintain two mine countermeasures vessels ‘Cherkasy’ and ‘Chernihiv’ for the Navy of Ukraine following their transfer from the UK Royal Navy. The two minehunters, essential defence assets for the country’s naval forces that will support activity such as keeping sea lanes open, will undergo planned maintenance and support by Babcock. The contract follows the company’s reconfiguration and recommissioning of the vessels to ready them for the Ukrainian Navy.

The Company has also established Babcock Ukraine Ltd and has opened an office in-country, where a dedicated team will focus on support to the Ukrainian customer and industry partners. This move builds on the company’s wider ambitions in the central eastern European region.

The Mine Counter Measure Vessels contract is underpinned by the tripartite Memorandum of Implementation signed in Odesa in June 2021 by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the UK Government and Babcock, and is part of a series of scheduled support to Ukraine’s defence capability.

As the prime industrial partner, it is Babcock’s first contract under the Ukraine Naval Capability Enhancement Programme (UNCEP) which includes the enhancement of capabilities on existing naval platforms.

A team of mechanical and electrical engineers, working alongside fabricators, will provide preventative maintenance and technical support. Babcock will use its experience working on the Sandown class of mine countermeasure platforms to make improvements to the vessels, enhancing their operational capability and sustainability.

David Lockwood, CEO Babcock said: “Babcock’s role in international defence has never been more critical. As the lead industry partner in Ukraine’s naval capabilities enhancement programme, we are expertly placed to support these important naval assets. The recent announcement of our Ukrainian business, alongside this naval support contract, builds on the work we are already doing to support the country’s military land assets as part of the UK’s support for Ukraine.”

Babcock will also offer support at reach to the Navy of Ukraine, helping to equip the crew with real-time solutions to any problems they encounter. Technical advice and repairs can also be provided, whenever and wherever they are required.