Ukrainian Navy are expecting the arrival of the first British Sandown-class minesweeper by the end of this year.

Militarnyi informs about this.

The commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Rear Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, in his address to the personnel on the occasion of the beginning of the new school year said that by the end of 2022, the Navy plans to receive the first minesweeper of the Sandown-class, writes ArmyInform.

“By the end of the year we plan to get the first Sandown-class minehunting ship,” said Alexey Neijpapa.

We remind you that the Ukrainian Navy will receive two minesweepers who will transfer from the UK Navy.

The ships will enter the national fleet after full revision, repair, modernization, as well as additional equipment and appropriate training of the personnel of the Navy of Ukraine.

The agreement was recorded in the Memorandum on the implementation of maritime partnership projects between the industry consortium of the United Kingdom and the Naval Forces of Ukraine.

For the needs of the national fleet will purchase Sandown-type mine countermeasures ship, with served in the British fleet between 1989 and 2001.

Short specifications of ships:

• Displacement: 450 tons (full)
• Length: 52.6 meters
• Width: 10.5 meters
• Sediment: 2.4 meters
• Speed:
• • up to 13 knots on a diesel power engine
• • up to 6.5 knots on the electric power
• Crew: 34 people
• Armament: 30-mm automatic cannon and three machine guns caliber 12.7 mm
• Special equipment: automated mine action control system Atlas Elektronik IMCMS

In November, the Ukrainian Navy began forming crews for future minesweepers. Then began the selection of candidates from the number of servicemen and military personnel for military service under the contract.

Last autumn, in London, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the UK Vadym Prystaiko signed the Ukrainian-British framework agreement, which provides for the allocation of funds for the construction of eight missile boats, the acquisition of two minesweepers and the creation of two sea bases.