The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has ordered two more Mark VI patrol boats for the government of Ukrainian Navy.
According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on December 30, 2021, SAFE Boats International is awarded a $25,556,452 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-21-C-2201) for the exercise of options for construction, outfitting, reactivation, and training of two Mark VI (MK VI) patrol boats.
The order is funded with some of the $125 million Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds through the fiscal year 2021 Building Partner Capacity initiative.
In total, SAFE Boats International has already received an order for 10 Mark VI patrol boats for Ukraine.
It will be recalled that in June 2020, the U.S. State Department has approved the possible foreign military sale of up to 16 Mark VI patrol boats and related equipment to Ukraine for an estimated cost of $600 million.
According to the Commander of the Ukrainian Navy Rear Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, the fleet plans to receive 12 Mark VI boats. They each will be armed with two MSI Seahawk A2 gun systems with MK44 Bushmaster II cannons and equipped with electro-optical/infrared sensors.
