12.10.2009
Source:
Development of new corvettes being conducted under order of Ukrainian Ministry of Defense will be finished in December 2009, said Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko at press conference on Thursday.
"I will call National Security and Defense Council in December to take corresponding report from designers", said the president at press conference after military exercise in
Novoozernoe, west Crimea.
The ship will be constructed at Ukrainian shipyards, 65% of weapons for new corvettes will also be produced in Ukraine, although the US, Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland to participate in development process.
"That is the best ship of its class. None of other vessels has such level of equipment, maneuverability and cruising range", thinks Yushchenko.
According to him, international weaponry market needs about 300 ships of that class. 10 corvettes of new model are required by Ukrainian Navy.
Alongside with that, Ministry of Defense is short of 300 000 grn (about $37 000) to square accounts with designers of a new ship, said the president.
"We must do everything to create an item in budget-2010 providing construction of 4 corvettes", said Yushchenko having added that otherwise he would not subscribe the budget.
