Ukrainian military asks Russia to put up with ships export to China

05.08.2010 Russia has no reasons to protest against Ukrainian-Chinese contract on four air-cushion ships which are to be built at Crimean shipyard More, informs Narodnaya Armiya, official newspaper of Ukrainian defense ministry. The More shipyard and its products are within Russia's sphere of interest.

The contract with China "has already set off negative reaction of Russian shipbuilders. However, friendship is one thing and business another; market always reposes on competition", points out the newspaper.

"The story with competitive contradictions around recent contract with China resembles "tank issues" of 90's when Russian suppliers tried to throw sand in the wheels of Ukrainian tank-builders by refusing to deliver constituent parts required for Ukraine's export contracts. As we remember, Russians counted on the fact that Ukrainians could not produce their tank T-80UD independently (portion of Ukrainian-made parts was less than 50%). However, Ukrainian tank-builders mastered manufacturing of constituent parts in the shortest possible time…increasing their portion up to 94-98%… As a result, Russians missed the order. It should be also pointed out that currently Ukraine also capable to produce less than 50% of above-mentioned ship Zubr. So, the conclusion is obvious: in such contracts parties should find mutually beneficial points of cooperation, since the experience shows that emotional "demarches" make no profit to anybody", says the publication cited by Novy Region.

The newspaper of Ukrainian military underlines that Russia has no reasons to worry about transfer of technical documentation to China, because Kiev will sell technology not of Russian-made Zubr but "Ukrainian-developed" ship. "Speaking of Russia's ban on documentation transfer of small air-cushion landing ship Zubr, it does not import in this case. Representatives of the shipyard More underline that they have signed contract with China to deliver not Zubr ships but Ukrainian-designed Project 958 landing craft. Thus, there is no ground for contradictions. Even more, considering the fact that a number of parts will anyway be made in Russia, Moscow should set itself up for fruitful, constructive, and – which is above all – mutually beneficial cooperation with Ukrainian partners".

We recall that there were reports in media about possible new "arms scandal" between Russia and Ukraine because of the contract tied between Crimean shipyard More and Chinese Navy on delivery of Zubr-type small air-cushion landing ships.

Having no analogs worldwide, Zubr ships are built only by More shipyard and Almaz Shipbuilding Company (Russia).