France will equip Ukrainian border guards with modern equipment and ships
Ukraine and France signed an agreement for the production and technical support of 20 patrol ships to strengthen the maritime security and safety system, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov announced this on his Twitter page.
A large intergovernmental framework agreement between Ukraine and France on official support in strengthening the system of maritime security and border security was signed today in Paris during the law enforcement exhibition Milipol 2019.
“On behalf of the Government of Ukraine, we signed an agreement with the French Minister of Internal Affairs CCastaner (136,5 million euros) on the production and technical support of 20 patrol ships, 5 of them and all RIB boats will be built in Ukraine. Thank you to France for its support in strengthening the maritime safety and security system,” the minister said.
After ratification of the agreement by the Verkhovna Rada, a technical contract will be signed.
It is planned that the fleet of the State Border Service of Ukraine will be replenished with 20 of the most modern 32-meter patrol ships of the OSEA company.
They will be used to protect the state border on water, surveillance, surveillance and control operations, search and rescue operations and counter sabotage and reconnaissance groups.
According to Arsen Avakov, the OSEA company's proposal was the most economically beneficial for Ukraine and the needs of the State Border Service of Ukraine, and France offered an integrated approach of credit financing and partial localization, 25% of production in Ukraine.
“Every fourth ship will be manufactured in Ukraine. In this way, we will protect the waters of our seas and by localizing production in Ukraine, approximately, it will be one of the Nikolaev factories, we will be able to revive the production of boats with an aluminum hull. We hope that after this deal we will produce boats on an ongoing basis at the Nikolaev plant,” the minister emphasized.
Under the terms of the Agreement, additional equipment for the boats will be Ukrainian - small high-speed boats that are manufactured in Kharkov, weapons will also be domestic.
“The project costs 136 million euros. We pay 15% directly from the state budget. And 85% is a special loan from the French Treasury with minimal interest. The agreement includes the purchase of boats, personnel training and maintenance. In addition to the production and supply of vessels, the project includes a service system, training of 240 crew members and 120 technical personnel, spare parts and tools necessary for maintenance for 2 years of operation (or 2400 hours), technical support in Ukraine (one technician at a time) and the engineer of the manufacturer’s company) within 60 months from the date of delivery of the first ship to Ukraine, delivery of ships to Odessa and insurance during the transition,” noted Arsen Avakov.
The project is designed until 2024, and Ukraine will be able to receive the first ship in 2021.
The ships will be located in places of permanent deployment of maritime security units of the State Border Guard Service - Odessa, Mariupol, Berdyansk, Izmail and Kiliya.
Deputy Interior Minister Sergei Goncharov said the boats' hulls would be made from marine grade aluminum to make them lighter and more maneuverable.
“These are the latest trends in manufacturing. Aluminum hulls provide a shallower draft, meaning vessels can operate in shallow waters. This is an environmentally friendly material and can be used for a long time. We researched the experience of using such boats. In addition, this is a great opportunity for our shipbuilding industry not only to restore production, but also to attract new technologies,” he said.
Sergei Goncharov noted that the length of the vessel is 32 meters, maximum speed is 30-32 knots, autonomy is about a week, and the cruising range is 1200 nautical miles.
Arsen Avakov also noted that he paid special attention to technological innovations for the State Border Guard Service - these are scanners that can improve the throughput of checkpoints and balloons to combat smuggling.
“The good thing about the scanner is that it does not emit radiation. In our country, unfortunately, there is a large demarcation line between Ukraine and its occupied part. Therefore, we have checkpoints. Such scanners not only allow a large number of people to pass through at the same time, but also immediately detect prohibited items. Also of interest are balloons that have a communication system with units on the ground. We could use these to counter smuggling in the Odessa region and the Carpathian region, Transcarpathia, that is, in difficult-to-reach regions,” said Arsen Avakov.
The minister also drew attention to the video facial recognition system. It was with the help of these devices that France was able to identify the terrorists.
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