US to send Ukraine over 20 "Defiant" boats

The United States will supply Ukraine with 23 “Defiant” patrol boats built by Louisiana-based Metal Shark.

In an effort to help Ukraine to better protect its coastline, waterways, and ports, the United States is providing the country with a range of defence articles, including 23 welded-aluminium military vessels “Defiant”, Caliber.Az reports, citing Naval News.

Last week it was announced that six US Navy Metal Shark maritime combat vessels would be sent to Ukraine as part of a $450 million security assistance package. Meanwhile, at Metal Shark’s Franklin and Jeanerette, Louisiana production facilities, production is well underway on 17 additional vessels for Ukraine, including ten 38-foot Defiant pilothouse patrol vessels, and four 38-foot Defiant centre console patrol vessels, and three 36-foot Fearless high-performance military interceptor vessels. Each of these vessels are proven military platform optimized for the Ukraine mission.

The boats are being built and delivered as part of a long-range foreign policy strategy years in the making, but recent events in Ukraine have caused an acceleration of the timelines leading to immediate shipping of the vessels.