Ukraine receives Danish naval technology

During her visit to Ukraine on 18 December 2021, Danish Defence Minister Trine Bramsen signed a memorandum of understanding on the provision of Danish naval technology to the Eastern European country. Denmark is the third country, after Turkey and the United Kingdom, with which Ukraine has concluded such a shipbuilding cooperation agreement. In November 2021, British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace visited Ukraine and finalised an agreement to "develop the capabilities of Ukraine's naval forces" (marineforum online reported).

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna (r.) with Danish Defence Minister Trine Bramsen (l.). Photo: Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine

Multipurpose vessel MPV 80

Specifically, it is about the MPV80 (Multi Purpose Vessel) project. This is a variant of the Knud Rasmussen Arctic patrol vessel developed by Naval Team Denmark. The Royal Danish Navy operates three of these units. A Ukrainian delegation recently inspected the type ship during its lay-up at Karstensens Skibsværft A/S in Skagen, which is also the shipyard of this class. Odense Martime Technology A/S (OMT) designed the 72-metre long, 2,600-tonne displacement vessels.

The MPV80s planned for Ukraine are intended for the coastguard and search and rescue service. According to information on the website of the Ukrainian embassy in Copenhagen, the MPV80 type envisaged by Ukraine has the following specifications:

Photo: Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, "Politiken" newspaper

A note on the illustration: the box mentions that MPV80 will fulfil 128 functions. It is not clear to the author whether this includes swimming.

No details have yet been provided about the equipment. The Knud Rasmussen class can be equipped with different mission modules in three container positions. The helicopter deck is prepared for containerised research laboratories and the transport of 20' ISO containers. The units of the Danish Navy operate with one 7 metre and one 4.8 metre rigid inflatable hull boat as well as a Storebro SB90E LCP transfer boat. As Danish technology is to be installed in the MPV80s, Terma could come into play with a radar from the Scanter series. Due to the larger dimensions of the MPV80, the helicopter deck could enable operations by a medium-weight helicopter (up to 10 tonnes).

MPV80, the first unit of which is expected in 2024, is to be built in Ukraine. More than half of the order volume is to be realised by Ukrainian companies. The project is being financed with the help of the Danish Export Credit Fund (EKF, Eksport Kredit Fonden). The Danish government is providing a guarantee of DKK 7.8 billion (USD 1.19 billion, EUR 1.05 billion).

Nothing has yet been announced about unit numbers either. The cost of the last unit of the Knud Rasmussen class is stated at DKK 513 million. The French Gowind 2500 class, which is at least roughly comparable in size to the MPV80, is expected to cost 375 million euros.

Win-win for Copenhagen and Kiev

The Ukrainian shipbuilding industry is facing a much-needed renaissance. In 2021, the Ukrainian government launched a programme to restore Ukrainian shipbuilding and mechanical engineering. Over the next five years, the programme aims to build sea and river vessels in particular, as well as railway vehicles and aircraft. It is expected that the measures to promote shipbuilding will create almost 50,000 jobs. According to earlier information from the Ministry of the Interior, the programme launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is expected to increase the number of jobs in the shipbuilding industry from 6,800 to 56,000. The shipbuilding industry's share of gross domestic product is set to increase eightfold between 2019 and 2025.

For Denmark, the agreement is not only an international success, but also has industrial policy significance: "In the government's strategy for the Danish defence industry, we emphasise that the Danish defence industry is important for Danish security and for the community with our allies and partners," said Danish Defence Minister Trine Bramsen on the occasion of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.

It is conceivable that the Danish consortium will use the construction sites in Ukraine for the further utilisation of this ship class for its own purposes. The torsos of the Knud Rasmussen class were built in Gdansk. There is strong international competition in the market segment for a patrol vessel 80 (MPV or OPV). All well-known manufacturers are represented.

Not un-sensitive in terms of foreign policy

The agreement, which forms the political framework for more detailed agreements on the subsequent measures, is also significant in terms of foreign policy. This is because the declarations of intent and the provision of funds go beyond the usual declarations of support on the Brussels stage. The Minister of Defence made the following statement: "An important aim of my visit to Kiev is to show Danish support for Ukraine in the current situation. Support can be given in words, but actions naturally outweigh words."

Arms deliveries and other military support from NATO member states to Ukraine have been common since 2014. Last year, the USA supported Ukraine with around 450 million US dollars in weapons and military services. France supplies patrol boats (marineforum online reported).

Shortly before Christmas, Berlin's alleged blockade of weapons deliveries within the NATO framework caused disagreements with Kiev. However, as the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported on 13 December 2021, the German government agreed to the delivery of a defensive weapons system. Germany only spoke out against the likewise pending procurement of ninety sniper rifles - made in the USA.

At the beginning of 2022, it was announced in Brussels that Estonia intends to supply heavy weapons to Ukraine. According to the Estonian News Agency, the provision of missile and artillery weapon systems for anti-tank defence is being considered.

Among Ukraine's more civilian procurements, the MPV80 programme joins the purchase of the British polar supply and research vessel "James Clark Ross" in August 2021, which will provide Kiev with its first icebreaker to supply its Antarctic outpost, the Akademik Vernadskiy station.