U.S. Offers Ukraine Obsolete 40 Year Old Frigates for Defence Against Russia

Amid strengthening bilateral defence cooperation the United States has reportedly offered Oliver Hazard Perry Class guided missile frigates to the government of Ukraine as part of an attempt to strengthen its newfound Eastern European ally’s defences against neighbouring Russia. While Ukraine was formerly one of the world’s foremost military shipbuilders, with the only shipyards in the world capable of manufacturing supercarriers other than those in the United States, the deterioration of the country’s defence sector alongside its economy in general has meant that these capabilities have been lost. What little military shipbuilding Ukraine retained by the 2010s was hard hit by restrictions imposed by the new government in Kiev on arms sales to Russia from 2014 - as the country previously provided a number of key components to Russia’s own shipyards due to the complementary nature of their defence sectors - a legacy of the Soviet era. The result is that Ukraine’s Navy, much like its Air Force, is increasingly unable to modernise its assets and is forced to make a highly costly shift to imported Western technologies - one which the cash strapped government can ill afford.

What is notable about the offer of Oliver Hazard Perry Class warships is the platform’s age - which given the sophistication of Russia’s own naval and anti ship assets means that they will likely have a negligible impact in the event of a Ukrainian-Russian conflict in the Black or Azov seas. Entering service in 1975, the Perry Class was largely developed with exports in mind in the final days of the Vietnam War - with the Iranian government of Mohamed Reza Shah expected to be the first major customer. Today the majority of ships of the class have been retired, and their capabilities are effectively obsolete for modern naval warfare.  They have nevertheless been provided second hand by the U.S. Navy to a number of lower tier allies including Egypt, Bahrain, Turkey and Poland.

The United States reportedly offered Ukraine the Oliver Hazard Perry Class frigates under "Excessive Defense Property," with the offer having been made through a letter to the Ukrainian Defence Ministry via the military attache of the United States Embassy - according to Ukrainian sources. This program has facilitated considerable transfers of ageing and often obsolete U.S. weapons to third world allies - both to strengthen their defences against common adversaries and to avoid scrapping large amounts of equipment. A Ukrainian report states regarding the American offer to provide the country with warships: "Among the proposals, the issue is being considered of obtaining the Oliver Hazard Perry type frigates that are in the possession of the U.S. Navy and could be transferred under the Excess Defense Property program." Ultimately whether the deal will go ahead remains to be seen, but Ukraine may seek a less costly and in many ways more effective alternative - the acquisition of small missile boats. With its shipyards still capable of manufacturing these vessels, they remain a cost effective and asymmetric defensive asset against Russian forces.