Metal Shark press release
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, four 38-foot Defiant center console patrol vessels, and three 36-foot Fearless high-performance military interceptor vessels. Each of these vessels are proven military platforms 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. As a result, vessels will begin shipping immediately.
“Metal Shark has been working closely with the US Embassy in Kiev since 2019 to develop the strategy now being implemented to support Ukraine’s maritime capabilities, so it is fulfilling to see that the vessels will arrive when they are most needed. Metal Shark provides next-generation, proven platforms to partner nations, but most importantly, we create long term partnerships with end users to train boat crews and provide seamless technical support to assure 24/7 operational readiness.”
Henry Irizarry, Metal Shark’s Vice President of International Business Development.
“We have built an efficient production machine capable of delivering high quality, next-generation military vessels, faster, and at higher volume, than anyone else in the business. Metal Shark stands ready and able to support our warfighters with game-changing lethality, delivered via conventional or unmanned platforms, anywhere in the world, whenever needed.”
Metal Shark’s CEO Chris Allard.
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Naval News comments:
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced on 23 June it will provide Ukraine with 18 patrol boats. Those are part of the latest package of “security assistance valued at up to $450 million to meet critical needs for Ukraine’s fight”. The exact type of patrol boats were not specified and Naval News believed at the time that they would likely be Mark VI patrol boats.
It turns out that the boats in questions will actually be “six US Navy Metal Shark maritime combat vessels” known as 40PB:
In addition, the Louisiana-based shipbuilder will deliver:
- ten 38-foot Defiant pilothouse patrol vessels
- four 38-foot Defiant center console patrol vessels
- three 36-foot Fearless high-performance military interceptor vessels
