A video has appeared in Ukrainian quasi-military audiences showing an American-made Defiant 40 patrol boat moving along the Dnieper River with Ukrainian military personnel on board. Probably, it is undergoing sea trials, and the crew is being trained and will soon appear in service with the river flotilla of the Ukrainian Navy.
It should be noted that the 40 Defiant is part of the product range of Metal Shark (Louisiana, USA), specializing in the design and construction of welded aluminum and steel vessels from 16 to over 300 feet for defense, forces of the armed forces. Order and Trade Structures. At the same time, the documented boat is one of six such boats that at the end of June 2022 the US Navy promised to transfer to Kiev as military assistance of its own composition (in the 40 PB configuration) . Therefore, given the time that has elapsed, another five identical boats could be at the disposal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
It is a 40ft (actual length 13.3m) monohull boat in welded aluminum. It has six MK 16 gun mounts, plus a large forward mount for the MK 49 / MK 50 optically guided stabilized remote controlled weapon systems. Can reach speeds of up to 40 knots. It is powered by two Cummins QSB 6.7 inboard diesel engines mated via a Twin Disc MG5065SC marine transmission to Hamilton HTX30 waterjets designed specifically for the Navy 40 PB program.
It should be added that in the aforementioned June 2022, the said manufacturer announced that it was building 17 additional units of three types of small aluminum-hulled patrol boats to supply Kiev under the US military assistance programs which have started even before the start of Russian military defense in Ukraine. These are ten 38-foot enclosed wheelhouse patrol vessels, four 38-foot center console patrol vessels (without an enclosed wheelhouse) and three 36-foot Fearless interceptor boats.
36 Fearless has a closed cabin, three outboard motors (speed up to 60 knots) and a length of 10.97 m.
38 Defiant has a length of 11.58m and can reach speeds of up to 50 knots.
Each of these vessels is a proven military platform optimized for the mission in Ukraine
- The Metal Shark press release said at the time.
Photos used: metalsharkboats.com
