Minister Taran: Ukraine to get ‘mosquito fleet’ no later than in 2022

Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Taran said at the Ukraine Reform Conference in Vilnius on July 7, Ukrinform reports.

“I don't want to go into details, but right now we're creating a so-called ‘mosquito fleet’. Not just a ‘mosquito fleet’ without any capabilities. What we are trying to do is to give these ‘mosquitoes’ modern combat capabilities. I would like to see at least next year anti-ship missiles to be installed on these small ships. It is no secret, especially for the Russians, that we do not have real weapons that can stop an attack from the sea. But very soon, I am sure, no later than next year, we will have, with the help of the United States and Great Britain, several small ships of mosquito fleet but with real combat capability,” Taran said.

He said that the Ministry of Defense was also working to create additional capabilities. This year, an order was signed to arm the Ukrainian Navy with a new system of anti-ship missiles which would be based on land. The type of missiles to be installed on a corvette being built in Turkey is being addressed.

"We also try to develop certain capabilities with the involvement of combat helicopters. We prepare new blades for combat helicopters and will equip them with new anti-ship missiles that can be used against the enemy,” Taran added.

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