The flagship of the Ukrainian Naval Forces lost its remaining combat capability
The only full-fledged warship of Ukraine, the frigate Hetman Sahaidachny, has lost its combat capabilities and needs to be modernized.
Ukrainian military expert Taras Chmut stated this in his blog, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
According to Chmut, in almost 30 years of operation the ship has not undergone comprehensive modernization programs, and repairs were targeted and not systematic.
“Today the ship is virtually uncombat-ready and rarely goes to sea. In fact, there are three options: either leave everything as is and write it off in the future, or repair with local modernization, which will allow the ship to be used at a basic level, or deep modernization with the replacement of key systems and weapons, which will increase capabilities, but at the same time time, there are risks of never fully implementing the modernization project.
For Ukraine, it is important to find the optimal balance between “funds spent and results obtained.” At the same time, the question of whether we need a frigate should not arise at all - we must 100% preserve and restore it. This is the only platform on which we can train naval aviation and hydroacoustic crews, carry out long-distance voyages and raise sailors for whom the sea is their native element. On the other hand, it is important not to turn the restoration of the ship into an eternal process, which annually eats up funds, and the hull continues to stand against the wall,” Chmut wrote.
The Ukrainian Navy's flagship has lost its remaining combat capability.