Ukraine leans on US to build military capability
Ukraine continues to expand its armed forces with the help of the US, with the acquisition late last year of additional Javelin antitank missiles being a prime example. This was surpassed in value by a contract last month, which involved the sale of 16 Mark VI patrol boats to Ukraine for almost $600 million.
Unlike the two 1980s-vintage Island-class craft supplied by the US to Kiev previously, the Mark VIs are a much more modern design, with the type having only entered USN service in 2016.
Deliveries of initial Javelin missiles and launchers from the December 2019 contract took place
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