Ukraine's new warship Hetman Ivan Mazepa nears combat readiness
10:07 AM EDT, July 6, 2024
The Ukrainian Navy has released a unique video confirming the sea trials of a new warship for their armed forces. The Corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa is almost ready for combat and is expected to enter service in the upcoming months.
The development of the Ukrainian corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa is picking up speed. At the end of May this year, the ship, which was launched in October 2022, officially began its sea trials, a necessary step before it joined active service. The Communications Department of the Ukrainian Navy Command has released new footage showing that Hetman Ivan Mazepa is currently undergoing sea tests.
Defense Express, the portal sharing the video, emphasizes the timing of the Ukrainian armed forces' decision to publish this material. Ukrainians have stated that the new Corvette will join the fleet by 2024. The confirmation of ongoing tests thus indicates that the vessel is in the final stages before its official inclusion in Ukraine's arsenal.
Corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa for Ukrainians
Defense Express highlights several details in the new footage the Ukrainian Navy's department released. Most notably, the short video shows civilians on the ship's deck – likely employees of Turkish companies involved in the ship's construction, according to the report.
The Hetman Ivan Mazepa is a ship designed and built in Turkey. The Turks and Pakistanis have also ordered Ada-class vessels. Ukraine, meanwhile, is set to receive two such ships.
The short video also shows that the Corvette is still not fully equipped despite the ongoing sea trials. Notably, the helicopter landing pad on the ship's stern is yet to be completed.
However, the video also indicates that the Hetman Ivan Mazepa has a Leonardo Super Rapid 76 mm gun and an Aselsan Gokdeniz 35 mm anti-aircraft gun. There are also elements suggesting the presence of anti-ship missiles of an unknown type (though unofficially, it is speculated they could be RGM-84 Harpoon or RK-360 Neptun) and MICA VL anti-aircraft missiles.
It is also known that the corvette measures almost 328 feet (100 meters) in length and can reach speeds of about 40 mph (65 km/h). The ship can accommodate a 100-person crew and displaces approximately 2,400 tons. These dimensions make the Hetman Ivan Mazepa the largest ship in the Ukrainian Navy's arsenal.
