Turkish Bayraktar strike drones to be purchased for Ukrainian Navy in 2021

Ukraine's Navy Commander Oleksiy Neizhpapa says the Ukrainian Navy expects to seal in 2021 the purchase of a batch of Turkish Bayraktar strike drones.

"For use in the Black Sea and Azov operational zones, Bayraktars will get enhanced tactical and technical capabilities, including longer range. We will use them to monitor the sea surface and support our forces' onshore and offshore action," he told RFE/RL's Ukrainian service in an interview.

Read alsoNavy commander tells when Island-class patrol boats to arrive in UkraineThe official also said Ukraine should use all existing tools to get the naval vessels the country requires. Therefore, Kyiv has agreed with Ankara on the production of Turkey's ADA-type corvettes.

"Ukrainian shipyards must have in disposal technology meeting NATO standards. And thanks to the ADA-type corvette, we will have access to such technology. The fact is that the construction of ADA-type corvettes will begin at a Turkish shipyard, after which it will be completed at ours, in Ukraine," Neizhpapa said.

In December 2020, Ukraine and Turkey signed a technology transfer agreement for the production of the ADA-type corvettes and Bayraktar strike drones.

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