Ukraine's impending naval might: Corvette sea trials success
The Ukrainian Navy has released a video showcasing the sea trials of the corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa. The vessel, approaching completion, will be the largest warship for the Ukrainians.
Work on the corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa commenced even before the outbreak of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. Construction continued unaffected as the ship is being built in Turkey. Consequently, there were no issues with launching the vessel in October 2022 and beginning a series of sea trials in areas controlled by Turkey. In July 2024, Ukrainian forces tested the ship's armaments, and they have since showcased footage of the helipad usage, which is one of the features of the corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa.
Further sea trials of the corvette Hetman Iwan Mazepa
The Hetman Ivan Mazepa is a corvette classified among Ada-class vessels. These ships are developed in Turkey under contracts from several navies. Ukraine is set to receive two of these units, which will be their largest warships. Hetman Ivan Mazepa measures 328 feet in length and has a displacement of approximately 2,650 tonnes.
During sea trials that focused on the "air wing," a Turkish SH-60 Seahawk was utilized. This multi-mission naval helicopter, developed in the United States, measures roughly 49 feet in length. It is unclear which helicopters Ukraine plans to use in the long term.
The largest Ukrainian warship
The 328-foot-long corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa can achieve about 35 knots (approximately 65 km/h). The crew will consist of 93 officers and sailors, and the ship can accommodate an additional dozen or so personnel. It has an autonomy of 10 days.
The new Ukrainian vessel is expected to be well-armed, although specific details have not all been disclosed. However, the deck will certainly include a 76 mm OTO Melara naval gun, torpedo launchers, launchers for anti-ship missiles (likely RGM-84 Harpoon or RK-360 Neptun), and anti-aircraft missiles.
