As noted by the State Department, the final six of 10 Metal Shark boats, provided through 500 million Kenyan shillings ($4.9m USD) of grant funding from the U.S. Department of Defense, were delivered to the Kenya Navy in Mombasa port last week.
“The 10 Metal Shark boats represent the largest U.S. maritime security cooperation program in sub-Saharan Africa. The United States values the Kenyan commitment to building a more peaceful and secure Kenya and East Africa region,” says the embassy.
The vessels look to be Metal Shark’s 33-foot Relentless series, a trailerable near-shore center console fast boat of the same sort that MS has sold to Colombia to chase down coastal narco/terror types.
The craft will be used to carry Kenyan Rangers on maritime missions, and the country is increasingly involved in supporting U.S. interests in the HOA, especially when it comes to scrapping with Somali pirates and various Islamic militant groups in East Africa.
As for Metal Shark, they are rapidly becoming the go-to for small U.S. Navy craft. Janes reported last October that they have won a contract that could lead to as many as 100 PB(X) patrol boats, a 40 ft, welded-aluminum pilothouse patrol boat that can achieve sprint speeds in excess of 35 kt. The craft are going to the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command’s Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF).
The 40-foot PB(X), note the remote M2 forward and two pintels mounted options astern as well as an LRAD.
This is just after Metal Shark won a contract for State Department-paid FMS Near Coastal Patrol Vessels for overseas allies in the form of $54 million, to build up to 13 85-foot Defiant-class welded aluminum cutters for the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and other “United States partner nations.”
The 85-foot Defiant is pretty swag.
The 85-foot Defiant
The company also produced a half-dozen 45-footers for the Vietnam Coast Guard last year as well.