The French company DCNS at the shipyard in Saint-Nazaire launched the first landing helicopter-carrying dock ship of the Mistral type, which is being built in the interests of the Russian Navy. According to RIA Novosti, the ship, named "Vladivostok", will later be transferred to Russia to the St. Petersburg plant "Severnaya Verf" for retrofitting and armament. The Vladivostok will enter the Pacific Fleet on November 1, 2014.
The laying of the second helicopter carrier ─ Sevastopol ─ took place in France in June 2013. This ship is expected to join the Pacific Fleet in 2015. The construction of ships is carried out with the participation of Russian enterprises. In particular, the Baltiysky Zavod is engaged in assembling parts of the ship hulls. The formation of crews of promising Russian helicopter carriers has already begun. In addition, the composition of the aviation groups of Mistral-type ships has been determined, which will include a deck modification of the Ka-52 attack helicopter, which received the Ka-52K index.
Let's take a closer look at how the construction of this ship is going...
The latest Russian weapons systems for strike and defense purposes, including supersonic cruise missiles, will be installed on all four Mistral-type landing helicopter dock ships (DVKD) built for the Russian Navy both in France and in Russia. This was reported to ITAR-TASS by a source in the military-industrial complex of Russia.
“It is planned that both the first two French-built Mistrals and the next two DVKDs, built already in Russia, will be equipped with the most modern domestic weapons systems, including supersonic cruise missile launchers, the latest anti-missile, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine defense systems and complexes. “, — said the source.
Of course, the Mistrals will take on board attack and anti-submarine helicopters, artillery, landing craft, boats, armored vehicles and other equipment and weapons, he added.
Work on the installation of French-built Russian weapons on the first two DVKDs will be carried out in Russia at one of its defense enterprises after the arrival of ships from the French Saint-Nazaire, the source said.
Laid down on November 14, 2012 at OJSC Shipbuilding Plant Severnaya Verf. Serial number 880
The General Staff of the RF Armed Forces confirmed this information. “We do not need the unarmed DVKDs that the French Navy has. Such Mistrals are essentially giant floating transporters with modern combat control, navigation, reconnaissance and communications systems, a kind of defenseless floating command posts that need to be covered both from the sea and from the air by other warships and aircraft, ”said a source in Main headquarters.
“The DVKD of our Navy should not only control the actions of various types of forces of naval groups (surface ships, submarines, naval aviation) or even the actions of interspecific groups in the sea and ocean theaters of military operations, not only deliver and land marines on armored vehicles with with the help of helicopters and landing craft, but they themselves must have sufficient fire and strike power to be full-fledged self-protected multi-functional warships as part of these groups, ”he stressed.
“Therefore, the Russian DVKD will be equipped with cruise missiles with an increased firing range, the latest air defense, missile defense and anti-aircraft defense systems,” a source in the General Staff concluded.
Installation on the slipway of an element of the section under construction DVKD "Vladivostok", "Baltic Plant", 01.10.2012 (photo - http://fontanka.ru, http://bmpd.livejournal.com).
22.06.2012
In August 2012, at the Russian shipyard of the Baltic Shipbuilding Plant in St. Petersburg, work will begin on the construction of blocks of BPC-class ships of the Mistral type for the Russian Navy, part of the BPC-class ships ordered by Rosoboronexport in June 2011 from DCNS will be built in Russia under a technology transfer agreement.
17.07.2012
From 2013, the Russian Navy will begin training flight personnel, which will be based on the Mistral universal landing ship (UDC) purchased in France, Major General Igor Kozhin, Acting Chief of Naval Aviation, said. The preparation of Mistral-type amphibious assault ships (UDC) under construction in France for Russian operating conditions "is carried out in full accordance with the schedule." As noted in a statement received by ITAR-TASS from the manufacturing company DCNS Shipbuilding Corporation, “the second stage of adaptation is now underway” in accordance with the requirements of the Russian Federation, which will be completed by September this year.
18.07.2012
“The Russian specification, first of all, assumes that the UDC will be able to receive Kamov helicopters with coaxial rotors. In addition, the contractor must install Russian equipment on the ships, with the exception of weapons, the communiqué says. - The Mistrals will also be prepared for navigation in cold climates, which means an increase in the power of electric generators. This is partly necessary in order to ensure partial melting of the ice on the take-off area. In addition, all ship control systems and signal displays will be translated into Russian.”
In the French city of Saint-Nazaire, the construction of Mistrals for the Russian Federation is in full swing, DCNS stressed. “In September of this year, the first 100-ton UDC hull block will be ready. It will be installed on the keel blocks in early 2013, marking the start of the assembly phase,” the company said in a statement.
The Russian United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) will also take part in the construction of two Mistrals. According to DCNS, it will "build 12 aft hull blocks for each ship."
The first ship of the Mistral series is to be delivered to the Russian Navy in 2014, the second - at the end of 2015. The French side, in accordance with the Mistral contract, will transfer to Russia technologies for the construction of surface ships, as well as the combat information and control system SENIT-9, which is equipped with French landing ships. Subsequently, these technologies will be used in the construction of two other UDCs of the Mistral type at Russian shipyards. Russia will carry out the construction of the third and fourth UDC of the Mistral type on its own. (ARMS-TASS)
http://www.fontanka.ru).
At the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg June 26, 2013 launched the stern of the new Mistral ship, built jointly with the French company STX for the Russian Navy. Now the aft part of the Mistral (its weight was 6.4 thousand tons) will be towed to the French shipyard Saint-Nazarie.
“On July 25, the stern will arrive in Saint-Nazar, where work will start on docking it with the rest of the parts and building the ship,” said Yves Destefanis, director of programs for the French military shipbuilding company DCNS.
The ceremony of launching the stern part of the head DVKD Mistral for the Russian Navy, St. Petersburg, “Baltiysky Zavod”, 06/26/2013 (http://www.fontanka.ru).
The ceremony of launching the stern part of the head DVKD Mistral for the Russian Navy, St. Petersburg, "Baltiysky Zavod", 06/26/2013 (photo - Igor Russak, http://ria.ru).
The press service of the United Shipbuilding Corporation told the agency that the stern part was launched at 10 am Moscow time in accordance with the contract. The launch of the stern was carried out in the presence of the leaders of the USC, the French companies STX-France and DCNS and Rosoboronexport. 
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, June 2013 (photo by Vincent Groizeleau, published 06/20/2013, http://www.meretmarine.com viahttp://bmpd.livejournal.com).
25.07.2012
Shipbuilding Corporation DCNS announced some features of the Mistral-type universal landing ship (UDC) project with a displacement of 22,000 tons, which will be built for the Russian Navy. In accordance with the intergovernmental Franco-Russian agreement signed in January 2011, DCNS and Rosoboronexport in June 2011 signed a contract for the construction of two UDCs in France. DCNS Corporation is the lead contractor and will also be responsible for the integration of the ship's combat information and control system (CICS) and communications systems. The French company STX France will build the ships under a subcontract with DCNS.
According to DCNS information received by the ARMS-TASS agency, the list of UDC design modifications in accordance with the requirements of the Russian Navy is currently at a very advanced stage of coordination. The first stage of work was completed in April with the provision of a preliminary analysis of the PDR project (preliminary design review). After that, the second stage was started, including a detailed study of the design of the ship, which will be completed in September 2012.
Russian requirements provide for a modification of the UDC design for basing Ka-29K and Ka-52K carrier-based helicopters. The ships will also be modified to operate in arctic conditions, which means increasing the capacity of the power supply system to ensure that the ice on the flight deck melts. All ship control systems and signal displays will be translated into Russian.
The stern of the head DVKD Mistral for the Russian Navy, St. Petersburg, "Baltic Plant", early July 2013 (photo -http://pfc-joker.livejournal.com).
04.10.2012
In 2013, the Ministry of Defense will form new marine battalions designed to be deployed on Mistral landing helicopter-carrying dock ships, as a source in the Navy's main command explained, the American experience was taken as the basis for the staff of the new battalions. 10/22/2012
RTI named after Academician Mints signed an agreement with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for the serial supply of BRIZ equipment for Ka-52 helicopters and its modifications, the equipment allows you to transmit video from a helicopter in real time, remotely make decisions on the management of an aviation group and the use of aviation weapons , as well as to control the results of their application, including for controlling the landing of helicopters on Mistral-type helicopter carriers.
The aft part of the Vladivostok DVKD arrived in Saint-Nazaire, France, on July 23, 2013 (photo - DCNS via http://ria.ru).
30.10.2012
The ballasting control system for a multi-tonnage ship, installed on the French Mistrals, is absent in the Russian version of helicopter carriers, which may adversely affect their safety.
“On three French Mistrals, a unique integrated automated control system for all the technical means of the ship, developed by the well-known Norwegian company L3Marin, has been installed and has proven itself well. It specializes in developments for large-tonnage ships that need automated control of ballasting,” said Rear Admiral Vladimir Pepelyaev, former Deputy Chief of the Main Staff of the Navy.
He recalled that in the Russian-French contract for the acquisition of the Mistral ships, it was agreed that if the price was not exceeded and the system was no worse, then the manufacturer had the right to supply its own. What the French took advantage of, intending to install on Russian helicopter carriers their own control system for technical means, worked out on their frigates and corvettes. “These ships have a much smaller tonnage, and, accordingly, they do not have a ballasting control system,” the admiral explained.
“The question is, if the French have a better system, then why don’t they put it on their ships, but buy it from the Norwegians”? - the expert asks, and continues: “The manufacturers of the Mistrals can be understood - they want to sell us their own systems together with the ship and prevent Norwegian competitors from earning. The Navy is practically pushed aside from this process, and Rosoboronexport is authorized to draw up documents and fulfill the will of the customer - the Russian Ministry of Defense, which for some reason does not insist on receiving advanced technologies together with the Mistral, in particular, a proven world-famous system. (Military Industrial Courier)
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, June 2013 (photo by Vincent Groizeleau, published 06/20/2013, http://www.meretmarine.com viahttp://bmpd.livejournal.com).
1.02.2013
The Main Command of the Russian Navy has formed the requirements for a new infantry fighting vehicle, which will have to land from landing helicopter-carrying dock ships of the Mistral type. According to the Izvestia newspaper, the vehicle should be highly buoyant, accommodate at least 15 fighters with standard weapons and equipment, have mortars, automatic grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft missile systems and heavy machine guns, according to a newspaper source, the new vehicle should be larger than the existing ones in service with the BMP-2, BMP-3 and BTR-80, the mass of the new BMP for the Mistrals should be about 30 tons.
In addition, a complex of passive protection and active protection of the Arena type should be installed on the armored car. The power plant for the BMP must be at least 400 horsepower, and it must be installed either a gas turbine engine with electric transmission, or an engine with a capacity of 750 horsepower from promising Kurganets-25 or BMP-3F armored vehicles.
As expected, the developer of a promising BMP will be determined by the end of 2013 following an open competition. The defense of the project is planned for the spring of 2014, followed by development and production.
According to the Main Command of the Russian Navy, the development of a heavy landing vehicle is necessary in order to follow global trends - the over-the-horizon method of landing marines using helicopters and landing boats. At the same time, armored vehicles cover a distance of 30-40 kilometers to the coast on their own.
16.04.2013
Helicopter carriers of the Mistral type will be based not only in Vladivostok, but also in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the rest of the points are being considered, said Roman Filimonov, director of the state customer department for capital construction of the Russian Defense Ministry, in an interview with RIA Novosti.
“Several options (based) were considered, but the choice was made in Vladivostok, since it is possible to use the existing transport infrastructure there. In the future, it is necessary to create conditions for temporary parking, replenishment of supplies, loading and unloading of troops and recreation of crews in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Other base points are under development and consideration,” Filimonov said.
Active designing, preparation of the production base and production capacities in the region are now beginning, he noted. The Ministry of Defense plans "to enter a wide range of construction and installation works as early as the beginning of next year." According to the plan, it is necessary to make a new berthing front for both ships and a developed supporting infrastructure in 2015 - by the time the first Mistral is ready to go to Primorye.
“Having organized the basing of the Mistrals in a large settlement, we will solve a whole range of social issues for their crews - first of all, providing servicemen and their families with service housing. In the near future, the creation of a significant fund of service housing in the Snegovaya Pad microdistrict of Vladivostok will be completed, ”the agency’s interlocutor emphasized.
RIA News
30.04.2013
The French company STX Lorient, part of the STX France group, will build four "barge-like" landing craft and hand them over to the Russian Ministry of Defense in 2014. According to Mer et Marine, these boats will be used on the Mistral-type landing helicopter-carrying dock ships Vladivostok and Sevastopol, which are also being built in France by DCNS by order of the Russian side.
Earlier it was reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense planned to purchase French landing trimarans of the L-CAT (EDA-R) project for the Russian Mistrals, but after the change in leadership, the department refused to purchase such boats without explanation. In September 2012, it was also reported that the Russian defense department could not find suitable boats for the Mistrals.
Later, an Interfax source in the military-industrial complex stated that Vladivostok and Sevastopol could be equipped with project 11770 Serna and
21280 "Dugong". At the same time, the interlocutor of the agency noted that “the problem with the boats is absolutely far-fetched,” since the Chamois and Dugong, in terms of weight and dimensions, are completely suitable for the Mistrals.
Lenta.ru
22.05.2013
The plans of the Ministry of Defense regarding the second helicopter carrier, which is being built for our Navy at French shipyards, have become known. This ship is planned to be included in the Black Sea Fleet and given the name of the hero city of Russian sailors - Sevastopol. They hope to celebrate the solemn event at the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in four years - in 2017. But, as the admirals say, the place of registration of the helicopter carrier, most likely, will not be the Crimean coast, but the new military port in Novorossiysk.
03.06.2013
Japan is concerned about the agreement between Moscow and Paris on the supply to Russia of two universal landing ships (UDC) of the Mistral type. This was announced on June 2, 2013 in Singapore by the Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera at the talks with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, held on the sidelines of the forum of the heads of the military departments of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region in the framework of the so-called "Shangri-La Dialogue" . "This decision upsets the balance of power in the Far East," I. Onodera emphasized.
Currently, the French shipyard in Saint-Nazaire is building two UDCs of the Mistral type (Vladivostok and Sevastopol), intended for transfer to the Russian Navy.
Earlier, the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces noted that at least one of them could be transferred to the Pacific Fleet.
ARMS-TASS
04.06.2013
The fourteenth meeting of the Russian-French Committee on military-technical cooperation was held in Yekaterinburg on May 28, the FSMTC press service reported. The parties summed up the results of the activities of the working groups in the naval, land and aviation fields and identified promising areas of cooperation of mutual interest. The parties noted with satisfaction the progress of work on the construction of Mistral-type landing helicopter dock ships in the interests of the Russian Navy and agreed to further expand military-technical cooperation, the FSMTC press service reports.
This is how the stern went to France:
The start of the docking of the DVKD “Vladivostok” hull – the Mistral-type DVKD for the Russian Navy – has been completed. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, July 25, 2013 (photo by STX France via http://bmpd.livejournal.com).
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, July 23, 2013 (photo - Gilbert Cailler, http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1843349).
The docking of the DVKD Vladivostok hull, the Mistral-type DVKD for the Russian Navy, has been completed. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, July 25, 2013 (photo by STX France via http://bmpd.livejournal.com).
06.06.2013
In accordance with the terms of the Russian-French contract for the construction of the first two universal landing ships (UDC) of the Mistral type, the stern of the first UDC will be sent from Russia to France in July. This was reported to ITAR-TASS today by a well-informed source in the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC). JSC Baltiysky Zavod - Shipbuilding in St. Petersburg is completing preparations for launching the aft section of the first Mistral-type DVKD within the contract period.
19.06.2013
The laying of the second ship of the Mistral type will take place on Tuesday at the French shipyards in San Nazaire, a high-ranking representative of the military-industrial complex, who is part of the Russian delegation at the exhibition in Le Bourget, told RIA Novosti. The first Mistral-class ship Vladivostok was laid down in 2012. “Today, a solemn ceremony of the official laying of the second Mistral-class ship Sevastopol will take place,” the source said. A Russian delegation, which included General Director of Rosoboronexport Anatoly Isaikin, flew to the solemn ceremony from Paris to San Nazaire.
19.06.2013
The Ministry of Defense abandoned the plan to manufacture in Russia the aft part for the first Russian Mistral-class helicopter carrier, which is being built in France. According to the RIA Novosti agency, this was announced on Tuesday, June 18, by Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov. According to Borisov, it has now been decided to manufacture the stern in France, where the construction of the landing helicopter carrier Vladivostok began in 2012. The deputy minister explained the change in the plan by the fact that the St. Petersburg company Severnaya Verf does not meet the deadlines: “We will not take risks so as not to keep the contract.”
Lenta.ru
19.06.2013
OAO Baltiysky Zavod-Sudostroenie June 26, 2013, on time? agreed with the French side, will launch in St. Petersburg the stern of the first landing helicopter-carrying dock ship (DVKD) of the Mistral type, which is being built in cooperation with France for the Russian Navy. This was reported by the Portnews agency with reference to the press service of the United Shipbuilding Corporation OJSC (OSK OJSC). In this regard, USC OJSC notes that the information about the transfer to France of the construction of stern blocks of the first of the two Mistral-type DVKD under construction for Russia, which previously appeared in some media, does not correspond to reality.
19.06.2013
OJSC Shipbuilding Plant "Severnaya Verf" (St. Petersburg) does not have any contracts for the construction of the aft part of the first landing helicopter-carrying ship-dock (DVKD) "Vladivostok" of the Mistral type. In this regard, the information posted in some media about the failure to meet the deadlines for the construction of the aft section for the first Mistral-type DVKD by OJSC SZ Severnaya Verf is invalid.
Press service of JSC SZ "Severnaya Verf"
04.07.2013
Trial operation of the first and second Mistral-type helicopter carriers will make it possible to assess the need for the third and fourth ships of this class, Vice Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, said. “The first experience in accepting two ships and equipping them with weapons systems will show whether we need the rest of the helicopter carriers. Then a decision will be made on the construction of the third and fourth ships. We must first complete the construction of the first two, organize their acceptance and trial operation,” Fedotenkov said during the opening of the International Maritime Defense Show in St. Petersburg.
military-industrial complex
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" of the Mistral type for the Russian Navy before launching. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France. October 15, 2013 (photo - Daniil Nizamutdinov, http://en.ria.ru).
landing helicopter-carrying ship-dock "Vladivostok" Mistral type for the Russian Navy before launching. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France. October 15, 2013 (photo by Frank Perry, AFP, http://www.lexpress.fr).
02.09.2013
The service of the first Russian amphibious assault ship-dock "Vladivostok" of the Mistral type will be carried out by the enterprise "Dalzavod" in Vladivostok. This was announced on the air of the TV channel "Russia 24" by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Rogozin. “The first ship is called Vladivostok, and therefore it will be serviced in Vladivostok,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted. Rogozin also said that in October 2013 a meeting of the military-industrial commission will be held, at which issues of armament of the helicopter carrier will be discussed.
Steering column DVKD "Vladivostok" type Mistral. Before launching. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France. October 15, 2013 (photo - Daniil Nizamutdinov, http://en.ria.ru).
16.10.2013
The Pacific Fleet is recruiting for the crews of the landing helicopter carriers Vladivostok and Sevastopol.
The crew of these ships will be more than two hundred people and will be completed exclusively from warrant officers and contractors. The selection is carried out by specialists of the personnel department of the Pacific Fleet.
Landing helicopter-carrying ship-dock "Vladivostok" of the Mistral type for the Russian Navy shortly before launching. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France. September 2013 (photo - AFP, http://legatus-minor.livejournal.com/).
17.10.2013
Terms of reference for equipping ships of the Mistral type with landing craft and on-board systems are being developed strictly in accordance with the schedule, a high-ranking representative of the Navy told RIA Novosti on October 15.
So he denied the information of some media that allegedly the main command of the Russian Navy did not formulate technical specifications for equipping the first helicopter carrier of this type, Vladivostok, with weapons systems and landing craft.
“The completion of the ship in Russia is scheduled for 2014, and this plan will be followed. All technical specifications for equipping the Mistral-type DKVD with landing craft and on-board weapons systems are being developed taking into account their most effective use after the ship is handed over to the Navy. Therefore, it is at least incorrect to talk about some delays in the work of naval specialists, ”said a representative of the Navy.
25.10.2013
The embankment for the repair of landing ships of the Mistral type will appear on the territory of the Dalzavod shipbuilding center by 2016. This was announced by Igor Evdokimov, executive director of the Dalzavod CA, during an off-site meeting of the AP Committee on Economic Policy and Property on the issue “On the state of shipbuilding and ship repair in the Primorsky Territory”, reports corr. RIA PrimaMedia.
The first ship of the "Mistral" type should approach Vladivostok in late 2014 - early 2015. The embankment for its repair and maintenance will be equipped by 2016 on the territory of the Dalzavod shipbuilding center,” said Igor Evdokimov.
PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS MISTRAL
Tonnage (standard) 16,500 tons
Tonnage (gross) 21,300 tons
Tonnage (limit) 32,300 tons
Maximum length 199 m
Width at waterline 32 m
Height 64.3 m
Board height at the level of the flight deck - 27 m
Draft (with GAS) 6.42 m (with a displacement of 22,600 tons)
Booking no
Power point:
- 3 diesel generators "Vyartsilya" 16 V32 (6.2 MW)
- 1 Vartsila diesel generator 18V200 (3.3 MW)
- 2 Alstom Mermaid propellers (7 MW)
Power 20 400 l. with. (15 MW)
Propellers 2 x 5-bladed
Maximum speed 19 knots
Cruising speed 18 knots
cruising range:
- 10,800 km (5,800 miles) at 18 knots (33 km/h)
- 19,800 km (10,700 miles) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Autonomy of navigation 30 days
Crew 177 (20 officers) + 481 Marines
Armament
Radar armament: 2 DRBN-38A Decca Bridgemaster E250 navigation radars, MRR3D-NG target detection radar
Anti-aircraft weapons: 2 × 2 Simbad air defense systems, 2 Breda-Mauser 30-mm gun mounts, 4 12.7-mm Browning machine guns
Aviation group: 16 heavy helicopters or 32 light helicopters
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, October 21, 2013 (photo by Gilbert Cailler, http://www.shipspotting.com/).
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, 09/08/2013 (photo - Christian Plague, http://www.shipspotting.com/ via http://prokhor-tebin.livejournal.com/).
http://www.shipspotting.com/).
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, October 21, 2013 (photo by brunoh, http://www.shipspotting.com/).
And this is already Universal amphibious assault ship "Sevastopol". Laid down on the slipway of Baltiysky Zavod - Shipbuilding LLC on July 4, 2013.
And this is what they should look like:
Landing helicopter-carrying ship-dock (DVKD) / universal landing ship-helicopter carrier / VRS (Vâtiments de Projection et de Commandment - projection and control ship). The development of the project of the ship began in 1997 as part of the research of the concept of the initial ship for amphibious landing operations - CNOA (Concept National des Operations Amphibies, France). The purpose of the ship is the landing of military units, the provision of helicopter flights, the command center of the operation of heterogeneous forces, the ship-hospital. On December 24, 2010, an agreement was announced with a consortium consisting of the French company DCNS and the Russian USC. Upon the transfer of the ships, France will transfer to the Russian side all the technologies it was interested in. The protocol of intent was signed on June 10, 2011 in Paris, the signing of the final contract took place within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 17, 2011. According to the agreement, it is planned to build two helicopter carriers in France and two in Russia. Also, "Baltiysky Zavod" (St. Petersburg) was ordered to build part of the hull sections and the first two ships of the series (12 block sections of the aft parts of the ships). On October 1, 2012, the official construction of the Russian part of the sections of the lead ship for the Russian Navy - Vladivostok - began at the Baltic Shipyard.
The design of the ship variant for the Russian Navy (BPC Russe) is being carried out in two stages. The first stage - preliminary design - was completed in April 2012. The technical design of the ship should be completed in September 2012. The project provides for modification to accommodate Russian aviation equipment, Russification of user interfaces and adaptation of the ship and flight deck for winter operation (deck electric heating, etc.). P.).
http://www.shipspotting.com/).
The start of work on assembling the first section of the first ship for the Russian Navy at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire - February 1, 2012 ship hull assembly. As of April 23, 2012, the final statement of the order of rolled metal for buildings (1 and 2) was handed over to Baltiysky Zavod, the rest of the documents necessary to start work will be received by the enterprise on June 1, 2012. In July 2012, the French company STX France delivered to the Admiralty shipyards a 3D model of the floating parts of the Mistral helicopter carrier's hull and the first batch of technical documentation for the ship's design. The Admiralty shipyards, without violating the design of the future ship, redesigned the project so that it could be implemented at the facilities of the Baltic Shipyard. Metal cutting for the first hulls at the Baltic Shipyard began on August 1, 2012. The laying of blocks under construction in Russia for the first ship is expected on October 1, 2012.
The official laying of the first ship BPC Russe will take place on February 1, 2013 in Saint-Nazaire - the first bow section will be placed in the dry dock, where the ship will be assembled. The delivery of the first ship is scheduled for November 1, 2014 (as of October 2013, ), the second - in 2015.
Service maintenance and technical inspection of the Russian Mistral helicopter carriers were to be carried out at the facilities of the Wartsila representative office in St. Petersburg (media report dated February 14, 2012).
In 2014, the contract for the supply of ships was suspended and later terminated. In September, the ships were sold to Egypt, where they received the names Gamal Abdel Nasser (former Vladivostok) and Anwar al-Sadat (former Sevastopol).
Design- in the version for the Russian Navy, it is planned to make some changes in the design of the ship:
- strengthening of the hull sides for operation in northern latitudes in ice conditions;
- provision of flight deck heating for operation in winter conditions;
- increase in the height of the hangar opening in the area of lift elevators for basing helicopters of the Ka-29 type;
- it is planned to install Russian-made weapons on the ship.
The sides of the ship's hull are not armored.
Helicopter carriers Mistral L9013 and Tonnerre L9014 of the French Navy (photo by Pascal Fournier, Marine Nationale, http://en.dcnsgroup.com).
Propulsion system:
- 2 x Alstom Mermaid propellers with a capacity of 10200 hp each with 5-bladed propellers;
- 3 x Wartsila 16V32 diesel generators with a capacity of 2.075 MW each
- 1 x diesel generator Wartsila 18V200 with a capacity of 3.3 MW
Thrusters in the bow of the hull.
Steering column DVKD "Vladivostok" type Mistral. Before launching. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France. October 15, 2013 (photo - Daniil Nizamutdinov, http://en.ria.ru).
Landing helicopter-carrying ship-dock "Vladivostok" of the Mistral type for the Russian Navy shortly before launching. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France. September 2013 (photo - AFP, http://legatus-minor.livejournal.com/).
TTX of the ship:
Crew - 160 people (including 20 officers)
Length - 199 m
Waterline length - 189 m
Width at the waterline - 32 m
Height - 64.3 m
Draft - 6.3 m
Hangar area for aviation equipment - 1800 sq.m
Displacement standard - 16500 t
Full displacement - 21300 tons
Maximum displacement - 32300 tons
Full speed - 19 knots
Cruise speed - 18 knots
Economic speed - 15 knots
Range:
- 10800 miles (speed 18 knots)
- 19800 miles (speed 15 knots)
Autonomy - 30 days
Payload weight - 1100 t
Cargo deck size - 122 x 13.5 x 7.7 m
Armament: in the version for the Russian Navy, Russian-made weapons. On February 16, 2012, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Vladimir Vysotsky told the media that "on the Mistrals, which are being built for the Russian Navy, it is possible to place weapons with a special Russian-designed warhead." Probably, we are talking about the possibility of placing on ships some strike systems with nuclear warheads. It is also possible that this statement was made solely for the purpose of PR.
| "Mistral" | "Mistral" of the Russian Navy |
|
| SAM | 2 x 2 Simbad SAM launchers | 2 combat modules 3R89 ZRAK "" with 2 x 2 x 4 launchers ZUR 9M340 (presumably not confirmed) |
| MANPADS | 2 installations 3M47 "Gibka" with missiles "Igla" | |
| Auxiliary armament | 4 x 12.7mm Browning machine guns | 4 x 12.7 mm machine guns |
| ZRAK / AK | 2 x 30mm Breda-Mauser gun mounts | 2 x , ammunition load 2 x 2000 rounds |
| Jamming | ||
| Other |
Design image of a variant of the BPC Russe project. In the bow of the ship, you can see the AK-630 and 3M47 "Gibka" installations (DCNS, http://bmpd.livejournal.com).
Air wing: the ship is designed to base up to 16 helicopters weighing 12 tons each / 32 light helicopters. The Russian Navy plans to base 8 attack helicopters (tested in early September 2011 on the ships of the Northern Fleet of the Navy) and 8 Ka-29 assault helicopters.
In the version for the French Navy, the ship carries up to 16 helicopters - the standard composition of the air group is 8 landing helicopters NH90 and 8 attack helicopters "Tiger".
Equipment:
| "Mistral" | "Mistral" of the Russian Navy | |
| BIUS | Zenit-9 / Senit-9 | Zenit-9 / Senit-9 |
| Radar for detecting air and surface targets | MRR3D-NG target acquisition radar | likewise? |
| Navigation radars | 2 x navigation radar DRBN-38A Decca Bridgemaster E250 | likewise? |
| Navigation inertial system | ||
| Electronic countermeasures | ||
| GAK / GAS | ||
| Surveillance | Ultra-long-range infrared optronic search and sighting system Vampir NG manufactured by Sagem (the contract for equipping the first two ships was signed by September 28, 2012). The system provides passive all-round panoramic surveillance of the surface situation, automatic detection, tracking and informing about various types of threats, from anti-ship missiles with a flat trajectory to high-speed ships. The system has two modes of operation: - "ocean" mode for long-range observation on the high seas, - "coastal" regime for coastal water areas. |
|
| Laser detection station | ||
| Communication complex | Syracuse satellite communication system | Syracuse satellite communication system? |
| General operational management system |
Price ship for 2010 about 900 million euros.
Status: Russia
Helicopter carrier Mistral L9013 after launching, Brest, October 6, 2004 (photo from Rama archive, http://commons.wikimedia.org).
French Navy helicopter carrier Tonnerre L9014, 07/24/2007 (photo by Beotien Lambda, http://commons.wikimedia.org).
French Navy helicopter carrier Tonnerre L9014 (http://www.venik4.com).
Helicopter carrier Mistral L9013 during a visit to St. Petersburg in November 2009 (photo - Vitaly Kuzmin, http://vitaly.livejournal.com).
- 2011 June 17 - Rosoboronexport and DCNS Corporation (France) signed a contract for the supply of the first two Mistral helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy. The contract amount is 1.2 billion euros, incl. 980 million euros directly cost the ships.
December 2, 2011 - USC and Baltic Shipyard signed a contract for the manufacture of floating parts of the hulls of two (2) Mistral helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy. The amount of the contract is 2.5 billion rubles.
December 09, 2011 - information appeared on the start of work on changing the technical documentation for the Mistral project to meet the requirements of the Russian Navy. We are talking about changing the height of a part of the hangar to ensure the basing of Ka-29 helicopters and providing heating for the flight deck.
December 22, 2011 - Russian Defense Minister A. Serdyukov told the media that the second pair of Mistral helicopter carriers would probably be built at the Sevmash Production Association (Severodvinsk).
February 1, 2012 - the first Mistral helicopter carrier for the Russian Navy was laid down at the shipyard in Saint-Nazaire. At the same time, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Vladimir Vysotsky announced that the first two ships of this type would be named Sevastopol and Vladivostok.
April 20, 2012 - information appeared in the media that in August 2012 it is planned to start cutting metal for sections of the hulls of the first ship of the series at the Baltic Shipyard. The laying of the first section is planned for October 1, 2012. Metal cutting for the second ship of the series is scheduled to begin in May 2013. We are talking about hull sections that will be produced at the Baltic Shipyard for the first two French-assembled ships.
2012 October 1 - at the "Baltic Shipyard" in St. Petersburg, the construction of the Russian part of the sections of the head DVKD "Vladivostok" for the Russian Navy was officially started.
- 2013 January 24 - critical notes appeared in the media on the decision of the previous leadership of the Ministry of Defense to purchase Mistral helicopter carriers. Media reports that the decision to build or refuse to build the third and fourth helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy will be made in 2016.
February 01, 2013 - according to the media, in an atmosphere of high secrecy, the official laying of the first BPC Russe ship in Saint-Nazaire (France) took place - the first bow section (,) was placed in the dry dock, where the ship will be assembled.
February 5, 2013 - Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Russia D.O. Rogozin told reporters that Russia does not produce fuel for Mistral helicopter carriers. Later, he also stated that he actually meant something else. At the same time, in November 2009, when the helicopter carrier called in St. Petersburg, Baltic Bunker Company LLC was bunkering this vessel, supplying it with 450 tons of diesel fuel (MGO 0.1). PortNews IAA also informs that representatives of physical suppliers of bunker fuel in Russia interviewed by PortNews IAA did not agree with the statement about the lack of the necessary fuel. Mistral-type ships run on diesel fuel and fuel oil of the IFO-180 brand, - one of the largest bunkering companies in the North-West of Russia confirmed to PortNews IAA, - the so-called "NATO" specification of marine fuels is no different from ISO standards, as well as GOSTs and specifications for the production of marine fuel in Russia. As for the type of engines, a large percentage of ships in the world run on similar engines. Therefore, any bunkering company can physically supply fuel to such a vessel in Russia, the interlocutors of the agency are sure ().
http://www.meretmarine.com via http://bmpd.livejournal.com).
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, June 2013 (photo - Vincent Groizeleau, published 06/20/2013, http://www.meretmarine.com via http://bmpd.livejournal.com).
- 2013 June 19 - in France, construction began on the second DVKD of the Mistral type for the Russian Navy ().
June 26, 2013 - "Baltiysky Zavod" plans to launch the aft part of the Mistral-type DKVD, which is being built at the plant. Earlier, some media reported on the transfer of the construction of sections of ships for the Russian Navy to France in connection with the alleged failure to meet construction deadlines (). The launching of the stern part of the DVKD according to the plan took place on 06/26/2013. The launching of the lead ship is planned on 10/15/2013.
http://www.fontanka.ru).
The ceremony of launching the stern of the head DVKD Mistral for the Russian Navy, St. Petersburg, "Baltic Plant", 06/26/2013 (photo - Igor Russak, http://ria.ru).
The ceremony of launching the stern part of the head DVKD Mistral for the Russian Navy, St. Petersburg, "Baltiysky Zavod", 06/26/2013 (http://www.fontanka.ru).
The stern of the head DVKD Mistral for the Russian Navy, St. Petersburg, "Baltic Plant", early July 2013 (photo - http://pfc-joker.livejournal.com).
- July 7, 2013 - the aft part of the Vladivostok DVKD built at the Baltic Shipyard was sent to France on July 6 to assemble the ship. As part of the work to saturate the hull of the first DVKD, the Baltic Shipyard installed foundations for propeller-steering columns, aft and side ramps, lifting platforms for helicopters, an ammunition lift, and hangar clinket gates. A room for ballast pumps was equipped, towing and mooring equipment was installed for transporting the hull to Saint-Nazaire. All hatches and doors provided for by the project have been installed, electrical equipment has been installed (cable trays and foundations for electrical appliances). Also, the hull was saturated with pipes of ballast, sewage and fire systems. The total length of the pipes is about 5 thousand meters ().
July 23, 2013 - the stern part of the Vladivostok DVKD arrived at its dream destination in Saint-Nazaire (France).
The aft part of the Vladivostok DVKD arrived in Saint-Nazaire, France, on July 23, 2013 (photo - DCNS via http://ria.ru).
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, July 23, 2013 (photo - Gilbert Cailler, http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1843349).
The docking of the DVKD "Vladivostok" hull - the Mistral-type DVKD for the Russian Navy - has been completed. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, July 25, 2013 (photo by STX France via http://bmpd.livejournal.com).
Docking of the DVKD "Vladivostok" hull - Mistral-type DVKD for the Russian Navy - has been completed. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, July 25, 2013 (photo by STX France via http://bmpd.livejournal.com).
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Sevastopol" - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, 08/10/2013 (photo - Christophe Dedieu, http://www.shipspotting.com/).
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, 09/08/2013 (photo - Christian Plague, http://www.shipspotting.com/ via http://prokhor-tebin.livejournal.com/).
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" of the Mistral type for the Russian Navy before launching. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France. October 15, 2013 (photo - Daniil Nizamutdinov, http://en.ria.ru).
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" of the Mistral type for the Russian Navy before launching. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France. October 15, 2013 (photo - AFP, http://legatus-minor.livejournal.com/).
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" of the Mistral type for the Russian Navy before launching. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France. October 15, 2013 (photo - Frank Perry, AFP, http://www.lexpress.fr).
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, October 21, 2013 (photo - brunoh, http://www.shipspotting.com/).
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, October 21, 2013 (photo - Gilbert Cailler, http://www.shipspotting.com/).
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Sevastopol" - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, 01/02/2014 (photo - Christian Plague, http://www.shipspotting.com/).
Helicopter-carrying landing ship-dock "Sevastopol" - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, 01/25/2014 (photo - Christian Plague, http://www.shipspotting.com/).
- January 31, 2014 - the media stated that USC will take about 1 year to integrate domestic systems at the Vladivostok DVKD. The integration of weapons systems and avionics will be carried out in Kronstadt.
Register of Mistral helicopter carriers(06/26/2013):
| No. pp | Name | head № | plant | laid down | launched into the water | entered service | Status |
| 01 | Mistral L9013 | DCNS (Brest, aft and assembly) and Alstom (Saint-Nazaire, bow) | 10.07.2003 | 06.10.2004 | February 2006 | ||
| 02 | Tonnerre L9014 | 26.08.2004 | 26.07.2005 | December 2006 | French Navy, port of registry Toulon |
||
| 03 | Dixmude L9015 | DCNS (Brest, aft and assembly) and Alstom (Saint-Nazaire, bow) | 18.04.2009 | 10.12.2010 | expected in May 2012 01/03/2012 | transferred to the French Navy three months ahead of schedule, port of registry Toulon |
|
| 04 | Gamal Abdel Nasser Former No. 1 for the Russian Navy "Vladivostok" (according to the statement of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy dated 02/01/2012) | DCNS (Brest, aft and assembly) and Alstom (Saint-Nazaire, bow) | 2011 planned 02/01/2012 (construction of sections) 02/01/2013 (official bookmark, assembly) | plan - 10/15/2013 (06/26/2013) 10/15/2013 (actual) | planned 2014 (2012) plan 01.11.2014 (04.10.2013) | readiness of the ship - 36 months from the date of laying |
|
| 05 | Anwar al Sadat Former No. 2 for the Russian Navy "Sevastopol" (according to the statement of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy dated February 1, 2012) | DCNS (Brest, aft and assembly) and Alstom (Saint-Nazaire, bow) | 2012 planned (as of 2011) 06/19/2013 (construction started) plan - 07/04/2013 (official bookmark, 06/26/2013) | plan - October 2014 (June 2013) | planned 2015 (2012) | on order, port of registry Vladivostok, Pacific Fleet readiness of the ship - 36 months from the date of laying |
|
| 06 | No. 3 for the Russian Navy | possibly LAO, St. Petersburg, manufacturing of floating parts of the hull - "Baltic Plant". 22.12.2011 announced the possible construction at the Production Association "Sevmash" | - | - | - | Pacific Fleet or Northern Fleet, the decision on construction will be made in 2016 (01/24/2013) |
|
| 07 | No. 4 for the Russian Navy | possibly LAO, St. Petersburg, manufacturing of floating parts of the hull - "Baltic Plant" 22.12.2011 announced the possible construction at the Production Association "Sevmash" | - | - | - | Pacific Fleet or Northern Fleet, the decision on construction will be made in 2016 (01/24/2013) |
Sources:
"Baltic Plant" began cutting for the hull of the first "Mistral". Website http://flotprom.ru, 2012
Wikipedia is the free encyclopedia. Site http://ru.wikipedia.org, 2011
The French are changing the technical documentation for "our" Mistrals. http://navy-rus.livejournal.com, 12/08/2011
B.P.C. Russe. http://bmpd.livejournal.com/292022.html, 2012
Lenta.Ru. 2010-2012
The Egypt Independent publication reported that the Russian-Egyptian deal for Ka-52K carrier-based helicopters (sea version) for two Mistral-type amphibious assault ships (UDC) has entered its final phase. In the very near future, no later than the end of May, the Arab Republic of Egypt (ARE) will make a final and expected decision.
UDC "Mistral", as you know, can carry up to 16 helicopters, however, most likely, Cairo will order 8 cars per ship. According to available information, work is underway to adapt the Ka-52K to the requirements of the Egyptian side.
In addition to the Alligators, Moscow, firstly, will return to the Mistral the equipment removed after the breach of the well-known contract, secondly, together with Paris, it will provide maintenance for the ships and, thirdly, it will train the Egyptian crews. Thus, we can talk about the beginning of the formation of a new strategic alliance in the Middle East.
Recall that in January 2017, Egypt announced the creation of its Southern Fleet. In addition to the Mistrals built by STX France from Saint-Nazaire (France), it will include the Franco-Italian FREMM multi-purpose frigate, 4 Gowind 2500 class corvettes and 4 German-built Project 209 diesel-electric submarines. Obviously, the capabilities of this group of warships without air support do not correspond to the declared geopolitical ambitions.
In this matter, Russia plays an extremely important role, which, together with France, pushed through a deal to sell "its former" Mistrals specifically to Egypt, whose relations with the United States deteriorated sharply in the summer of 2013 - after the overthrow of the Islamist president Muhammad Morsi. Shameless US interference in the internal affairs of the ARE by supporting the so-called "Arab Spring" became a cold shower for the majority of Egyptians, who realized what an abyss the Americans were pushing them into.
It is logical that Cairo began to prefer Paris and Moscow in matters of military cooperation, which, despite pressure from Washington, were able to maintain business contacts between themselves. Egyptian journalist Ahmed Sayed, tracking the history of the helicopter carriers, noted the special warm relations between the Egyptian, French and Russian specialists working on the ships.
The fact is that the refusal to supply Mistrals to our country negatively affected the reputation of STX France in particular, and the image of the entire military-industrial complex of France. This was evidenced by a survey of French society in 2015, when 72% of the citizens of the 5th Republic were convinced that the observance of military contracts was in the national interest, while their failure was fraught with great economic risks.
That is why Paris did everything to ensure that both the wolves were fed and the sheep were safe. France returned 949.7 million euros in advance to Russia, and in fact transferred three key technologies, including large-block construction of helicopter carriers and watertight protection from Admiralteïski. The newspaper Le monde estimated the value of the design documentation for UDC in the amount of 220 million euros.
At the same time, from a formal point of view, France fulfilled all the requirements of the "Washington regional committee" to boycott Moscow. As a result, the reputation of Paris as a reliable supplier of weapons was restored, which had a positive effect on the results of the French military export system, which was able to sharply increase the volume of deliveries.
From the very beginning of the discussion of the details of the sale of the Mistrals to Egypt, it was clear that the Egyptian sailors would need active support from our Ministry of Defense. The helicopter carriers were built to meet Russian requirements and for Russian systems. It is technically possible to rebuild them to NATO standards, but it is not commercially justified: it is cheaper to send them for scrap.
Anyway, Secretary General for Defense and National Security of the 5th Republic Louis Gauthier, who was the chief negotiator for the French, admitted that many difficult agreements remained behind the scenes, where even emissaries were not allowed Obama. Meanwhile, if we return to the original Russian-French Mistral contract, then the issue of technology transfer was on the agenda of the contract as an integral part of it.
If the Russian Federation wins the helicopter tender (and the probability is very high), then Egyptian specialists will allow Russian naval engineers and designers to access all Mistral systems. This will allow our specialists to understand in practice how NATO helicopter carriers function. Actually, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation does not hide the fact that the experience of such cooperation will be taken into account when developing similar vessels.
Apparently, all participants in the deal keep secret promises, ignoring the shouts from Washington.
By and large, Russia initially planned to build helicopter carriers according to the French project at its shipyards. And ordering first one, and then two UDCs can be considered as a kind of commercial concession. If you call a spade a spade, then Moscow received the documentation for the Mistral for nothing. More precisely - for the money of Cairo.
But it is quite likely that ARE will be the most advantageous side. After the deployment of the Egyptian Southern Fleet, Cairo will become a regional maritime power and will be able to protect the giant gas field recently discovered near its exclusive economic zone. Now Turkey, Israel, Cyprus and Greece claim this asset. As the experience of resolving such disputes shows, warships are the best argument.
Egypt also needs Mistrals to solve current problems, in particular, to protect the trade sea route in the Strait of Aden, as well as to contain Iran and Saudi Arabia in their conflict over the Houthis in Yemen.
Thus, none of the participants in this transaction was left behind. The 5th Republic, disobeying the United States, received additional military contracts; Russia - documentation for the Mistral and a new strategic ally, and Egypt - acquired the status of a maritime power.
In June 2011, during the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, something completely unique happened among other interesting events. For the first time since the Second World War, Russian representatives signed a large-scale contract with a foreign company for the supply of military equipment. It became known that huge ships, Mistral helicopter carriers, are being purchased for the needs of the navy. This event became a real sensation, until now, domestic shipbuilding enterprises somehow managed with orders themselves, without foreign help, and learned how to do things that from time to time our Western “friends” began to move their hair on their heads, for example, submarine missile carriers. Where did the desire to get ships of this type come from?
Why was the Mistral created?
The mistral is a Mediterranean wind, rather cold, from time to time blowing over the southern coast of France, pampered and pampered by a mild climate. It cannot be compared with the piercing wet frosty currents of the Arctic air, to which Murmansk has long been accustomed, but to delicate Gallic noses it seems the height of discomfort. As much as the climate, France and the Russian Federation differ. The Mistral-class helicopter carrier is essentially a large ship, practically devoid of an independent system of anti-submarine, anti-ship and air defense, that is, capable of operating only as part of a squadron, surrounded by an escort.
On the other hand, it reflects the shipbuilding concept that has been fashionable in recent decades, according to which landing forces land on foreign shores, as it were, “remotely”. This happens as follows: a large ship approaches a hostile state at a relatively safe distance of fifteen to twenty miles, then begins to load equipment onto special barge-boats, and in the meantime, attack and transport helicopters with specially trained soldiers fly forward, seize a bridgehead and ensure the absence resistance during the whole process. The landing craft is not even visible from the shore, and small transports arrive unexpectedly, unless, of course, the side being invaded has the means for over-the-horizon detection. This is approximately the scenario for which the Mistral type is intended. This ship has too much draft, it cannot come close to the shore. He is also unable to provide support to the advancing troops, for this he does not have a sufficient number of guns or missiles.
Ship characteristics
The large flight deck immediately catches the eye of those who look at the Mistral. The characteristics of this large ship are impressive. It has a length of 200 meters, a displacement of 22 thousand tons, however, it is able to move through the sea at a speed of only 18 knots. The crew, including pilots, is approximately 170 team members. In addition to everything that distinguishes an aircraft carrier, that is, decks and under-deck hangars, it also has other features. For example, a compartment for transporting forty modern tanks. The Mistral is an aircraft carrier, but it is primarily a landing ship.
But it is not enough to bring tanks to the coast of an enemy country, they still need to be delivered to land and unloaded ashore. There is a whole technology for this. It is ours who simply rest their nose on the beach, open the ramps, and “forward for their homeland!”. The armies of the NATO countries act differently, much more ingeniously. But more on that later.
The air wing is completed depending on the tasks to be solved in a military campaign. Helicopters on the deck and in the hangars can accommodate from 16 to 32, depending on the ratio of anti-submarine, strike and transport aircraft of different geometric sizes.
The amount of manpower that the ship takes on board is also important - 450 marines. This is a battalion.
An urgent re-equipment of the vessel into a floating hospital is also possible. This may become necessary when solving humanitarian problems or providing medical care to wounded soldiers as a result of hostilities.
And the Mistral is a ship designed for long-distance voyages. Its autonomous range is 20 thousand kilometers. This is half the equator. If you need to restore order in the rebellious colonies, then he is what you need. But over the question of why Russia needs "Mistrals" we still have to break our heads. Our country has no overseas territories. No one seems to be planning to land troops somewhere in Australia or Argentina, and if such a desire arose, then it would be necessary to buy not two, or even four ships ... In addition, the landing process itself is very peculiar.
How is landing in French
The French "Mistral" stands aside, as already mentioned, twenty from the hot shore, where it is not clear what can happen, and releases special barges from its womb, on which armored vehicles stand. For this procedure, he has a certain dock, in which the mentioned vehicles are brought in turn, tanks and armored vehicles are loaded on them, then they are flooded to the level of the surrounding world ocean, and only after that they leave their native floating base. The landing process takes place sedately and for a long time, many hours. According to our staffing table, four is a reinforced tank battalion, consisting of three companies and a command unit, that is, quite a bit. We can say with confidence that if someone hostile to us tried to land somewhere near Anapa, then the Bastion coastal defense complex would stop it quickly ...
Helicopters
The French have their own rotorcraft. They are divided into classes according to their purpose, two of which are used as deck ones. Multi-purpose NH-90s and attack "Tigers" make up approximately equal parts of the air wing, and lifting devices are designed for their size, which ensured the movement of equipment to the flight deck and back to the hold, where they shelter from storms, sea water splashes and undergo preventive maintenance. There are two elevators in total with a carrying capacity of 13 tons, one at the stern, the other next to the wheelhouse.
Our main deck helicopters are the anti-submarine Ka-27M and Ka-226, but the Alligator Ka-52 is also needed to carry out strikes against land or sea targets. The dimensions of these machines differ from their French counterparts, moreover, in a big way. Mistrals for the Russian Navy were built taking into account the necessary adjustments.
Contract Details
The French bargained frantically. The Russian side insisted on building three of the four planned helicopter carriers at its own shipyards using imported technical documentation. We agreed on half. In addition, the stern part was manufactured at the Baltic Shipbuilding Plant, which also reduced the cost of the project. It should be especially noted the high quality of work of domestic shipbuilders and the complete docking of all units during the final assembly in Saint-Nazaire.
The condition was immediately agreed that the French side would install a part of high-tech navigation equipment on the Mistral for Russia, and only prepare installation sites for armament and lay cable communications. The Russians will supply all the missile and artillery systems themselves and their own.
An important factor in signing the contract could be the opportunity to master the latest shipbuilding technologies, if, of course, the French have something to learn. They mainly relate to methods for assembling large-tonnage hulls, although Baltzavod and the United Shipbuilding Corporation immediately received an order for nuclear-powered icebreakers no less complex than the Mistral. The cost of two warships amounted to 1.2-1.5 billion euros, plus 2.5 billion rubles for the work that Russian shipbuilders had to perform.
Weapons and warning systems
The main radar installed on the Mistral for Russia, which will be their "eyes", is the French Thales. The design features of the hull made it difficult to install domestic analogues.
The initial paucity of defensive systems caused additional demands from the naval command to equip ships with five Gibka air defense systems, designed to use Eagles and a pair of six-barreled 30 mm AK-630 rapid-fire artillery fire mounts to destroy low-flying high-speed targets. Anti-ship protection is carried out by complexes of supersonic cruise missiles capable of "working" against coastal targets. Anti-submarine defense includes all possible sonar hardware.
The details of retrofitting are not widely disclosed, but it is known that every Russian Mistral is a control ship, and not just a helicopter carrier and landing transport, so the information technology saturation of the onboard computer system is also very serious.
Balancing
The Mistral-type helicopter carrier is a large, large-tonnage ship and needs to be balanced to ensure its stability in severe storms. Three ships in service are equipped with an automatic Norwegian-made L3Marin system, which is responsible for the balance. The intention to replace it on ships under construction for Russia with a French balancer, tested on much lighter corvettes and frigates, raised objections from the customer. In addition, Rosoboronexport has a direct interest in this system, since the contract is so expensive. The navigational safety of Russian helicopter carriers is too important to skimp on.
Problems and Solutions
Problems also arose with the completion of the ship with shuttle vehicles. French double-hull catamarans were rejected from the very beginning, and domestic high-speed hovercraft did not fit in the cargo hold. We agreed that the best solution would still be the acquisition of domestic tank landing boats "Dugong" and "Cerna", having a length of 45 and 26 meters, respectively.
The ice class of the hull has also been increased, as the contractor received an order based on the possible areas for basing new ships. Unlike their French counterparts, their area of responsibility is not limited to tropical waters, and it can be very frosty in the port, for example, of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. However, the Russian naval command at the time of signing the agreement was not sure where the helicopter carriers would be based. This was decided later.
Helicopter carrier experience
The Soviet Navy was already armed with large aircraft-carrying anti-submarine cruisers - Leningrad and Moskva. The helicopter wing of these warships was intended to detect submarines of a potential enemy. After obsolescence and technical wear and tear, they were withdrawn from the Navy, their replacement was not planned, since in general they turned out to be not much more effective than the BOD of a smaller displacement and, accordingly, much cheaper both in production and in operation. Contributed to obsolescence and low modification potential, which was expressed in the impossibility of converting hangars for modern helicopters. In general, world experience shows that it is not worth saving on aircraft carriers, they should be built with a margin, taking into account the possibility of retrofitting them in the process of improving control systems, weapons, communications, navigation and detection. In this case, expensive ships can serve for decades. To what extent the Mistral type helicopter carrier meets this criterion is a big question.
"Admiral Kuznetsov" in its design is not an analogue of the "Mistral". This ship performs completely different functions, it does not carry forces for landing and has completely different driving characteristics.
International reaction
The ships have not yet been completed, and it has already been announced that the main Far Eastern military harbor will become the base for the newest Russian helicopter carrier Vladivostok, built according to the Mistral project. This news aroused the usual concern of the Japanese government, which saw some aggressive intentions in the strengthening of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Federation. Of course, the diplomatic maneuvers of our eastern neighbor are exclusively politically motivated and fit into the general format of claims to the "northern territories", the issue of which is raised periodically, on the eve of the next elections. Even the bravest patriotic Japanese science fiction writers cannot assume that the Russian marines will land a tank battalion somewhere on the island of Hokkaido for several hours. In the photo, the Mistral looks impressive, but even after equipping this ship with cruise missiles, it will not turn into a missile cruiser, it is very slow-moving, and in general, it was not built and bought for that. And for what?
Military Specialist Serdyukov
It would be more correct to ask about, not for what, but why and why. Former Minister of Defense A.E. Serdyukov evidently understood little about strategic matters. Much richer, he was gifted with natural artistry (of course, he has the makings of a good film director). Perhaps he immediately dreamed of how the formidable and huge amphibious assault ships under A would look on the ocean. In addition to artistic merit, Mr. Serdyukov, apparently, also has a certain commercial acumen. But these are just guesses.
It is quite possible for the Russian government to recognize the fallacy of the Mistral venture, just humanly uncomfortable. Two ships ("Sevastopol" and "Vladivostok") can already be considered accepted by the command of the Navy, and in favor of their uselessness is the fact that the Russian side has practically refused to build another pair, although this has not yet been directly stated. We just decided to wait.
Terrible, in fact, nothing happened. Landing helicopter-carrying ships of the dock type are not entirely consistent with Russian military doctrine, but from time to time international complications arise that force a change in previously developed approaches. It can be said about such vessels that they are “just in case of a fire”.
Money has been spent on warships, this is not done in the best way, but helicopter carriers can be used in peacekeeping operations, which, as the events of recent months have shown, are quite probable.
Reading articles about the State Defense Order, I am convinced every time that the Russian media work in the genre of "news in the future tense", telling about events and plans that are most likely never destined to come true, but today they have already become news and are imposed on society as a subject for discussion. And so, among these information phantoms, on February 1, there was information about a real event - the laying of the Vladivostok universal landing ship-helicopter carrier in France. On this day, metal cutting for the first Russian UDC of the Mistral type began at the shipyard in Saint-Nazaire.
"Mistral" is only outwardly similar to traditional dock ships, helicopter carriers or universal landing ships. In fact, they have much more potential. It is no coincidence that the French singled them out into a separate class - "force projection and command vessel" (strike command ship or, literally, "force projection and command ship"). Distinctive features of such structures are the flight deck located along the entire length of the hull and the aft docking chamber. Also on the "Mistral" there is a command center for 150 operators and, equipped with the most modern equipment, a hospital with 70 beds. The concept of such ships is not new - even during the Vietnam War, the US Navy was faced with the problem of managing heterogeneous ship landing groups involved in the landing. Then the idea was born to combine them in one universal case.
Compared to its contemporaries, the American San Antonio-class LPDs, the Mistral looks more attractive: the French ship is operated by a crew of only 160 people, while the American amphibious dock ships require 350 crew members. The future Russian ship also has an advantage in terms of the composition of the air group: 16 helicopters against 4 helicopters and 2 "American" convertiplanes. Summarizing all of the above, we can give an unambiguous answer: the UDC of the Mistral type is a modern landing ship with a high combat potential, one of the best representatives of its class in the world.
Underwater rocks
A lot of articles, publications and scientific papers have already been written about the fact that the Mistral does not fit into the concept of the combat use of the Russian Navy, about its inconsistency with the conditions in which the Russian Navy operates, its vulnerability and difficulties with maintenance. Indeed, does the Russian Navy need such a ship? For example, it is widely known that this ferry-like structure was built to civil shipbuilding standards and is not capable of withstanding hydrodynamic shock from a close underwater explosion. As far as I know, such a calculation is mandatory when designing ships for the Russian Navy. It is difficult to say how true this myth is, but it leaves an unpleasant aftertaste.
I will no longer bore the reader with a list of unverified (or, conversely, too well-known) figures, facts and rumors. As an amateur, I'm interested in more obvious points:
The visit of "Mistral" in November 2009 to St. Petersburg was not without embarrassment. Domestic helicopters Ka-52 and Ka-27 landed on its deck without any problems (of course! The Mistral flight deck is 199 meters long and 32 meters wide), but, as it turned out later, Russian helicopters did not fit into the opening in terms of dimensions elevator, so they could not be lowered into the hangar. The scandalous did not receive wide publicity, but did not escape the attention of society.
Further - even more fun. In connection with the deployment of Russian helicopters with coaxial propellers on the Mistral, it will be necessary to increase the height of the under-deck hangar by at least a meter compared to the original project, which, of course, will entail an increase in the "board" of the ship. Excessive windage has always been one of the shortcomings of the Mistrals, and in the Russian series it will increase even more. It will also inevitably entail a decrease in the metacentric height. What does it threaten with a full load and in stormy conditions? That's right, overturning.
As already noted, helicopter lifts that lift equipment from the hangar to the flight deck are unsuitable for transporting the Ka-29 with suspended weapons. We will either have to buy Eurocopter helicopters from France, or radically rebuild the lifting mechanisms.
The problems with aircraft technology do not end there. Fuel for refueling helicopters is supplied from two tanks, which are located below the waterline in the stern of the ship - fuel lines stretch from afar through 3 decks filled with people, ammunition and equipment. A very dubious decision of the French, affecting the survivability of the UDC in the most negative way. It may be necessary to change the entire fueling and storage system according to domestic requirements.
The transport deck for armored vehicles does not meet Russian requirements. It is designed for a mass not exceeding 32 tons for each combat unit. In turn, this means that there will be no Russian main battle tanks on the transport deck of the Mistral. In total, no more than five MBTs will fit on the ship: three on the site in front of the dock chamber and two on landing boats, project 11770 "Serna".
Further, Russian sailors will not be able to effectively use the dock space. "Mistral" - a French ship and its dock chamber was designed in accordance with the parameters of NATO landing craft. Therefore, despite the solid dimensions of the docking chamber (57.5m x 15.4m x 8.2m, area 885 sq.m.), Only 2 landing craft pr. 11770 are placed in it. And landing craft hovercraft pr. 1206 Kalmar, etc. 12061 Murena will not be able to be based on the Mistral at all - DKVP do not pass through the gates of the dock chamber in height! It turns out that we will have to create new landing craft for the Mistral.
French engineers have prepared a great surprise for Russian sailors. The people of the North Sea, as well as all those who try to operate the Mistral in the northern Pacific Ocean, will be especially "rejoiced". The fact is that the sides of the French UDC have wide openings that provide natural ventilation on the helicopter and transport decks. A great idea for the tropics turns into a nightmare for the northern latitudes - icing is guaranteed for all equipment. It is impossible to brick up these openings so easily, first you need to design an extensive forced ventilation system.
Continuing the “ice theme”, I will say that the Mistral corps does not have ice reinforcements, and this, given the conditions in which the Russian Navy operates, practically excludes the basing of French ships in the Baltic, the Pacific Ocean, and even more so in the North. There are especially many problems with the nasal bulb, which is designed to improve driving performance. Those. it will not be possible to get off with a simple thickening of the side. According to experts, this means the development of a ship of a new project.
A separate discussion is the propulsion system of the Mistral using submerged main electric motors. Azipod rudder propellers provide ease of maneuvering, but this system also has serious drawbacks:
- first of all, this is a low speed (18 knots compared to 22–24 knots for the UDC of the San Antonio type of the US Navy);
- the operation of ships with Azipods requires regular docking to inspect the rudder propellers. And there is an opinion that there are no docks for such large ships in Russia, especially in the Pacific Ocean today. I can assume that the "Russian Mistrals" will receive traditional propellers and rudders.
Not armed and not dangerous
Yes, the Mistral has almost no defensive weapons. Machine guns and two twin Mistral MANPADS (this is not a typo, obviously the French really like this name), which are analogues of the Russian Igla or the American Stinger, can hardly be taken seriously.
On the one hand, this cannot please me, as an adept in carrier-based aviation. The purchase of the UDC of the Mistral type means a change in the shipbuilding paradigm of the Russian Navy. Simply put, the Navy is adopting the Western-style carrier fleet concept. The use of Mistrals in landing operations is possible only if there is a powerful air cover, otherwise the entire landing will turn into a bloody mess. The naval version of the Ka-52 attack helicopter is only effective against ground forces. Neither in terms of range, nor in terms of combat capabilities, it will not be able to replace carrier-based fighter-bombers. Accordingly, for this entire strike force, escort and supply ships are needed. It turns out that Russia plans to create a powerful and balanced ocean fleet.
If this is not so, then buying a Mistral is like a gamble. Either the command of the Navy does not intend to use French ships in landing operations, i.e. for their intended purpose.
Money down the drain?
Mistral is the French name for the cold wind blowing in the Rhone Valley. Won't a UDC with such a name become a waste of money "down the drain" in the literal and figurative sense? According to one radical Internet user, Russian admirals bought two foreign cars worth $2 billion each.
It seems strange: in general, useless ships have been acquired for the Russian fleet, which have no place in the modern concept of using the Russian Navy, without escort ships and, most importantly, without the presence of numerous marines and their means of landing.
Maybe I'm exaggerating in vain. With the purchase of Mistral, the domestic shipbuilding industry will have access to the latest world technologies. Perhaps this is true, but then it is not clear why it took as many as 4 ships of this type.
In principle, the conversation is not about the fact that it is bad to acquire foreign military equipment. It's just not bad that we are trying to borrow the best solutions and designs. The point is that these billions could be spent more efficiently by purchasing other models of European ships that the fleet really needs instead of the UDC. As an option - Spanish frigates of the Alvaro de Bazan type. Even without the Aegis system (the sale of which is out of the question), they are a powerful and modern complex of marine
