Mistral News thread

Russia will buy French L-CATs for Mistral

Russia is going to buy from France, small landing craft, which will be based on the Russian helicopter type "Mistral", said Friday the Russian ambassador to France, Alexander Orlov.

"They signed an important contract to purchase two ships of the type" Mistral. "The first being built in Saint-Nazaire, followed by a second. We also talked about the construction of two ships in Russia, in St. Petersburg. Rates observed. Were and additional contacts. We buy from France, small vessels that are inside helicopter, catamaran for the landing forces on the ground, "- said the ambassador told reporters.

The first two universal helicopter type "Mistral" for the Russian Navy will be built in France in the framework of the two countries earlier contract for 1.2 billion euros. It is planned that the first ship will be delivered in 2014, the second - in 2015. French state-owned DCNS naval shipbuilding had previously reported that it had received an advance and began construction of the first warship "Mistral" to Russia.

It is expected that the body of the third and fourth "Mistral" will be built in Russia. In this project, in particular, on August 1 of this year at the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg began cutting metal, the first operation in the construction of the lead ship of a pair of Russian "Mistral" - "Vladivostok". In May of 2013 is expected to start cutting for the second helicopter, which was called "Sevastopol".

http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20121123/911914415.html

Russia Postpones Mistral Warship Project to 2016 - Source

RIA Novosti

17:18 21/12/2012

MOSCOW, December 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is putting back the launch of a project to build two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships under French license from 2013 to 2016, a Defense Ministry source said on Friday.

"The Russian Defense Ministry is not abandoning plans to build two Mistral-class ships in Russia but is postponing the start of the construction work from 2013 to 2016," the source said.

The reason for that is the need to assess the ships' performance, role and status as part of the Russian Navy, he said.

"It is essential, first, to understand what is required to ensure their effective operation and technical servicing."

It may also be necessary to modify the ship's design, introduce new elements and mechanisms taking into account Russian specifics and basing conditions, the source said.

Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation said earlier in the day the contract to build two Mistral ships is in force, dismissing media reports that the country's Defense Ministry had dropped the construction plans.

"We have not been informed of any such decision by the Russian Defense Ministry. Currently, the contract remains in force, as before," a spokesman for Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation said.

The spokesman also confirmed that the construction of the first two Mistral ships in France will be continued.

Russian business daily Vedomosti on Friday cited a government source saying that the Defense Ministry has decided to abandon plans to build two Mistral class amphibious assault ships under French license in Russia.

Russia and France signed a $1.2-billion contract for two French-built Mistral class ships, including the transfer of sensitive technology, in June 2011.

The first ship, the Vladivostok, is being built at a DCNS shipyard in Saint-Nazaire and should be delivered in 2014, while the second, the Sevastopol, is scheduled for delivery in 2015.

Two more ships were expected to be 80 percent built in Russia, 20 percent in France.

A Mistral-class ship is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 personnel.

The French-built ships are expected to be assigned to Russia's Pacific Fleet.


http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/russia/2012/russia-121221-rianovosti03.htm?_m=3n.002a.687.dd0ao031i6.mhl

Russia and France signed a $1.2-billion contract for two French-built Mistral class ships, including the transfer of sensitive technology, in June 2011.

The first ship, the Vladivostok, is being built at a DCNS shipyard in Saint-Nazaire and should be delivered in 2014, while the second, the Sevastopol, is scheduled for delivery in 2015.

Two more ships were expected to be 80% built in Russia, 20% in France.

However, Russian shipbuilders and many navy experts have always been skeptical about the military necessity to deploy four ships of this class with the Russian Navy, the paper said.

In addition, the domestic construction of the two ships would cost Russia approximately the same amount of money as the French contract, while their future upkeep would lay a heavy burden on the defense budget, according to defense industry sources.

The decision has been made following the recent reshuffle in the Russian top military brass which saw the dismissal of Anatoly Serdyukov from the post of defense minister and his replacement by former emergencies minister Sergei Shoigu, who immediately took the course on streamlining defense expenditures.

A Mistral-class ship is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 personnel.

The French-built ships are expected to be assigned to Russia’s Pacific Fleet.

The Russian Defense Ministry has not yet commented on the Vedomosti report.

AFAIK nothing has been confirmed and all four vessels will be built, but the time scales will be changed and the second two vessels will be redesigned to reduce operational/support/maintainence costs and to fully decide on its role within the navy and what will be expected from them.

Russia Postpones Mistral Warship Project to 2016 – Source

MOSCOW, December 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is putting back the launch of a project to build two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships under French license from 2013 to 2016, a Defense Ministry source said on Friday.

“The Russian Defense Ministry is not abandoning plans to build two Mistral-class ships in Russia but is postponing the start of the construction work from 2013 to 2016,” the source said.

The reason for that is the need to assess the ships’ performance, role and status as part of the Russian Navy, he said.

“It is essential, first, to understand what is required to ensure their effective operation and technical servicing.”

It may also be necessary to modify the ship’s design, introduce new elements and mechanisms taking into account Russian specifics and basing conditions, the source said.

Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation said earlier in the day the contract to build two Mistral ships is in force, dismissing media reports that the country’s Defense Ministry had dropped the construction plans.

“We have not been informed of any such decision by the Russian Defense Ministry. Currently, the contract remains in force, as before,” a spokesman for Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation said.

The spokesman also confirmed that the construction of the first two Mistral ships in France will be continued.

Russian business daily Vedomosti on Friday cited a government source saying that the Defense Ministry has decided to abandon plans to build two Mistral class amphibious assault ships under French license in Russia.

Russia and France signed a $1.2-billion contract for two French-built Mistral class ships, including the transfer of sensitive technology, in June 2011.

The first ship, the Vladivostok, is being built at a DCNS shipyard in Saint-Nazaire and should be delivered in 2014, while the second, the Sevastopol, is scheduled for delivery in 2015.

Two more ships were expected to be 80 percent built in Russia, 20 percent in France.

A Mistral-class ship is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 personnel.

The French-built ships are expected to be assigned to Russia’s Pacific Fleet.

From Ria Novsti - Russia Postpones Mistral Warship Project to 2016 – Source

And pretty much what GarryB said..i`m rather expecting that as well.

Marines are looking for a new 30 ton APC for mistral.

http://gurkhan.blogspot.com/2013/01/blog-post_31.html

It has been posted previously that the navy was looking at the Kurganets-25 but that their requirements were for much better amphibious performance... which is understandable as the Army needs a vehicle that can cross rivers and lakes, while the navy has much more demanding requirements including operating in sea conditions and landing in rough surf.

"Recall, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said that Mistral class two amphibious assault ships would not be able to operate in temperatures below seven degrees centigrade. "It's very odd that ships for offloading a landing force, floating in our latitudes won't work in temperatures below seven degrees," commented Rogozin. "

Can this really be true, that Mistral cant operate in -7 degrees?
Sounds absurd, and why -7? If so, they need to relocate all Mistrals to Black sea fleet!

Rogozin being dumb.

They have already stated that the Russian Mistrals will get modifications for Russian conditions including strengthening the hull for operations in water containing ice. They also had to change the height of the helo decks because of the coaxial design of the Kamov helicopters being particularly tall.

http://kuleshovoleg.livejournal.com/169194.html

Wow, the Vladivostok. Proper rate of construction!

Work started on Sevastopol 

France lays the second ship of "Mistral" to Russia

the first mistrals will be delivered earlier than ivan gren landing ship that has been in construction 10 years now

Mistral work @ Baltisky:

2nd Mistral Warship to Be Complete in 2014 – Vice Premier

MOSCOW, June 23 – Russia’s second Mistral-class, amphibious assault ship will be complete in October 2014, a deputy prime minister in charge of the defense industry said Sunday, adding that the first Mistral would enter the nation’s fleet this October.

Speaking live on national television network NTV, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin added that construction of the stern for the first such helicopter-carrying warship would finish at St. Petersburg’s Baltiisky shipyard within two or three days.

Early last week, Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov said the stern might not be completed within deadline, but Rogozin days later refuted that remark, saying: “The ship will be ready on time.”

And its in the water (Russian part)

http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/36844/


Section being towed to France.

 

France Floats Out First Russian Mistral Warship



SAINT-NAZAIRE (France), October 15 (RIA Novosti) – A French shipyard floated out Tuesday the first of two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships being built for the Russian Navy.

The ship, named Vladivostok, being built at the DCNS shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, is expected to start sea trials in March next year.

“The ship will be handed over unarmed, but equipped with French-made landing equipment,” DCNS program manager Yves Destefanis said at the launch ceremony. It will be fitted with Russian-made weapons systems later, he added.

The vessel will receive its additional Russian systems at the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg, and then be handed over to Russia’s Pacific Fleet in November 2014.

Russia and France signed the 1.2 billion euro ($1.6 billion) contract for two French-built Mistral-class helicopter carriers in June 2011.

A second Mistral-class warship, the Sevastopol, is due to be floated out in October 2014.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, both warships will be based in the Far East ports of Vladivostok and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky when they enter service.

A decision on whether to acquire a build a third and fourth Mistral for the Russian Navy will be taken based on the experience of testing the first one, a Russian defense procurement official said Tuesday.

“The final decision on construction of the third and fourth [Mistrals] has not been taken,” said Andrei Vernigora, director of the defense ministry’s procurement department. ‘We must see how all the systems have adapted. It’s possible the project might require further revision.”

The decision to buy a major foreign-made warship – an unprecedented move for Russia since World War II - was a controversial one. Earlier this year, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees defense procurement, criticized the Mistral purchase, made under the auspices of his predecessor Anatoly Serdyukov, for requiring special lubricants and other liquids not produced in Russia in order to work properly in cold weather.

The Pacific Fleet is currently forming crews for the two helicopter carriers, a Pacific Fleet spokesman told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

Mistral-class vessels are capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing craft, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 soldiers.

The Russian Mistral air wings are expected to comprise eight Kamov Ka-52K attack helicopters and eight Ka-29/31 Helix assault transport helicopters.

Nice... but then the Talwars and Kilos for the Indian and Russian navies are on schedule too... for the same reasons... existing experienced workforce, building a ship/sub they have built before with fully funded program.

They should cancel the mistrals...
I do not see in what way they will be needed in the pacific with Ka-52 helicopters?
So expensive transport ship cannot is purely for attack purpose and there are no pirates in the pacific .

with the money  they could better ..

-Fully modernize Peter the great too, with latest kalibr missiles and S-400 and pantsir defenses ,naval version.
-or fully repair modernize the Aircraft Carrier to in transport more planes and include a few helicopters too.
-or have budget for another 2-3 brand new stealth destroyer. with latest sams and missiles.

He makes a good point though, Mistrals+ Ka-52 won't be doing much of anything in the Pacific. Emergency relief maybe, but Ka-52s are useless for that.

Black Sea is a more convincing location in this case, or piracy patrols. That is assuming you are going to strike inland bases.

The whole concept is funky and I am still critical of the whole program.