TR1 Tue Jan 07, 2014 11:19 pm
Vladimir79 wrote: TR1 wrote:Wow, that is some terrible circular logic, without any specifics.
What has been so "great" about it in French service? What exactly do French requirments have to do with the Russian navy, in both situation and doctrine?
Do tell how the Mistral is useful in "pacific islands (LOL)) and baltic.
Go into details how the buy has modernized Russia's propulsion building ability. Or construction tech. Wopadedo, Baltisky built have of a big steel barge. And? It could do that before.
And further Mistrals is by no means a fact at this point.
Mistral is far more than a floating barge, it is a forward deployed Army Air Corps base as well as hospital and command that can go anywhere.
In French service, the Mistral class has supported both combat and humanitarian missions numerous times. It provided air support, EVAC, SAR, heavy lift and medical missions. It is the most useful naval ship in French service.
It gives us the ability to threaten any neighbour who might have designs on our periphery as well as projecting force globally. Not to mention finally give the marines the ability to conduct joint operations with distant allies.
Mistral is far and above anything we have. Maybe we could have completed one ourselves, but it is cheaper to buy it off the French.
We have paid $800 million already, it is a fact to that point. The experienced gained in its construction is proper process of modular shipbuilding which is something we do not do well and has both military and commercial applications.
Oh there is no doubt it is far more capable than anything Russian- of the type. Note I have never said Russia should try to build a Mistral equivalent on its own- that would be even stupider.
The question is is it a smart use of resources when the Russian Navy badly needs to replace escort and major surface combatants.
I think, it is not, at all.
In fact, in terms of doctrine and actual Russian Navy operational realities, the utility of the ships is debatable to say the least.
Further, there is little proof of the massive "learning" from the Mistral that everyone claims Russian shipbuilding has received.
Hell, the French did not even hand over the technology for the Zenit control system (pretty much the only thing from the ships the Russian Navy really wants) with 2 hulls - we have to buy FOUR to get that!
The whole thing smells of massive corruption potential, typical of many Serdukov era deals.