Mistral News thread

GarryB wrote:With the proliferation of MANPADS I would think the 16 naval marines that can operate from a Ka-29 are sufficient.

That means each helo can drop a complete platoon and with its rotors folded the Mistral can probably carry 3 times more Ka-29s than Mi-38s.

The Ka-29 is already navalised and seems to me to be suited to the job.

Perhaps if they weren't going to carry Ka-52s and used standard height hangars that the Mi-38 would make more sense as to use the Ka-29 they would have to raise the ceiling height in the Hangar, which is a significant redesign.

They are using taller hangars anyway so it is cheaper and easier to use the Helix variants than rush a folding rotor version of the Mi-38.

Having said all that, perhaps for special missions where a single team of 40 is needed then instead of 3 Ka-29s they could send in one Mi-38, but you would want excellent DIRCMs and other defence systems on these helos.

Of course there is no variant of the Mi-38 I know of that has a 30mm cannon like the Ka-29 can.

BTW it is a forum rule that your first post should be an introduction in the "Introductions and rules" section.
Please post a new thread and introduce yourself to everyone so we have some idea whom we are talking to...

Russian DVKD like "Mistral" in contrast to the French counterparts will be equipped with shock and defensive weapons



MOSCOW, February 24. (ARMS-TASS). The latest Russian weapons systems and the impact of a defensive purpose, including supersonic cruise missile will be installed on all four landing ships, helicopter-dock (DVKD) type "Mistral", built for the Navy as in France, and Russia. This was reported by Itar-Tass source in the military-industrial complex of Russia.
"It is planned that the first two" Mistral "French-built, and the next two DVKD built already in Russia will be equipped with the latest domestic weapons systems, including launchers supersonic cruise missiles, the latest anti-missile systems and complexes, antiaircraft and antisubmarine warfare , "- said the source.
Of course, "Mistrals" to take on board the shock and anti-submarine helicopters, artillery, landing craft, boats, armored vehicles and other equipment and weapons, he added.
Work on installing the first two French-built DVKD Russian weapons will be carried out in Russia on one of her defense companies after the arrival of ships from the French Saint-Nazaire, the source said.
In the Russian Federation Armed Forces General Staff, confirmed this information. "We do not need DVKD unarmed at the disposal of the French Navy. These" Mistrals "in fact - a giant floating conveyors with modern systems of command and control, navigation, reconnaissance and communications, a kind of helpless floating command posts, which should cover both the sea and other air combat ships and aircraft, "- said a source in the General Staff.
"DVKD our Navy must not only control the actions of the various branches of the naval groups (surface ships, submarines, naval aviation), or even acts of interspecies gangs on the sea and ocean theaters of war, not only deliver and disembark the Marines on armored vehicles to using helicopters and landing craft, but must themselves have sufficient firepower and punch to be complete intrinsically safe multifunction warships in these groups, "- he stressed.
"That is why Russian DVKD will be equipped with cruise missiles with increased range shooting, the latest anti-aircraft missile, and the PLO", - concluded the source of the General Staff.
February 16 this year, Russian Navy Commander Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky told reporters that DVKD like "Mistral", which will be built in Russia in France, will be equipped only with Russian weapons. "We're going to place on our ship missiles for self defense, to enhance the security of air defense," - said the admiral. "But the helicopter component will strengthen even before the anti-tasks," - he said. Vysotsky said that such ships are important as the "ship group member, they can significantly enhance its potential." At the same time the commander in chief said that on those ships that are built for the French Navy, no weapons.
June 17 last year, the Commander of the Navy, signed by commenting on the same day in the presence of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a contract worth $ 1.2 billion for construction and supply company DCNS Russian Navy DVKD two types of "Mistral", said that "the presence on board the class ships equipped command center to manage the forces of various sizes at any distance from the naval bases in the sea and ocean areas. " "The technologies of building such ships allow you to integrate into an existing project, Russian weapons systems, including domestic assault-landing craft and carrier aviation - said Vysotsky. - This ship can be used as a vehicle control, coordinating the actions of groups deployed in all areas of the oceans to deal with peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. And the capacity to provide humanitarian aid to exceed the technical parameters of their existing ships and boats, today Russia several times. "
"These are the qualities of ships such as" Mistral "allow us to speak about the necessity and appropriateness of their use in the Russian Navy on the entire spectrum of tasks of general purpose forces in peacetime and wartime," - said if the commander in chief.
Currently under construction in France, the first of two intended for Russia DVKD like "Mistral." The ship was laid down in the French Saint-Nazaire on February 1. First DVKD be handed over to Russia in 2014, the second - a year later.
On these ships will be based, in particular, the Russian attack helicopters Ka-52 "Alligator", the refined version of a Marine. In September last year in the Northern Fleet completed tests on the adaptation of the multi-purpose attack helicopters for use in marine environments.
The French side is under contract for the "Mistral" sends Russia a number of "sensitive" technologies, including a combat information management system SENIT-9, which are equipped with amphibious ships. Subsequently, these technologies will be used in the construction of two other types of DVDK "Mistral" at Russian shipyards.
One such ship, having a displacement of 21 thousand tons and the maximum length of 210 m body, able to take on up to 16 heavy helicopters, as well as to the transfer of a specified area of ​​up to 900 troops and 70 armored vehicles.

Russian Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir
Vysotskiy’s statement, that having a ship like Mistral “would have allowed the Black Sea
Fleet to accomplish its mission in 40 minutes, not 26 hours, which is how long it took us” 6
(during the Georgia crisis) is supposed to have inspired the idea of looking abroad to
augment Russia’s naval capabilities.

Now the appropriate question is why the Russian navy needs a class of ocean going large landing ships.

GarryB wrote:Don't get me wrong, the Russians are not planning an invasion of Africa or South America, what I mean is that they need a smaller more capable Navy that is more mobile and carriers mean they travel with air power, helicopter carriers and landing ships means they travel with substance (as opposed to just cruise missiles).

The primary purpose of the first two Mistrals is to shore up protection of the Kurile islands and to bolster the Russian Navy in the Pacific. The second two will go to the Northern fleet to safeguard Russian interests in mineral and energy exploration in the north.

The key thing however is that if something pops up like it did in Kosovo, then with mobile and more powerful groups of ships the Russians will be able to do more than give verbal support to their allies and stern words to the west.

If tensions rose in Venezuela and the CIA tried to overthrow Chavez again, then sending some ships to visit will send a message... a Frigate is one message and a helicopter carrier with Naval Infantry and attack helos is another.

Obviously they could never send anything that would be a real threat to the entire US Navy, but the US is hardly going to cross that line just to get a friendly puppet regime into Venezuela.

More importantly the mobile forces needed to support Helicopter carrier operations should allow larger groups of ships to make show the flag visits to allies and potential customers.