Russia to import two landing ships with technology – Serdiukov

02.11.2010 Under rearmament program of national navy, Russia will import two multipurpose landing ships with technology to produce similar vessels at Russian shipyards, said defense minister Anatoly Serdiukov on TV show Vesti Nedeli.

Answering the question how many helicopter carriers Russia plans to purchase, the minister said two. "Moreover, we're going to buy them with appropriate technologies to build such vessels at domestic shipyards", said Serdiukov.

Deputy defense minister Vladimir Popovkin said on Oct 26 at international exhibition Euronaval-2010 that Russian Ministry of Defense had issued a tender for Mistral-like amphibious assault ships. "We've issued a tender for multipurpose landing ships. Two of them will be constructed abroad. Also, it is planned to get technology to build another batch", he specified.

That is a closed tender, so "I cannot disclose its conditions", Popovkin said. "We addressed invitations to all countries producing ships of such class to attend the tender. Hopefully, offers would come in mid-November", he added.

Also, Popovkin expressed hope that "as the minister said, contract will be signed till the current year is over". "I've no idea who will win the tender. Offers are expected to come in the first decade of November. We're going to hold certain negotiations with official winner and discuss terms of the tender execution and customization", explained the deputy minister.

Speaking of the role assigned to multipurpose landing ships by Russian defense ministry, Popovkin said that "General Staff and Navy Command perceive mission and place of those ships in near and far ocean zones; all other things is a military secret".