Contract on Mistral ships for Russian Navy to be signed in a few months

26.01.2011 Contract on construction of Mistral class assault landing ships for Russian Navy will be signed in a few months; it will specify deadlines and costs, said Russian vice premier Igor Sechin.

On Jan 25 Igor Sechin and French defense minister Alain Juppe signed an intergovernmental agreement on Mistral ships, although the document contains no information of cost and time parameters of the program implementation.

According to Mr. Sechin, "within the next few months we're going to sign prime contract on the basis of the intergovernmental agreement which creates environment for realization of this project", reports RIA Novosti.

Igor Sechin confirmed previously reported information that Russia's participation in building of the first ship would be somewhat 20 per cent, the second – 40 per cent, with further localization of building of other two ships in Russia – up to 80 per cent.

According to him, the final cost is a matter of negotiations. At the same time he said that EUR 720 mln for the first ship previously voiced in media was incorrect.

Mr. Sechin informed that price parameters of analogous South Korean, Spanish, Dutch, and German landing ships would be considered while determination of the contract's bottom-line cost, reports RIA Novosti.

So far, configuration of Mistral class ships to be build for Russia is uncertain either.

French version of Mistral class assault landing ship has length of 199 meters, beam of 32 meters, displacement of 21,600 tons, and draft of 6.2 meters. Main propulsion plant consists of four Wartsila diesel generators with overall power of 20.8 mW providing electric power for two Alstom Mermaid turning propeller motors. Electric propulsion system makes possible to attain a speed of 19 knots. Fuel range at 15 knots makes 11,000 nautical miles. High degree of automation allowed reducing of the crew down to 160 men.

It is possible to mount two Simbad SAM launchers with Mistral SAM missiles, two 30-mm gun mounts Breda-Mauser, and four 12.7-mm machineguns MH-2B.

The 5,200 sq m top deck accommodates 6 helicopters with weight of up to 16 tons each. Other 10 helicopters can be placed in internal hangar.

The ship is capable to transport 450 fully-outfitted servicemen, 60 light armored vehicles, or 13 Leclerc main battle tanks. Mistral class ship is equipped with interior dock capable to accommodate two LCAC-type air-cushion landing crafts or four CTM-type tank landing crafts.

Mistral ships can be used as helicopter-carrying landing docks, floating hospitals, or evacuation ship for humanitarian missions. Available 850 sq m command center equipped with advanced communication facilities makes Mistral an ideal command and control ship. Shipborne equipment includes three-dimensional radar; satellite communications systems Syracuse 3, Inmarsat, and Flitsatcom; automated tactical control system Zenith 9; battle information/command system SIC-21.