22.12.2011
Text:
Photo: Assault landing ship
Mistral in St. Petersburg.
"French partners will determine where it would be easier and faster to prepare production. Most likely, that would be
Sevmash", said the minister in the interview to
Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper to be published on Thursday.
He emphasized that a number of issues must be settled prior to that. The main one is pricing, since Russia intends to buy third and fourth
Mistrals at a lower price than the first two.
First and second
Mistral-class multi-purpose amphibious assault ships for Russian Navy will be constructed in France; appropriate EUR 1.2-bln contract was signed in June 2011. As is planned, the first ship will be delivered to Russia in 2014, and the second – in 2015. French defense shipbuilding company
DCNS earlier reported that it had obtained advance payment and was starting construction of the first
Mistral-class helicopter carrier for Russia.
Hulls of the third and fourth
Mistrals will be built in Russia. Director General of
Rosoboronexport Anatoly Isaikin said in Sept 2011 that the second pair of ships would be 80% built in Russia and 20% - in France.
Displacement of
Mistral-class assault landing ship is 21,000 tons; length overall is 210 meters; speed is over 18 knots; operating range is up to 20,000 miles; crew is 160 men plus 450 marines. Air wing comprises 16 helicopters including six placed on the flight deck. Russian
Mistrals will be armed with eight
Ka-52K and eight
Ka-29 helicopters.
