Brazil would possibly buy two Mistrals

17.05.2011 Brazilian Navy nourishes an idea to purchase at least two assault landing ships. Those ships should have a "double football ground" deck and be capable to perform wide range of missions – transport infantry, tanks, helicopters, landing craft, missiles, have onboard hospital, and carry out functions of a "sophisticated analytic center", i.e. command ship.

Each of those vessels costs today $600-850 mln. Procurement plan of such ships is considered to be "ambitious". According to Brazilian Navy Commander ADM Julio Moura Neto, acquirement of those ships depends on budgetary funds available; the ship's type has not been chosen so far".

The most competitive suppliers are the US and France. Reportedly, France has developed advanced variant of Mistral class assault landing ship. Russia is about to purchase four such ships.

Assault landing ships must be capable to transport 900-1,400 men of landing party, 280 self-propelled vehicles, and 30 helicopters at the range of up to 5,000 km; operate 10 days autonomously 100 miles away from landing zone. Such ship should have early warning helicopters to support fighters covering the ship. In high seas the ship should be protected by escort ships.

An assault landing ship is virtually autonomous. Apart from helicopters, tanks, armored transport vehicles, and hundreds of marines on board, such ship has a hospital capable to conduct any surgical operations. Sophisticated electronics interfaced with encrypted communication satellite systems is located in command post at the level of 15th floor.

There are some political reasons in favor of these big ships. As is known, Brazil strives for being a member of UN Security Council, and such ships would raise prestige of the country; old aircraft carrier San Paulo plays no part any more. Brazilian Navy plans to purchase 61 ships within 20 years. When having assault landing ships in inventory, Brazil will be able to attend various multinational transcontinental operations, which is a requirement to the world-leading countries.