France to Build Two Mistral LHDs for Russia

nrj

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07:44 GMT, July 27, 2010 The French head of state [President Nicolas Sarkozy] told employees of the STX shipyards that they would build the imminent Russian order. The procurement contract for two ships of the Mistral-class is to be signed by year-end.

"Together with our Russian friends, you are going to build two Mistral-class BPCs (Bâtiments de Projection et de Commandement). We are negotiating the contract, bt the final decision to go ahead is certain," the President told employees of the STX shipyard (the former Chantiers de l'Atlantique).


Sarkozy's statement will reassure the firm's 2,280 employees. For the past year, the shipyard has suffered from a drop in production orders, which have led to temporary layoffs for some employees.

The new order for two ships would be in addition to that of the Dixmude, a third BPC-class ship ordered by the French navy and financed by the government's economic recovery plan. It is to be delivered in April 2011 at a cost of 300 million euros.

The BPC-class ships are about 200 meters long, displace 21,300 tonnes and can transport up to 900 men as well as a substantial volume of ground vehicles, helicopters and amphibious transports. At the same time, they can host a complete headquarters for an international operation, as well as a full-scale hospital.

(Unofficial translation of the French press)
 

nrj

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Mistral class LHDs

The first of the Mistral amphibious assault ship (LHD) was commissioned in 2006. Two of these ships are in service with the French Navy, named Mistral and Tonnerre. The third ship will be ordered in 2009 and forth is planned. Primary mission for these ships are amphibious landing operations. They also provide command and force projection capability.

The Mistral class vessels are the largest combatants in the French Navy service after the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. They replaced the Ouragan class LSDs.


The Mistral class landing platform docks can carry a full tank battalion

The new vessel uses four mechanized landing craft (LCM) or two hovercraft (LCAC) in the stern deck to deliver troops and vehicles ashore. It can carry a full tank battalion with up to 40 Leclerc MBTs, or up to 70 lighter vehicles. Ship provides accommodation for 450 marines, however surge capacity is 900.

The Mistral class LHD has six helicopter landing spots. Up to 16 medium (NH90, Tigre) or 35 light helicopters can be carried and stored in the hangar deck. It is worth mentioning that every helicopter, operated by the French military, can land on these ships. Currently this class can not operate V/STOVL aircraft, as it has got no ski-jump bow associated equipment.

Ships are equipped with 69-bed hospitals, furthermore hangar can also be converted into a modular field hospital. The Mistral class can be deployed as command and control vessels. Command center can host up to 150 personnel.

Vessel is armed with two Simbad launchers for Mistral surface-to-air missiles and two 30-mm Breda-Mauser guns.

The Mistral class uses new propulsion technology, which gives ships significant maneuvering capabilities. It is an all-electric warship. Power is generated by four diesel generators, providing 20.8 MW. These vessels have a range of 10 700 nautical miles (20 000 km) at 14 knots.

Source
 

bhramos

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Mistral contract should be signed at Euronaval show - Russian Navy commander

Russia's contract to buy Mistral class helicopter carriers from France should be signed in Paris at the Euronaval 2010 defense show in October or Russia may lag behind in the ship building industry, Russian Navy commander Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky said.
Originally Russia was negotiating the purchase of one French-built Mistral class amphibious assault ship and planned to build three more vessels of the same class in partnership with the French naval shipbuilder DCNS. But earlier this year, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said talks were underway on the 2+2 scheme, under which Russia will buy two ships from France, and build a further two under license in Russia.
"I hope Russian and French specialists will draft the Mistral contract by the start of the Euronaval event," Vysotsky said.
"If we do not sign a contract on the Mistral, we will greatly lag behind in the speed and rate of our construction of such ships," the Navy commander said.
According to French media, a Mistral costs 400 million - 500 million euros ($522mln-653mln).
The Mistral class ship is capable of transporting and deploying 16 helicopters, four landing barges, up to 70 armored vehicles including 13 battle tanks, and 450 personnel.
The Russian military says it plans to use Mistral ships in its Northern and Pacific fleets.
Many Russian military and industry experts have questioned the financial and military sense of the purchase, and some believe that Russia simply wants to gain access to advanced naval technology that could be used in the future in potential conflicts with NATO and its allies.
In April, the head of the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, Mikhail Dmitriyev, said the Mistral deal would be concluded by the end of the year.
MOSCOW, August 2 (RIA Novosti)

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20100802/160042127.html
 

Tshering22

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We need to consider these as well. I read somewhere that IN is also interested in Mistral class. Please confirm.
 

sandeepdg

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Right said, Tshering !! I think the IN seriously needs to consider having atleast a couple of these !!
 

nrj

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Backing Off from Mistral Deal, Russia to Open an International Tender for Helicopter

The Russian Defense Ministry will hold a tender on the purchase of helicopter carriers, having backed out of negotiations to buy the Mistral-class helicopter carrier from France without a tender. Russia has been negotiating with the French shipbuilder DCNS about the procurement of two vessels, with options for two additional ships to be built by local shipyards. The estimated cost of the program could exceed US$2 billion – making this program one of the largest Russian shipbuilding programs in recent decades.


The Russians wanted to buy up to four French Mistral ships

The decision to open the tender followed a complaint by the Russian United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) to the Federal Antitrust Service, about the exclusion of local shipbuilders from competing for this program, a claim that gained the Russian Navy support.
As a result, USC was officially invited to take part in the tender, to be announced next month. The tender is likely to involve other foreign shipbuilders in addition to the French.

While Russian and foreign bidders will seriously attempt to compete, it is likely that the tender will be 'tailored' to clear the ground for selecting the French offer. According to the Russian Daily Kommersant, USC has offered to build the ship for $500-700 million, while DCNS priced their vessels around $430-540 million. USC is realistic about its chance to win the program, and is setting the ground to join the French as a partner. Two of the USC subsidiaries are candidates for such JVs – the Admiralteyskiye Verfi from St.Petersburg's and the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad. A French delegation is expected to visit the Yantar shipyard this month to study the possibility of building Mistral class ships there. Another subsidiary of USC is the Zvezda Shipbuilding Company, based in the Far East, has already established a joint venture with South Korean Daewoo Marine Shipbuilding & Engineering, and will offer the Dokdo helicopter carrier.

USC is promissing it could complete the vessel construction within 30 months.

Source


Some twist of events. But I think its a bargaining strategy... :happy_2:
 

charlie

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no IN is not looking for helicopter carriers it's not a priority for the IN at the moment or for the next 20 years to come for now all the IN is interested in is getting some submarine and few aircraft carrier atlest 3 and that is going to take around 2018 to reach that target and for submarines it may be 2025 or something because the IN has not yet decided which 6 more submarine it wants and to even decided and place a contract it is going to take 5 more years or may be more
http://geneva-globaldefence.blogspot.com/2010/07/biggest-military-deal-six-submarines.html
 
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nrj

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Tender for Helicopter Carriers May Just Be Formality

Kommersant reports today that United Shipbuilding Corporation (OSK) has gotten the Defense Ministry's permission to hold an open tender for procurement of helicopter carriers. The paper concludes the Defense Ministry is refraining from a sole-source purchase of the French Mistral, and will consider similar proposals from OSK's shipyards. But the military [at least some military officials] haven't hidden the fact that they prefer Mistral [but Defense Minister Serdyukov has always maintained they've been talking to other suppliers], so the tender could just be a formality.

OSK President Roman Trotsenko says a special commission from the Ministry of Industry and Trade will conduct the tender, but details are sketchy. A Defense Ministry source told Kommersant that, without a tender, a deal to buy a helicopter carrier [presumably Mistral] would be considered illegal. So there won't be a sole-source buy despite a year of government-to-government talks.

The paper reminds readers of OSK's recent unsuccessful antimonopoly complaint in regard to the government's consideration of Mistral. Although the complaint was not reviewed, it must have had some impact on the decision to compete the helicopter carrier purchase. Kommersant sources say OSK Board Chairman Igor Sechin also had something to do with it.

Trotsenko says far east shipbuilding plant 'Zvezda,' Petersburg's 'Admiralty Wharves,' and Kaliningrad's 'Yantar' will bid for the ships. 'Zvezda' already has a joint venture in place with South Korea's Daewoo – builder of the Dokdo helicopter carrier. The OSK President says 'Admiralty' and 'Yantar' might work with 'Northern' shipyard or a foreign builder.

Kommersant has a letter sent from Sechin to Prime Minister Putin this spring saying not only is Dokdo an alternative to Mistral, but Dutch and Spanish helicopter carriers are as well.

Trotsenko says OSK yards can build a helicopter carrier in 30 months for $500-700 million against a Mistral pricetag of €420-680 million.

Kommersant concludes the tender won't end the conflict between OSK and the Defense Ministry. Mistral will remain the latter's priority. The paper's sources don't know if the military wants to buy Mistral itself or place an order for a new unit in a French shipyard (STX). OSK hasn't been able to arrange a cooperative agreement with STX.

Mezhprombank-controlled 'Northern' and 'Baltic' shipyards will participate in the tender according to a representative of the bank. Kommersant's sources think Mezhprombank, its owner Sergey Pugachev, and shipyards are the favorites among Russian contenders. Pugachev was an early supporter of buying French, then building other units in his shipyards. And, according to Kommersant, the Defense Ministry supports Pugachev.

Alongside Pugachev and Mezhprombank, OSK feels its chances to win the tender aren't great. Moscow Defense Brief analyst Mikhail Barabanov also says Mezhprombank yards are the favorites to build Mistral in Russia. Such a deal's been reached at a political level between Paris and Moscow, so the tender might just be a formality. CAST's Konstantin Makiyenko agrees. But he thinks Mistral orders will go to 'Baltic,' since 'Northern' is loaded with frigate and corvette orders. Meanwhile, OSK would like to buy both yards from Mezhprombank, but the sides haven't reached agreement on a price.

Source
 

nrj

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Is the Helicopter Carrier Tender for Real?

Speaking in Yerevan today, Defense Minister Serdyukov told journalists:

"We have announced an international tender for construction of a helicopter-carrying ship."

He indicated Russia is talking about two ships. He also welcomed the French builders of the Mistral to join in the tender.

The tender will take place next month, and the winning bid will be selected before year's end.

After months of negotiations with France on building Mistral-class amphibious assault ships, the Russians couldn't reach agreement on the terms of a deal.

The two sides may have agreed on building two ships in France's STX shipyard. French President Sarkozy told its workers last month they'd be building two ships with the Russians.

Maybe the Russians wanted to buy one and build three, but Serdyukov says the international tender is for two ships, so it seems likely Paris and Moscow had agreed on a '2+2' formula. So something else is probably the sticking point.


RIA Novosti suggests talks with Paris stalled over its unwillingness to sell Moscow the NATO standard tactical communications system aboard Mistral, according to an unnamed expert who spoke to Ouest-France.

The expert said the comms system is tied to the SENIT 9 tactical combat information system. It's described as an important node NATO isn't prepared to share with Russia. The French expert says the Russians "don't have a very good command of military computers and are trying to fill the gap."

Officially, the Elysee says negotiations with Russia continue, it's confident of a successful outcome, and it isn't worried about the Russian tender. It hasn't commented on participating in it either. Meanwhile, the French media claims Moscow has stopped its exclusive talks with Paris.

Source
 

nrj

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how can it play roles in IN
Well that is for IN to decide. But I don't think in current scenario we can expect any immediate LHDs. Maybe in future Andaman base or bay of Bengal can see some with IN flags.
 

charlie

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well the russian tried to scare the french by saying they are looking for other option but the other option was korean LHD which is quiet inferior to Mistral and the only other option left is to build one indigenously but i am sure that they are gonna end up with the french LHD but the russian are just getting on and off from the deal to make sure they get the best deal
Global Defence: Russian Defense Ministry lukewarm on South Korean warship deal
 

nrj

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well the russian tried to scare the french by saying they are looking for other option but the other option was korean LHD which is quiet inferior to Mistral and the only other option left is to build one indigenously but i am sure that they are gonna end up with the french LHD but the russian are just getting on and off from the deal to make sure they get the best deal
Global Defence: Russian Defense Ministry lukewarm on South Korean warship deal
Exactly. Its a bargain strategy to seal a profitable deal for Russians. They will end up with 4 French Mistral LHDs.
 

nrj

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Russia to decide on French warship purchase by year end

Russia will make a final decision on whether to buy a French Mistral-class amphibious assault ship by the end of the year, the Russian ambassador to France said on Friday.

Russia is holding talks with France on the purchase of Mistral-class warships on a 2+2 scheme whereby Russia will buy one or two French-built Mistrals and build another two under license at home.

"Very serious negotiations have been ongoing since March and we need to decide whether or not to buy [them]," Alexander Orlov said.

He said under Russian laws, "any such purchases are to be made through a tender," adding that France had fairly good chances to win it.

"That is, of course, if they make a more interesting offer," he said.

The envoy said the final decision "will be made by a special commission."

Russian Defense Minister Serdyukov said on August 20 that the ministry had announced an international tender for the construction of two amphibious assault ships and that the results of the tender would be announced before the end of the year.

RIA Novosti
 

sob

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Is the plan limited to the import from France or do the Russians have plans to build more based on the Mistral design.
 

nrj

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Is the plan limited to the import from France or do the Russians have plans to build more based on the Mistral design.
Current news is that initial order is to get 2 ships & 2 more will be added making it 2+2. However, I don't think Russian builders will be interested to construct Mistral design in their facility. They may come up with their solution. Although, funding Aircraft carrier program & good numbers of LHDs same time doesn't seem to be affordable for Russia.
 

charlie

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Current news is that initial order is to get 2 ships & 2 more will be added making it 2+2. However, I don't think Russian builders will be interested to construct Mistral design in their facility. They may come up with their solution. Although, funding Aircraft carrier program & good numbers of LHDs same time doesn't seem to be affordable for Russia.
Naah the Russian are not going design and construct a ship like that, actually the russian builders were angry that why they are giving out the money to some other country when they design and build it for themself but the Russian government decided that they are going to buy one and construct other ships in their dock with TOT so ya the russian builders are going to construct minstral disign in their own facility is the deals goes through
 

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