Mistral to Northern fleet

Mistral to Northern fleet
2011-01-12

The Russian navy says they will base one of the French Mistral class helicopter carriers at the Northern fleet’s main base Severomorsk on the Kola Peninsula.

Russia and France agreed last year to jointly build two Mistral class helicopter carriers at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire in France. The first, estimated to cost some €700 million, will be based with the Pacific fleet in Vladivostok, while the second will be based in Severomorsk and join Russia’s Northern fleet.

The news appeared in several media in Moscow on Wednesday with sources to a spokesman with the Headquarter of the Russian Navy.

Interfax reports that in order to base a Mistral class vessel in Severomorsk, it is required to build special piers and base additional anti-submarine and air defence systems to support the vessel.

The Navy source says the Mistral class amphibious assault vessel will be involved in landing, peacekeeping and rescue operations and can be used to combat pirates in the Indian Ocean.

While the two first Mistral class vessels will be built in France, two other will be built in Russia. Nothing is said regarding which fleet the two last vessels will be joining; the Pacific fleet, the Northern fleet, the Baltic fleet or the Black Sea fleet.

RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday, also with source to a Russian navy spokesman, that “a decision has been adopted to build Mistral class vessels at a new shipyard to be constructed on the Kotlin Island near St. Petersburg, but still under the structure of the large Admirality Naval yards.”

The construction of vessel three and four could start in 2014, while the first vessel, to be built in France, is expected to be built within 36 months after Russia makes an advance payment to France supposed to come later in January, according to RIA Novosti.

Mistral-class warships are designed for offensive power-projection through amphibious landings and air assault, using the combat helicopters and armored vehicles aboard in support of ground-force operations. The vessels are capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armored vehicles including 13 battle tanks.

The French – Russian Mistral deal, announced on December 24th, is the first large-scale arms deal between a NATO country and Russia. Not all NATO members are applauding the Frence-Russian deal. U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said when asked by DefenceNews in February last year about the French offer of the Mistral to Russia: “yes, we did discuss it. We had a good and thorough exchange of views. I will leave it at that.”

source: Barent Observer

yep, something brewing there on the long run. Remember its not only Japan, but also other neighbours.

A leeson to be learned from peace treaties that are not clear: While the Allied/Japan treaty from 1951 did obligate Japan to renounce the Kurisl it did not state that they were Russian neither: The base of the (juridical) conflict. More so, Japamn now tries ti diversificate, claiming that some if the "kuril" islands are not Kuril by definition....

More food for the Int. Right lawyers...

Rattler

Well to be honoust.

If you look at the expansion and rapid modernisation of the armies of China and India than we need to start working together with the Russians.
We need an ally with huge numbers of manpower and military based industrial infrastucture, specially because the has pulled back most of its forces from Europe.
If Iran, India and china, or India and China form a pact than we in Europe will have serious security problems, our trade will be in danger too.

And regarding France its not just Sarkozy, 20 years ago Netherlands wanted to sell 4 subs to Taiwan, but we werent aloowed to because of trade boycots.
The French jumped in the gap at once and supplied them with their subs.
Just as they supplied ships to Iraq when their was a boycot in the 80's.
Having huge numbers of SS men in the French foreign legion in Vietnam.

They might: If anything, the Russians have proven to be NOT stupid and to adhere to real life challenges, and this over centuries.

Rattler

Moscow dismisses report of deadlock in talks on Mistral purchase
RIA Novosti

18:27 03/03/2011 MOSCOW, March 3 (RIA Novosti) - Reports of an impasse in contractual talks between Russia and France on the purchase of Mistral class helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy are false, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's spokesman said on Thursday.

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