First and second Mistral-class amphibious transport docks built for Russian Navy will be named Sevastopol and Vladivostok, said Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief ADM Vladimir Vysotsky at the keel-laying ceremony of Project 20385 lead corvette and Project 22350 frigate held on Feb 1 at Severnaya Verf shipyard (St. Petersburg).
According to Vysotsky, each ship will be delivered to Russia in 36 months since the beginning of works.
Keel-laying and steel-cutting ceremonies of the first landing ship took place in France on Feb 1.
Recall that the EUR 1.2-bln contract for two Mistral-class assault landing ships was tied with French company DCNS on June 17 in St. Petersburg in the presence of Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. In accordance with the contract, the French party will transfer shipbuilding technology to Russia as well as tactical data system SENIT-9 mounted on French ships. Later on, that technology will be used in construction of other two Mistral-class ships by Russian shipyards.
Russia will build third and fourth Mistral-class helicopter carriers independently.
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.
[mappress] World Maritime News Staff, February 2, 2012;