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French flagship of the Russian Navy
At the 21st Euronaval international show in France Russian Navy chief Adm. Vladimir Vysotcky first expressed interest in buying foreign military equipment for the Russian Navy. The admiral said then that the Russian Navy was interested "in joint research and also direct purchases of French naval equipment." As the reporters noticed Navy Chief was especially interested in the models of L-90 French universal amphibious assault ships – Mistral and Tonnerre exposed by the DCN State Shipbuilding Company from France. In the result the Russian Defense Ministry started to negotiate with their French colleagues on purchasing of this class French universal amphibious assault ship (Mistral). There were only rumors on the subject. The Ministry of Defense and the Naval Commander remained silence. In the beginning of August La Tribune published several details of the ongoing negotiations. According to the newspaper the Russian party presented a proposal to the French military that Russia was going to purchase a French ship of this class and produce three more such ships at the Russian shipyards when technology transfer was made. The French newspaper also quoted French Minister of Defense Herve Morin who in the middle of June wrote to his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov that “shares his (Serdyukov) opinion on the bilateral interest in the immediate beginning of the technical consultations between Russian and French experts” on the issue. He supposed then that the special group of experts from both countries and representatives of the defense industry should have been created “to initiate operational and technical dialogue”. According to La Tribune Mr. Morin suggested that the talks be started at the naval show in St. Petersburg in June this year. We do not know whether the consultations took place. But in a month everything was confirmed at the top level. Col. Gen. Nikolai Makarov, the chief of the General Staff, officially confirmed that Russia intended to purchase a Mistral class amphibious assault ship a type of helicopter carrier and on receiving a license produce at least four more ships of this type. Mr. Laurent Tessier, the official representative of the French Ministry of Defense, confirmed the Russian interest in such a universal amphibious assault ship and noted that “the Russian inquiry is general”. As noted by Arnaud Kalik, the chief editor of the French TTU military strategic newsletter, the Elysée palace, the French Defense Ministry and DCNS waited for the Russian final decision, namely political decision, on the agreement. But there was no such a decision.
UNIVERSAL AND ASSAULT
The USA was the pioneer in the development of the universal assault amphibious ships. The war in Vietnam was an incitement to it. Pentagon decided that they were needed in the ship able to decide its own tactical tasks during the amphibious operations. The US Navy received into operation five Tarawa universal amphibious assault ships in 1970s. The Wasp ships succeeded them. Eight ships of this type entered the service in the US Navy in 1989-2007. They are very similar to Mistral amphibious assault ships but they are twice as large as Mistral. The Wasp displacement is 40500 tons. These ships are one of the key elements of the US strategic force demonstration doctrine. The American allies in NATO followed the US example a bit later. The necessity of such ships was very topical for France who conducted operations in its overseas possessions and African colonies. In whole the military and humanitarian activity including amphibious, transport and evacuation operations significantly increased in the end of XX - beginning of XXI centuries. That is why more universal amphibious assault ships were built. The Mistral designation started in the late 80s. In 1992 the DCN French Shipbuilding Department exhibited the perspective project of the universal amphibious assault ship called BIP (Batiment D'Intervention Polyvalent – universal interventional ship) with the displacement of 15 000 tons. In fact that was a light aircraft carrier which was capable to carry helicopters and VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircrafts along with amphibious troops and military equipment. The French Naval Commander met a problem of writing off two Ouragan class landing platform docks (displacement 8 500 tons) – Ouragan and Orage built in the 60s. Foudre and Sirocco landing platform docks of the Foudre class were built in the 1990s (displacement 12 400 tons). In 1997 within the Army Model 2015 national program the French Naval Commander started NTCD special program (Nouveau Transport de Chalands de Debarquement –new landing platform dock). Under the program two new universal amphibious assault ships were to be built for the French Navy. Actually they could continue the building of the Foudre class vessels. But after a long parliamentary debate between the parties concerned it was solved that the French Navy needed new more modern BIP project ship. Based on the project four variants were designed (BIP 8, BIP 10, BIP 13 and BIP 19). The main difference was in their dimensions. BIP 8, the smallest one, had a length of 102 meters and displacement of 8 000 tons. BIP 19, the largest one, had a length of 190 meters and displacement of 19 000 tons. According to the French Naval Commander’s demands BIP 19 was chosen in the middle of 2000. The new ship’s type was classified as “amphibious assault carrier (ship)” (Bâtiments de Projection et Commandement - BPC). L9013 Mistral, the first ship of the class, was constructed at various French shipyards in two major and several minor components, which would be united on completion. DCNS, which was designated the head of construction, made the front half of the ship in Brest. ALSTOM Marine-Chantiers de l'Atlantique constructed the forward half of the ship in Saint-Nazaire and was responsible for transporting it to the DCNS's shipyard in Brest for the final assembly. Some Polish companies were also involved in the construction. Finally the first Mistral ship was commissioned into the French Navy in 2006. Following the start of the 2006 Lebanon War, Mistral was one of the four French ships deployed into the waters of Lebanon. Jean Bart and Jean de Vienne Frigates and landing platform dock were also deployed. These ships were to protect, and if necessary evacuate, European citizens in Lebanon and Israel. L9014 Tonnerre amphibious assault ship was built soon after Mistral and entered the service in February, 2007. It was predicted that these two helicopter carriers would take 34 months to complete, with design and construction for both ships costing 685 million Euros, 30% less than it was planned because of the different engineering innovation decisions and component building. In December 2008 new contract was signed. According to it a new Mistral ship will have been built by 2011-2012. STX Company (former ALSTOM Marine- Chantiers de l'Atlantique) will build the main part (75 % of the contract) and DCNS will work with the ship combat system. This ship costs 420 million Euros. The French Naval Commander considers the possibility of the 4th ship building by 2020. UNIVERSAL FRENCH HELICOPTER CARRIER A universal amphibious assault Mistral class ship is capable of transporting and deploying landing troops and equipment and is able to be used as a command ship. Displacement: 16 500 tones (empty), 21300 tones (full load), 32 300 tones (with ballasts). Length: 199 meters (650 ft) Beam: 32 meters (100 ft) Draught: 6.2 meters (21 ft). Speed: 18.8 knots (35 km/h) Range: 19 800 nautical miles. The flight deck of the ship is approximately 199 meters long and 32 meters wide. The deck has six helicopter landing spots. The 1,800-square-metre (19,000 sq ft) hangar deck can hold 8 helicopters, and includes a maintenance area. The ship can carry 16 helicopters maximum (half of the air group of the Mistral is to be constituted of NH90s transport helicopters, the other half being composed of Tigre assault helicopters). The flight and hangar decks are connected by two aircraft lifts, one on the left and second on the right side, and the main lift located near the aft of the ship, on the centerline. The difference with the basic BIP 19 project is the absence of the front skijump. That is why Mistral is not capable to carry VTOL aircrafts. The Mistral class ships can accommodate up to 470 soldiers, although this can be doubled for short-term deployments. The 122 meters long and 13.5 meters wide vehicle hangar can carry 1200 tons of cargo - up to 13 tanks or 60 armored vehicles or 70 cars. The 57.5 meters long and 15.4 meters wide 885-square-metre (9,530 sq ft) well deck can accommodate four landing crafts. The ship is capable of operating two LCAC hovercrafts or four middle landing crafts (French LCMs or Russian 11770 Serna crafts). The French ship is not well armed. Its armament is limited by the tasks of self-defense against point air targets and terrorist vessels. The Mistral class ships were armed with two Simbad launchers for Mistral Air Defense missile system and four 12.7 mm M2-HB Browning machine guns. Two Brenda Mauser 30 mm guns are also included in the design. The ship is also equipped with electromagnetic warfare assets, improved systems of communication, command and control. Information from the ship's sensors is centralized in SENIT 9 system, the modernization of SENIT 8 used by the French aircraft carriers. The ship is equipped with a 69-bed hospital. There are two surgery blocks and a radiology room fitted with a scanner. Capacity is 69 beds, but it can be extended. The Mistral class ship can be used as command and control ship, with a command centre for 150 personnel. Mistral is powered by modern electric power plant controlled by the special automatic system. Main propulsion motors are installed inside the steerable propellers. Mistral is the first ship in the world to use steerable propellers (14 MW). The propellers are powered by electricity from four Wartsila Company diesel alternators (21 MW) and can be oriented in any angle. The alternators also produce power supply for all the ship systems. This propulsion technology gives the ships significant maneuvering capabilities, as well as freeing up space normally reserved for machinery and propeller shafts. The Mistral ship is additionally equipped with front azimuth thrusters. On the sides there are also two wing rudders used at a strong rolling. When the water is still the rudders are kept inside the ship’s hull. When started the main priorities of the Mistral class were universality, multitask capability, usage of the civil shipbuilding standards and complete automation. It allowed the complement to be reduced and the command and control on the ship and air group to be improved. The complement is 177 persons (20 officers) excluding air group personnel. SIC-21information exchange system can be easily integrated into the analog systems of the West European and American Navies. As far as civil standards are concerned it is worth saying of ecological component. So the Mistral has a biological wastes collecting and processing system. All the wastes are thrown into the sea.
RIVALS
However when such a purchase is being planned Russia is to announce a tender. It was officially confirmed by Russian Navy chief Adm. Vladimir Vysotcky on September 11. According to Mr. Vysotcky France, Spain and the Netherlands will participate in it. There are no talks with the USA by obvious reasons. But the Dutch interfered in the sensational deal much earlier. On September, 11 Hein Van Ameiden, the Director of Damen Schedle Shipyard, said in his interview to the Dutch NRC Handelsblad newspaper that Russia was interested in the Dutch Rotterdam class ship. Its type is very close to the Mistral class. Johan de Vitt Landing Platform Dock or LPD amphibious warfare ship (the second ship of the Rotterdam class) was exhibited at the international naval show in St Petersburg in the end of June. Mr. Van Ameiden said that the Russian Navy representatives saw the ship and “fell in love with it design”. The Dutch ship builder avowed “If the agreement is made the Russians will purchase four such ships”. If the ships are built by the license the total cost of the contract will be about 1-1.5 billion Euros. And the Dutch Damen Schelde is going to rival French DCNS, the Mistral builder, in the tender. The Spanish Navantina Shipbuilding Company may participate in the tender too. In 2008 DCNS rivaled Schedele in the Moroccan corvette tender. The contract was signed with Schedele in spite of the fact that the French defense industry is traditionally very strong on the North African arms market (Morocco ordered DCNS a FREMM class Frigate later). In 2007 Navantia rivaled and won DCNS in the Australian tender for the universal amphibious assault ship. However it is known that the Dutch Rotterdam ship is not a universal amphibious assault ship. It is a Landing Platform Dock or LPD amphibious warfare ship. As Mistral Rotterdam is capable to transport and land equipment and troops and it can be operated as a hospital or a command and control ship. But Rotterdam belongs to the lower class than the Mistral assault ship. Rotterdam carries fewer helicopters. There are two ships in this class. L800 Rotterdam, the first one, was commissioned into the Dutch Navy in 1997. Modernized L801 Johan de Witt entered the service in 2007. It is interesting that the hulls of both ships were built by the Rumanian Damen Shipyard. The displacement of Johan de Witt shown to the Russians during the international naval show in St Petersburg is 16 800 tons. Length: 176.35 meters. Beam: 29.0 meters. Draft: 5.5 meters. The flight deck of Johan de Witt is approximately 58 meters long and 25 meters wide. The deck has two helicopter landing spots. It is capable to carry up to six helicopters (Mistral – sixteen helicopters). This ship can accommodate up to 611 soldiers. The vehicle hangar can carry different cargo - up to 30 tanks or 170 vehicles. The 900-square-metre well deck can accommodate six LCVP middle landing crafts and up to four of LCU or LCM type. That was a bilateral project of the Netherlands and Spain. Spain built two Rotterdam class ships – L51 Galicia and L 52 Castilla. I doubt whether Navantina will participate in the Russian tender as it has its own shipbuilding order which is larger than the Mistral one. Juan Carlos I is the universal amphibious assault ship building for the Spanish Navy. It is planned to be the largest ship in the Navy and is demonstrated as Buque de Proyección Estratégica (ship of the strategic force demonstration). Its displacement when the landing troops and equipment is onboard is 27 079 tons, when carried helicopters – 24 600 tons. Length: 230.8 meters. Beam: 32 meters. Draft: 7 meters. The well deck can accommodate four LCM-1E middle landing crafts or two such crafts and one LCAC hovercraft. It can transport up to 925 landing soldiers including shore reconnaissance group of 23 soldiers. The vehicle hangar can carry up to 46 main battle tanks; on the top deck different vehicles can be located too. In the nearby hangar 12 NH90 medium transport or 8 CH-47 Chinook cargo RW-aircrafts can be carried. Instead of helicopters the ship can also carry up to AV-8B Harrier II or F-35B 7 VTOL FW-aircrafts. Flight deck can be used for transporting of additional aircrafts. In this case the ship is capable to carry up to 30 NH90 helicopters or 20 VTOL planes. The main feature of Juan Carlos I is its flight deck (203.2 meters length and 32 meters beam) able to operate Harrier II and F-35В FW-aircrafts. It has four landing spots for four cargo and six for medium transport helicopters. So Juan Carlos I excels Mistral in a great number of characteristics. And the Spanish won the Australian tender with this project and will build two Canberra class universal amphibious ships. After long negotiations the Australian Ministry of Defense neglected the French Armaris (DCNS и Thales joint company) in building the Mistral class universal amphibious assault ships. It was announced in June, 2007 that Australian Tenix Defense Company (BAE Systems’ Australia since 2008) in cooperation with Navantina will have built Canberra and Adelaide universal amphibious assault ships based on the Juan Carlos I project by 2013. The hulls of both Australian ships will be built in Spain. The contract total cost is $3 billion. On the other side unique Juan Carlos I is still being tested and Navantia’s participation in the Russian tender for universal amphibious assault ship has not been officially confirmed yet. Until recently the Spanish company had said nothing. But its officials declared not long ago that the company was going to become “European leader in the military ships export”. As far as the Dutch Rotterdam is concerned the Russian defense industry is able to design and built its own ship of this class. And all the rumors on the Dutch talks are a simple tender formality when the Mistral contract is so close to de signed. And the French party has a significant priority as the bilateral negotiations have started long time ago. Why does Russia need this helicopter carrier? Russia has bought military ships abroad since the reign of Peter I. By the beginning of 1917 Russia bought or ordered several hundreds of military ships in Holland, England, Germany, France and the USA. So the famous Varyag was built at the American William Cramp & Sons Shipyard. In 1930s the Soviet Union bought Tashkent Destroyer built by Italian Odero Terni Orlando. Kirov and Dzerjinsky border guard cruisers were built in Italy too. In 1940 the USSR bought from Germany Lutzow non completed heavy cruiser later renamed in Petropavlovsk (in Tallinn in 1944) but it was not finally completed. As a part of land-lease the USSR got more than 600 British and American ships including Royal Sovereign (Arkhangelsk) warship and Milwaukee (Murmansk) cruiser. After the Great Patriotic War the Soviet Union did not deal with NATO countries on buying military ships. But the Warsaw Pact shipyards built a great number of ships for the USSR. In Gdansk (Poland) several dozens of medium landing ships (770, 771, 773 projects) and 28 large landing ships of 775 project were built and still act as a part of the Russian Navy. The GDR built a line of 12 submarine hunters of 1331M project. A great number of auxiliary vessels were ordered by the USSR in the GDR, Poland, Rumania, Hungary and Finland. The Director of the Strategy and Technology Analysis Center Ruslan Pukhov believes that the military export will increase as the Russian defense industry cannot satisfy all the requirements of the Russian Armed Forces. In several areas foreign analogs are cheaper and have advantages in price and quality. They can be produced and delivered in the shorter period of time. However as the expert says this deal is very puzzled: the necessity of such a purchase and the opportunity of the further technology transfer are doubtful. A French official working on the contract confirmed it in his interview to La Tribune saying that “the technology transfer must be strictly limited”. If assigned the Mistral contract will be the first large-scale Russian military order abroad. The Mistral class displacement is only less than the displacement of Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft carrier. A purchase of one ship may be about 400 million Euros. It is twice as large as the total cost given for surface ship contracts by Russia. The producing of the whole line may reach 1.5 billion Euros. Michael Barabanov, the famous independent expert in the sphere of naval arms, says “In the situation when we do not have enough money to repair our ships and the Navy is not able to finance the building of corvettes and combatant crafts the purchase of such a ship seems to be really strange”. There is no sense in neglecting the fact that the Russian defense industry is unable to build the ship of the Mistral class. We do not have any engineering developments. And as the Russian shipbuilding industry does not have enough money every project will finally become a protracted construction. Rather small Stereguschyiy corvette was built for seven years. St Petersburg submarine of project 667 was built for ten years and Severodvinsk submarine of project 885 has been building since 1993. At the same time the Russian Navy does not have any analogs of the French universal amphibious assault ship. We could have hardly called three Russian ships of project 1174 as amphibious assault ships. But Mitrofan Moskalenko and Alexander Nikolaev, the last two of them, were written off by the Russian Ministry of Defense. But the absence of such a ship in the Russian Navy is not the only reason of its purchase. What we all hope is when the tender starts the Ministry of Defense will design a special program where the Mistral class ship’s tasks in the Navy will be described. These ocean helicopter carriers were designed as expeditionary ships for long-term missions. The Russian strategic interests are mainly in the post- Soviet territory where such a ship will not be able to demonstrate all its advantages. When the operation is concerned it will look like a white crow among all the other ships as they are very different in its standards. Its combat importance will be extremely questionable. Officials of the Russian Ministry of Defense seem to like the command and control feature as the main one. It is rather difficult to find more comfortable flagship for the Navy. If purchased the first one Mistral class ship will be delivered to the Pacific Fleet and the second one to the Black Sea Fleet where its landing and air capacities may be used because of a tense situation in the Caucasus. On the other side such missions can be completed be the Russian amphibious assault ship if we will start to build them. The only impartial reason of the Mistral universal amphibious assault ship class purchase is the economic one. If the contract is signed (though that will be a political decision) the precedent will be established because the large sum of money will be transferred as a lump-sum payment for one military ship. The Russian Ministry of Defense and the Naval Commander realize the market situation and understand that they will manage to ensure a large or regular sum of money to be transferred for the naval purchase of at least one military ship. At the same time they know the Mistral class ship is to operate as an integrated part of an amphibious assault group. That is why additional Destroyers, Frigates and auxiliary vessels are to be built. And according to some information the Russian air industry may soon get an order for a new carrier-based helicopter for the Russian Navy. There is no sense in the initiating of such a program for acting Russian carriers. And if the contract is assigned the Russian mariners will be trained in France where they will gain the Western training and service experience. They will study the maintenance of modern ship systems. That is what the Russian naval personnel extremely needs.
