In
April 2010, Russia’s state-owned arms corporation
Rosoboronexport plans to sign a contract to purchase Mistral
amphibious assault ships from the French shipbuilder DCNS.
In December 2010, a source at Rosoboronexport told RIA Novosti
that DCNS s expected to build its first ship for the Russian
Navy between 2013 and 2014, and the second one between 2014
and 2015. Another two ships will be built in Russia under
a French license. The multi-purpose Mistral helicopter carrier
is 21,000 metric tons and 210 meters long with a cruising
range of 20,000 miles and a maximum speed of over 18 knots.
It can accommodate a crew of 160 and take another 450 people
aboard. Its airborne unit includes 16 helicopters, of which
six can be deployed on the deck at any given time.
|