DCNS
launched yesterday the construction at the STX shipyard at Saint-Nazaire
of the first of two BPC-type vessels ordered by the Russian Federation.
Russian and French guests of honour joined DCNS and STX employees for
the official ‘first cut’ ceremony.
Mr Andrei Petrovitch Vernigora, Acting Director of Department of the
Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, responsible for monitoring
the execution of the military orders of the State, Captain Valeri Pletnev,
Naval Attaché with the Russian Federation Embassy in France,
and Ivan Goncharenko, First Deputy Managing Director of Russian defence
export agency Rosoboronexport were among the guests watching as work
began this morning on the first BPC-type vessel for Russia.
The first cut was executed according to the design study launched on
1 November 2011 to tailor the BPC concept to Russian requirements. DCNS
and STX also used this opportunity to formally open the office space
at the STX shipyard assigned to the Russian team that will work on site
throughout the construction programme.
“DCNS
and its partners are fully mobilised to work on this programme,”
said Pierre Legros, DCNS SVP Surface Ships & Naval Systems. “It
represents the shared desire expressed by our two countries to set up
a major industrial partnership.”
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The contract calls for the delivery to Russia of
two BPC-type vessels (known on the international market as landing helicopter
docks or LHDs) along with associated services including initial logistics,
training, and technology transfers. DCNS will act as prime contractor
for BPC construction and assume responsibility for the integration of
the ship’s operations management and communications systems. STX
France will act as the DCNS Group’s subcontractor for shipbuilding.
The first ship is scheduled for delivery in 2014, just three years after
the contract go-ahead. The second is scheduled for delivery in 2015.
The BPC concept was co-designed by DCNS and STX France to deliver inherently
multirole vessels meeting the needs of many navies and ideal for a wide
range of civilian and military missions.
With a length of 199 metres, a displacement of 22,000 tonnes and a speed
in excess of 18 knots, BPC-type LHDs offer a global projection capability
for troops and materiel, including heavy helicopters and landing craft,
as well as ample capacity as a hospital or evacuation vessel for large-scale
humanitarian missions. The design also features electric propulsion
using azimuth pods and high-level automation compatible with a complement
of just 170 while a high-performance communications suite makes the
type ideal for the naval force command vessel role.
The first two ships of this type, BPC Mistral and BPC Tonnerre, were
delivered to the French Navy in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Following
an order placed by the French defence procurement agency (DGA) in 2009,
DCNS and STX France delivered the third-of-class BPC Dixmude to the
French Navy on 3 January 2012, three months ahead of schedule.
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