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Naval
Industry News - France / Russia |
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| Mistral
Warships for Russia to Get Russian Weaponry |
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The Mistral
class amphibious assault ships built in France for the Russian Navy
will be equipped with Russian-made weaponry, Navy Commander Adm. Vladimir
Vysotsky said on Thursday.
“The main armaments installed on the ships will be Russian-made,”
Vysotsky said.
The admiral said that the Mistrals for the Russian Navy will be better
armed than their French counterparts for staving off airborne and submarine
threats.
The Mistral class ships in service with the French Navy are armed with
two Simbad launchers for Mistral missiles and four 12.7 mm M2-HB Browning
machine guns. They are considered under-equipped for self-defense. |
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DCNS Mistral
class used by the French Navy and soon by the Russian Navy
(picture: French Navy)
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Vysotsky also mentioned that the Russian Mistrals
could be armed with missiles equipped with “special Russian-designed
warheads,” although he did not specify the nature of these warheads.
He stressed that Mistral warships will operate as part of naval task
forces and significantly enhance their combat potential.
Russia and France signed a $1.2-billion contract on two French-built
Mistral class ships, including the transfer of sensitive technology,
in June 2011. Two more ships are expected to be 80% built in Russia,
20% in France. The first Mistral class warship is expected to be put
in service with the Russian Navy in three years.
A Mistral-class ship is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing
vessels, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 troops.
The Russian military has said it plans to use Mistral ships in its Northern
and Pacific fleets.
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