Russia Navy’s latest helicopter carriers to carry multi-purpose gunships.

Russia’s two latest amphibious assault ships currently under construction at the Zaliv Shipyard in Crimea will be capable of carrying both deck-based Ka-31, Ka-27 or Ka-52K helicopters and multi-purpose gunships for special missions, Ak Bars Shipbuilding Corporation Chief Renat Mistakhov told TASS at the Army-2020 forum on Thursday.
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Representative picture. (Picture source: Russian Defense Ministry/TASS)

Multi-purpose amphibious assault ships also called helicopter carriers are capable of carrying a group of heavy helicopters of various designations on their board (up to 16 helicopters aboard Mistral-class vessels and over 30 gunships aboard US Wasp-class warships) and transporting from several hundred to 1,000 and more marine infantry personnel. Helicopter carriers are outfitted with a dock for landing craft and can transport armor.

Russia’s first two domestic helicopter carriers Ivan Rogov and Mitrofan Moskalenko were laid down at the Zaliv Shipyard in Kerch on the Crimean Peninsula on July 20.

Floating hospitals

The Russian multi-purpose amphibious assault ships can be transformed into floating hospitals, if necessary, he said.

From the start of the work on the ship’s design, the Ak Bars Shipbuilding Corporation suggested that some equipment should be stationary, for example, oxygen apparatus, he said.

If necessary, an amphibious assault ship will get medical apparatus and materials in addition to the basic equipment installed initially to transform into a full-fledged hospital vessel, he said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry displayed its interest in acquiring hospital ships during the pandemic when the hospital vessel Irtysh was involved in the Far East to ease the burden on hospitals.

Russian Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Oleg Ryazantsev told TASS at the Army-2020 forum on August 26 that the United Shipbuilding Corporation had offered several options of building new hospital vessels of various types, layouts, accommodation and classes for operation in coastal and distant waters. Russia’s Defense Ministry will make a decision on building a fleet of such vessels, proceeding from available financial resources.

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