July 26, 201015 yr From Defense Aerospace “You Are Going to Build Two BPCs” (Source: French Ministry of Defence; issued July 23, 2010) (Issued in French only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com) The French head of state [President Nicolas Sarkozy] told employees of the STX shipyards that they would build the imminent Russian order. The procurement contract for two ships of the Mistral-class is to be signed by year-end. “Together with our Russian friends, you are going to build two Mistral-class BPCs (Bâtiments de Projection et de Commandement). We are negotiating the contract, bt the final decision to go ahead is certain,” the President told employees of the STX shipyard (the former Chantiers de l’Atlantique). Sarkozy’s statement will reassure the firm’s 2,280 employees. For the past year, the shipyard has suffered from a drop in production orders, which have led to temporary layoffs for some employees. The new order for two ships would be in addition to that of the Dixmude, a third BPC-class ship ordered by the French navy and financed by the government’s economic recovery plan. It is to be delivered in April 2011 at a cost of 300 million euros. The BPC-class ships are about 200 meters long, displace 21,300 tonnes and can transport up to 900 men as well as a substantial volume of ground vehicles, helicopters and amphibious transports. At the same time, they can host a complete headquarters for an international operation, as well as a full-scale hospital. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Previous reports stated that Russian wanted to buy up to four Mistral-class ships, but only if France agreed to transfer their technology to Russian shipyards. Russia was originally thought to want to build as many as three ships under license, but recent press reports say that it will only build one. It has also been reported that the ships will be equipped with Russian-made weapons, including guns, missiles and torpedoes, but the sheer complexity of integrating them into the ship’s combat management system makes this unlikely. Finally, the ships’ hulls will be reinforced in Russian shipyards to allow Arctic operations.)
January 26, 201115 yr Author From DefenseNews France Signs Contested Russia Warship Deal By PHILIPPE ALFROY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Published: 25 Jan 2011 09:20 SAINT-NAZAIRE, France - France on Jan. 25 inked a lucrative agreement to sell four Mistral-class warships to Moscow, with two to be built in Russia, a move bitterly opposed by former Soviet states in the Baltics. [excerpt]
April 13, 201115 yr Author From RIA Novosti [excerpt] France agrees to supply full-spec Mistral ships - Defense Ministry16:44 13/04/2011 France and Russia have agreed that the Mistral-class helicopter carriers France will build for Russia will be fully equipped with the communication and control systems, a senior official in Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
April 13, 201115 yr Russia on Link 16 with NATO? Somehow I wouldn't be surprised but I am speaking in jest!
April 14, 201115 yr How are they going to reinforce the hulls AFTER they are already built in French yards? Increasing the frame rate and/or scantlings isn't a minor issue to contend with and is in fact major surgery for a ship that big. The fact that the Russians are buying French hulls lets out much about the state of the Russian shipbuilding industry but the smart thing to do would be to do all the work in the French yards. Changing the design in a Russian yard may get the boats back in the water by the time Putin's grandchildren retire.....maybe.... Later D
May 26, 201114 yr Author From DefenseNews [excerpt] France, Russia Reach Agreement on Warship DealAGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Published: 26 May 2011 08:19 DEAUVILLE, France - France and Russia have finalized an unprecedented deal for Paris to sell four powerful modern warships to Moscow, President Nicolas Sarkozy and his counterpart Dmitry Medvedev said May 26.
June 19, 201114 yr How are they going to reinforce the hulls AFTER they are already built in French yards? Increasing the frame rate and/or scantlings isn't a minor issue to contend with and is in fact major surgery for a ship that big. The fact that the Russians are buying French hulls lets out much about the state of the Russian shipbuilding industry but the smart thing to do would be to do all the work in the French yards. Changing the design in a Russian yard may get the boats back in the water by the time Putin's grandchildren retire.....maybe.... Later D Maybe they'll keep the French built units for use outside Arctic waters and only reinforce their home built ships? What they say (now) and what they do (in the future) can easily differ. Plenty of use over in the northern pacific (or closer to china?) Who knows what sort of alliances will be in 10 years time. I see a Harpoon scenario of ex Russian Chinese aircraft carrier fighting it out with a French built Russian Helo carrier.
February 4, 201214 yr Ships to be named Vladivostok and Sevastopol: http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=118662
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