Baltic Shipyard Launches the Stern of Russia’s First Mistral

Despite all the problems and setbacks the shipyard encountered, St. Petersburg-based Baltiisky Zavod (Baltic Shipyard) carried out the launching ceremony of the stern portion of Russia’s first Mistral-class dock assault helicopter carrier “Vladivostok” on Wednesday.

As Itar-Tass reports, the stern portion of the first helicopter carrier that was put afloat will be sent to the French Shipyard in Saint Nazaire to be docked with the other part of the ship already built in France.

Agreement on Mistral ships is one of the largest contracts in the history of Russian-French military cooperation. Moscow and Paris signed the EUR 1.2-bln contract for two Mistrals in June 2011. The first ship is planned to join the Russian Navy in 2014, and the second one – in 2015.

In accordance with the contract, the French party will transfer shipbuilding technology to Russia as well as tactical data system SENIT-9 mounted on French ships. Later on, that technology will be used in construction of other two Mistral-class ships by Russian shipyards.

Displacement of Mistral-class assault landing ship is 21,000 tons; length overall is 210 meters; speed is over 18 knots; operating range is up to 20,000 miles; crew is 160 men plus 450 marines. Air wing comprises 16 helicopters including six placed on the flight deck. Russian Mistrals will be armed with eight Ka-52K and eight Ka-29 helicopters.

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Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, June 27, 2013