Russia's defense ministry confirms plans to buy 2 foreign helicopter carriers

[1000VA]

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Russia's defense ministry confirms plans to buy 2 foreign helicopter carriers | Defense | RIA Novosti


15:44 31/10/2010
Russia's Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov on Sunday confirmed the ministry's plans to buy two foreign helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy and eventually produce vessels of this class on Russian soil.

"We are speaking about the purchase of two helicopter carriers. Moreover, we are going to buy them with full technical documentation so that eventually we can produce them at our enterprises," Serdyukov said in an interview with Vesti Nedeli TV program.

In early October, Russia's Defense Ministry announced an international tender for the construction of two amphibious assault ships for the Russian Navy. Previously, Russia held negotiations with France's DCNS on the purchase of a Mistral-class warship on a 2+2 scheme whereby Russia would buy one or two French-built Mistrals and build another two under license at home.

The negotiations were suspended until the results of the tender were announced.

The shipyards of Saint-Nazaire in France are seen as the most likely winner in a tender to build amphibious assault warships for the Russian Navy. Meanwhile, sources told RIA Novosti that Russia's Defense Ministry had also sent invitations to the tender to ship manufactures from Spain, the Netherlands and South Korea.

The Mistral class ship is capable of transporting and deploying 16 helicopters, four landing barges, up to 70 armored vehicles including 13 battle tanks, and 450 personnel.

MOSCOW, October 31 (RIA Novosti)

[GodlessBastard]

Good news. But I wonder why we are buying French helicopter carriers instead of designing our own...

We designed our first helicopter carrier, Moskva, in the 60s.

[Tshering22]

We designed our first helicopter carrier, Moskva, in the 60s.

You mean Russians. You're Indian as you said, right?

I don't understand why's Russia so desperate for multiple helicopter carriers. Admiral Kuznetsov is reaching the end of its lifespan. Su-33s are already near their graves. Where from do they expect to fly the MiG-29K replacements they're planning to induct in place of Su-33?

Aircraft carriers can carry an average 3-5 helos easily and there's little reason why helo-specific carriers should be targeted by a big military country like Russians. I'm guessing that they're to conduct more rescue operations for evacuation and stuff which is why helo carriers are so high on top of their list.

[GodlessBastard]

You mean Russians. You're Indian as you said, right?

Sometimes I get carried away and support both countries equally

I don't understand why's Russia so desperate for multiple helicopter carriers. Admiral Kuznetsov is reaching the end of its lifespan. Su-33s are already near their graves. Where from do they expect to fly the MiG-29K replacements they're planning to induct in place of Su-33?

I don't understand either. I think the Russian Navy is moving back to the "Bastion Defense" doctrine of the 80s, but that's just an assumption.

Aircraft carriers can carry an average 3-5 helos easily and there's little reason why helo-specific carriers should be targeted by a big military country like Russians. I'm guessing that they're to conduct more rescue operations for evacuation and stuff which is why helo carriers are so high on top of their list.

Helicopter carriers are cheaper and easier to maintain than aircraft carriers.

[no_name]

Good news. But I wonder why we are buying French helicopter carriers instead of designing our own...

We designed our first helicopter carrier, Moskva, in the 60s.

The Moskva design have some inherent hull flaws which made it unsuitable for long period blue water operations in rough sea. Only two I think were produced.

The Kievs were much better but it was more of a aircraft carrier

[razgriz19]

well "russia" is not soviet union...
no wonder they are buying foriegn equipment instead of making one on their own...

[razgriz19]

You mean Russians. You're Indian as you said, right?

I don't understand why's Russia so desperate for multiple helicopter carriers. Admiral Kuznetsov is reaching the end of its lifespan. Su-33s are already near their graves. Where from do they expect to fly the MiG-29K replacements they're planning to induct in place of Su-33?

Aircraft carriers can carry an average 3-5 helos easily and there's little reason why helo-specific carriers should be targeted by a big military country like Russians. I'm guessing that they're to conduct more rescue operations for evacuation and stuff which is why helo carriers are so high on top of their list.

uhunh?
what made u say that!?
that aircraft carrier was comissioned somewhere in 1990-1991!
and carriers can last long to around 40-45 years!
and after some upgrades it last even longer!
so it still has minimum 20 years of life left!

[ptldM3]

Good news. But I wonder why we are buying French helicopter carriers instead of designing our own...

We designed our first helicopter carrier, Moskva, in the 60s.

There are many reasons, after the Georgian conflict Russia concluded that it needed the means to quickly and officiently land men and equipment. There is no doubt that Russia can build a similar or better platform but it takes years to design, build, and comission such a vessel, this is one of the conflicts, the Russian Navy want such a craft as soon as possible, if Russia were to construct a similar vessel it would take time as i mentioned. Lastly Russia would get to examine French technology which is an extra bonus. Of course some Russian companies object to the purchase because they feel that they can build a similar vessel, so politics also has something to do with the purchase.

Recently Russia has build multi billions dollar vessels such as the Borei class submarine, Lada class submarine, and the Steregushchy corvette, although the Mistral is impressive Russia can, if needed, build a glorified cargo ship such as the Mistral.

[ChineseTiger1986]

Recently Russia has build multi billions dollar vessels such as the Borei class submarine, Lada class submarine, and the Steregushchy corvette, although the Mistral is impressive Russia can, if needed, Russia can also build a glorified cargo ship such as the Mistral.

I heard that Russia also has the ambitious plan to build some 90,000 tons nuclear-powered supercarrier. I remember there was one in the late 1980s, and it got scrapped later due the collapse of USSR.

[GodlessBastard]

I heard that Russia also has the ambitious plan to build some 90,000 tons nuclear-powered supercarrier. I remember there was one in the late 1980s, and it got scrapped later due the collapse of USSR.

What you are the thinking of is the Ulyanovsk-class nuclear aircraft carriers. They were indeed scrapped, and I don't see the Russian Navy reviving the project anytime soon.

American-style power projection is not the goal of the Russian Navy.

[ChineseTiger1986]

What you are the thinking of is the Ulyanovsk-class nuclear aircraft carriers. They were indeed scrapped, and I don't see the Russian Navy reviving the project anytime soon.

American-style power projection is not the goal of the Russian Navy.

It seems that Putin has the plan to build about 3-6 supercarrier battlegroups in the next decade when the country's GDP is doubled at least.

[ThatDamnGood]

Russia's defense ministry confirms plans to buy 2 foreign helicopter carriers | Defense | RIA Novosti


15:44 31/10/2010
"We are speaking about the purchase of two helicopter carriers. Moreover, we are going to buy them with full technical documentation so that eventually we can produce them at our enterprises," Serdyukov said in an interview with Vesti Nedeli TV program.

Ahem Ahem...

[Lidsky]

Well, Russia has also designed it´s own helicopter carrier, it was in fact bigger than the Mistral, but it is currently being redesigned because it was designed from the 80s. To build it will take a longer time, so the Mistral is the logic option, and they would also have access to modern shipbuilding tech. Russia normally purchases foreign armament as a temporal solution and to get familiarised with new technologies. They don´t want any foreign reliance to achieve independance from the military point of view due to past experiences.

[Lidsky]

About aircraft carriers, the Kuznetsov is gonna be fully renovated after a dry dock in 2012. Russia finished the new aircraft carrrier design this year and they will build 3 or 4 starting in 2013. These will have a displacement of 50,000 tons, because supercarriers are not effective-costly and they are not needed by the russian defensive military doctrine. They will incorporate state of the art technologies such as UAVs and next generation fighters.

[IND151]

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it is old news.