Expressed interest in purchasing French Mistrals. But in the end, due to the crisis in Ukraine, the deal to purchase those already built remained on paper. What happened to them next?
"Special" aircraft carrier
"Mistral" is a helicopter carrier, a type of aircraft-carrying ship, designed both for carrying helicopter equipment and conducting landing operations. The huge ship, whose length is almost 200 meters and whose displacement can reach up to 30 thousand tons, can simultaneously carry 16 helicopters, 70 combat vehicles, as well as several hundred infantrymen. Another purpose of the Mistrals is a full-fledged hospital on the water. Russian sailors who visited one of the ships built in 2014 said that the helicopter carrier has all the necessary medical equipment, including dental and surgical. Quite comfortable conditions have been created for the crew. Ordinary sailors live in four-berth cabins with shower and toilet. Low and middle ranking officers are in double cabins, and senior commanders are in single cabins.
For the Russian fleet
Negotiations on Mistrals for Russia began in 2009, and the following year Moscow and Paris reached an agreement on the terms of the contract. In accordance with the agreements, the first two ships were to be built at French shipyards and the same number at Russian ones. Thus, our Navy had to acquire four helicopter carriers, which were supposed to provide air support for the fleet to replace the aging aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. In 2012, the laying of the first Mistral for our fleet, Vladivostok, took place, and the construction of the second, Sevastopol, began a year later. The contract amount was 1.2 billion euros. It was planned to send both ships to permanent service in Pacific Fleet. Initially, everything went well: helicopter carriers were quickly built, Russia was forming crews, and France was preparing to receive money. However, in connection with the annexation of Crimea and the situation in eastern Ukraine, the United States and Great Britain demanded that France suspend the transfer of Mistrals to Russia. For almost a year the situation was in limbo, until in July 2015 Paris announced the final termination of the deal with Moscow.
Off the African coast
The French were not particularly upset, because even then Egypt showed an active interest in purchasing ships. Paris and Cairo agreed on the terms of the deal as quickly as possible, and already in June 2016, the Mistrals set off for Alexandria, having previously taken part in joint naval maneuvers of the two countries. In the land of the pyramids, helicopter carriers received new names, the ships were named after former presidents of Egypt. “Vladivostok” became “Gamal Abdel Nasser”, and “Sevastopol” became “Anwar Sadat”. Russia was not left out either. Since these Mistrals were created specifically for the needs of domestic vehicles, Cairo bought 50 Ka-52k and Ka-29/31 helicopters from Moscow. Well, already this year both Mistrals began to take an active part in the anti-terrorist operation against Islamists in Sinai. Helicopters based on ships are engaged in clearing operations along the coast of the peninsula. Currently, judging by the latest news, the helicopter carrier Gamal Abdel Nasser is participating in naval military exercises together with the Cypriot and Greek Meduza-6 units. With its help, the interaction of ground, air and naval forces during landing operations. Thus, the former Vladivostok and Sevastopol are actively used in their new homeland for their intended purpose.
Mistrals in Egypt. Video
Egypt will sell Mistrals to Russia for a symbolic amount of one US dollar. The Mistral helicopter carriers, made in France, were originally intended for Russia. The order has already been completed according to the contract, and the devices were named “Sevastopol” and “Vladivostok”. However, Paris refused to transfer the helicopter carriers due to sanctions imposed on Russia and due to the deterioration of relations between Russia and Western countries. The fate of the Mistrals took a long time to decide, primarily because of their high cost; there was even talk of sinking the ships, however, in 2015, they unexpectedly found a buyer in Egypt. At that moment, many were surprised - why did this African country need powerful warships? The answer unexpectedly emerged this year.
Mistrals. Egypt. Multi-move
Today, the presenter of the Egyptian television channel SIS TV reported the following: « Egyptian billionaire Nassef Onsi Sawiris, who allocated funds for the country's purchase of French Mistral helicopter carriers and is actually their owner, decided to resell them to Russia for a symbolic price of $1. The issue of selling two ships to Russia has been agreed upon with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Khalil Al-Sisi. This important step", aimed at bringing the two countries - Egypt and Russia - closer together, strengthening their cooperation and great friendship." There is an opinion that Egypt's initial purchase of Mistrals was authorized and sponsored by official Moscow.
However, during the construction process, most of the arguments were for the fact that, At that moment, our shipbuilders were almost 100% loaded with military and civilian orders and did not have all the technologies (although parts of the hulls were built at Russian shipyards) for the construction of such ships.
Soon after the annexation of Crimea to Russia. Until recently, I believe everyone believed that France and in particular business circles would not dare to disrupt such a large international order for the sake of political talk. After all, they warned that money is nonsense compared to reputation and precedent. However, as we know, France is a dependent country and it is not simply given an independent policy. The decision was made not in favor of Russia and not in favor of France.
And this is what this kind of “black mark” led to the shipbuilding company STX France from Saint-Nazaire...
After the failure of the contract for the supply of Mistral landing ships to Russia, the STX France company from Saint-Nazaire (France) was predicted to have serious problems. Complications were associated with difficulties in selling ice-class ships and narrow specialization for Russian-made equipment.
If the company managed to sell these vessels at almost cost, then the reputational risks in this situation turned out to be more serious. After failing to fulfill a Russian order, STX France received a “black mark” from Russia. This was the reason that other global customers sharply reduced contacts with the unreliable shipbuilder.
As a result, the French shipyard fell into a protracted recession, wage debts accumulated, which brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy. The solution was found in the sale of the company. However, after the auction was announced, it turned out that such “toxic assets”, spoiled by scandals with the Russian Federation, do not arouse much interest among investors.
On at the moment Only one company submitted a real bid to purchase STX France. The shipyard's management, however, said that if the transaction price was too low, the auction could be cancelled. The current state of affairs is clear evidence that the failure to fulfill the Russian contract has actually brought the French shipbuilding company to the brink of survival....
And what does Russia have as a result? Russia returned all the money spent on this project and received a large contract from Egypt for the supply of equipment and helicopters for the Mistrals sold to Egypt. The operation in Syria showed the correctness of calculations regarding the need for such ships for Russia, and having received documentation and experience in building hulls, Russian shipbuilders will now be able to build such ships themselves.
It is not for nothing that there have already been statements that Russia is developing analogues of the French Mistrals.
According to the head of the Shipbuilding Department of the Russian Navy, Vladimir Tryapichnikov, it will be an ocean-going landing ship large displacement that can transport large number military equipment and personnel. “Today, our military-industrial complex is quite capable of building landing ships of this class,” said Tryapichnikov.
Earlier, the Deputy Chairman of the Board stated that Russia plans to build Mistral-type helicopter carriers itself. Military-Industrial Commission Russia Oleg Bochkarev. However, he emphasized that these will not be exact copies of French helicopter carriers, but ships with a “different approach.”
sources
The International Naval Show taking place in St. Petersburg has become a source of the most important news in the domestic shipbuilding industry. A representative of the Russian Navy command announced plans to build two helicopter carriers and one aircraft carrier.
To replace the Mistrals
Since 2015, discussions have continued in Russia regarding the need to replace the French Mistral-class helicopter carriers, which Paris refused to give to Moscow under the pretext of the “aggressive policy of the Kremlin.” As a result, two dock ships without weapons and helicopters were transferred to Egypt.
Today we can say with confidence that the intrigue that lasted two years has been resolved. Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy for Armaments, Vice Admiral Viktor Bursuk, confirmed that the construction of two Priboy UDCs was included in state program weapons (GPV) for 2018-2025.
- Model of the landing ship "Priboy"
- RIA Novosti
- Alexander Vilf
On May 25, 2017, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov told reporters that two helicopter carriers were included in the State Program until 2025 (which is still under discussion). However, he did not specify what project he was talking about.
On June 28, in an interview with TASS, the vice president of the United shipbuilding corporation(USC) Igor Ponomarev said that the Priboy-type ships will be built at the facilities of two St. Petersburg enterprises - Severnaya Verf and Baltic Shipyard, as well as at Sevmash (Arkhangelsk region).
“Surf” was first presented at the international forum “Army-2015”. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the project could become an alternative to French ships. “Everything on Priboi will be domestic: the landing craft, the air wing, and the weapon systems,” the department’s statement said.
The displacement of the UDC will be 14 thousand tons with a draft of 5 meters. The ship's maximum speed is 20 knots (cruising speed is 15-16 knots), cruising range is 6 thousand nautical miles (11 thousand km), cruising endurance is 60 days. Priboi will maintain its air defense anti-aircraft complex sea-based Pantsir-M.
Up to 8 Ka-27 and Ka-52K anti-submarine and landing helicopters will be placed on the deck of the Priboy. Also, the universal ship will be able to carry on board four Project 11770M Serna landing boats and two Project 12061M Murena landing boats.
It is assumed that Priboy will accommodate about 500 paratroopers and up to 60 units of various military equipment, including 20-30 tanks. The author of the project is the Nevsky Design Bureau (PKB).
Increased need
Priboi, like any other modern universal landing ship, will perform a wide range of tasks. In modern warfare, the UDC is an indispensable maritime transport, command ship and means of patrolling the far sea and ocean zones.
The appearance of two Priboys will significantly strengthen the expeditionary capabilities of the Russian Navy. The need for long-distance military campaigns has objectively increased due to the start of the Syrian operation and the creation of new bases in the Far East.
Domestic UDCs should become a full-fledged alternative to the French helicopter carriers Sevastopol and Vladivostok, which Russia never received from France. Meanwhile, among experts there is an opinion that two ships of this class are still not enough.
- Helicopter carrier ship "Mistral"
- Yannick Le Bris/Wikimedia Commons
In mid-June 2015, the head of the USC State Defense Order Department, Anatoly Shlemov, said that Russia needs 6-8 helicopter carriers. Two years ago, the Ministry of Defense assessed the Navy’s needs for at least four Priboys, although the department did not indicate the time frame for their construction.
At the moment it is known that by 2025 the Navy will receive two UDCs. The implementation of the Priboy project will be a difficult task for Russian shipbuilders, who have never built ships of this class. (In Soviet times, all aircraft-carrying ships were built at the Black Sea plant in Nikolaev, Ukraine. - RT).
However, Russian shipyards received great experience, working in cooperation with the French corporation Chantiers de l’Atlantique, which built the Mistral for the Navy. Domestic enterprises performed part of assembly work, and engineers had the opportunity to observe the construction of ships in the shipyards of France.
The editor-in-chief of Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, Viktor Murakhovsky, in a conversation with RT, suggested that the construction of two Priboys would take at least 5 years. The cost of the contract with USC, in his opinion, will be approximately $1 billion (excluding helicopters and weapons).
In general, the costs of domestic UDCs will be comparable to the money that was paid to Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Let us recall that the French corporation received $1.2 billion from the Russian Ministry of Defense. Weapons, helicopters and some equipment were produced at Russian enterprises- this was one of the key terms of the contract.
Clean aircraft carrier
In addition to helicopter carriers, the multi-purpose aircraft carrier of Project 23000 “Storm” is called upon to ensure a strong presence of the Navy in the waters of the World Ocean. For the first time this project was demonstrated behind closed doors in July 2013. Its developer is the Krylov State Research Center (KGSC).
Currently, Russia has one aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov (project 1143.5), which was launched in 1987. However, the ship belongs to the class of aircraft-carrying cruisers and is not a pure aircraft carrier.
For comparison: the deck of the Storm can accommodate 80-90 aircraft, and the deck of the Admiral Kuznetsov can accommodate no more than 52 aircraft and helicopters.
The Storm will be significantly larger in size than the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov. The ship's displacement will be 90-100 thousand tons (versus 50-60 thousand tons), length - 330 m (versus 270 m), waterline width - 40 m (versus 33 m).
An important feature of the Storm will be the atomic power plant, which provides the vessel with virtually unlimited autonomy of movement.
- The cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" during the passage of an aircraft carrier group of the Russian Northern Fleet
- RIA Novosti
At Kuznetsovo power point runs on fuel oil. On the one hand, it increases the survivability of the ship, on the other, it negatively affects the speed and range.
At the naval show in St. Petersburg, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said that the contract for the construction of the aircraft carrier is planned to be signed by the end of 2025. However, he did not name the shipyards that will participate in the project.
According to foreign media reports, the command of the Russian Navy expects to receive at least two Storms in the future. Construction of the lead cruiser will cost $6.2 billion (excluding aircraft and weapons), the second ship will cost less.
A monumental task
The editor-in-chief of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, Viktor Murakhovsky, drew attention to the fact that the appearance of three aircraft-carrying ships in the Navy will require the construction of warships of the first and second ranks (with a displacement of over 3 and 4 thousand tons).
The expert believes that Project 23560 Leader destroyers will probably accompany helicopter carriers and aircraft carriers on their voyages.
"To accompany one aircraft carrier requires 4-5 frigates or corvettes and one submarine. “Leader” would definitely solve these problems, but it is still unclear whether this project will be included in the State Program until 2025,” stated Murakhovsky.
Vice Admiral Viktor Bursuk said that the design of destroyers will be developed at the Northern Design Bureau (St. Petersburg). However, the Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy did not announce the start date for production.
- Cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov"
- RIA Novosti
In turn, Viktor Murakhovsky hopes that in the future the Russian Navy will acquire about four Priboi-type UDCs, as the Ministry of Defense planned in 2015: “Helicopter carriers are important for the Russian Federation, primarily for supplying exclaves and remote bases with everything they need. Therefore, we will need two ships in the Pacific Ocean and one in the Baltic. And another UDC should be on duty in the Black or Mediterranean Sea.”
“The implementation of such projects will require large-scale expenses. The cost of the air wing, equipment, material and time costs for training pilots and sailors cannot be discounted. This is a monumental task in the current environment. We’ll probably manage, but I wouldn’t draw far-reaching conclusions today,” concluded Murakhovsky.
The pearl of the French Navy, which was dubbed the “Swiss knife” for its versatility, should be sold to Russia in the amount of four pieces. Neighboring countries are worried.
"Mistral"
"Honor" and "Motherland". These two mottos are emblazoned on the deck of the ship. Standing on the captain's bridge, it seems that you are at the top of the tower. It is 200 meters long, weighs 21,000 tons, and despite this, it floats. This is the Mistral, France's largest warship after the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. One of the pearls of French navy, which makes countries seeking to gain influence and military authority turn pale with envy. The massive gray ship looks like a giant shoebox floating heavily on the waves. Sometimes its belly opens like the mouth of a whale and accepts boats and military equipment. It is so strong that it can carry 16 heavy helicopters, 4 landing barges and 70 vehicles, including 13 Leclerc tanks. And also accommodate a crew of 650 people on board.
Its code name is BPC (from "batiment de projection et de commandement" - "landing ship-helicopter carrier"). It is also called the “Swiss knife”. Indeed, with a crew of 177 people, it can do anything. To land troops in a theater of war, to transport battle tanks, to be the site of an integrated command post, to deter pirates... It is very mobile, has amphibious properties, and is equipped with a hospital on board: two operating rooms, 69 beds, an X-ray room and tomograph. It is part of a "family" of three French helicopter carriers; the other two are the Tonnerre, which entered service in 2007, and the Dixmude, currently under construction and preparing to enter service.
In the command center with an area of 800 sq. m. computers are today connected to a secret NATO network, in preparation for upcoming NATO exercises in Denmark. In the combat compartment, giant screens show the situation at sea in the exercise area in real time. The controls on the Mistral are so powerful that the ship can coordinate the actions of large forces in real time naval aviation involving several aircraft carriers.
It was these characteristics that aroused the Kremlin’s interest. The Russians, reforming their armed forces and wanting to expand the tactical capabilities of their fleet, want to buy four Mistral ships. The deck of the French amphibious assault ship is indeed strong enough to withstand enormous weight Russian helicopters. It is smaller in size than its American counterparts and less expensive. In the European market for amphibious helicopter carriers, the French ship has gained a leading position. Even the British do not have such a multifunctional warship. Invited to the Mistral on the occasion of the French Navy Day, the naval attaché at the Russian Embassy in Paris, Alexander Dryagin, wearing a round cap worn by Russian sailors, similar to an umbrella screwed to the head, holding a glass of champagne in his hand, which he finds “not strong enough” drink, nods his head. “We are very interested in the versatility of this ship. In Russia, we do not have a ship equipped with both a command center and a hospital. And if we want to build them ourselves, we will need twice as much time.”
For the French side, this sale will revive the shipyards in Saint-Nazaire, where one or two Mistrals can be built. They say that French Defense Minister Hervé Morin personally defended this project in conversations with the head of state. If the sale goes through, it will be the first time such a technology transfer has occurred from a NATO country to Russia. Both the Elysee Palace and the War Ministry present a shocking argument: the Cold War is over, the “double standards” in relation to Moscow must be discarded, “Russia must be treated as a strategic partner and no longer see her as a threat."
Not everyone was convinced by these arguments. Over the course of months, the Mistral even became a “ship of discord.” Russia's neighbors are concerned about the possible consequences for their security. “The Mistral is a strategic ship that will enhance Russia’s ability to conduct amphibious operations in the Black and Baltic Seas, as well as in more distant regions, all the way to Asia,” explains one French admiral. Russia's new military doctrine, published a few weeks ago, speaks of NATO expansion as one of the main threats to Russia.
Less than two years after the Georgian war of August 2008, when South Ossetia and Abkhazia still remain outside the control of Tbilisi, Georgia understands the French gesture all the less because Nicolas Sarkozy, who presided over the EU at the time, loudly claimed that he had prevented Russia from reaching the Georgian capital. From the point of view of Mikheil Saakashvili, the sale of Mistral is a “very risky” event. At the end of 2009, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Vladimir Vysotsky, commented on his country’s purchase of a French ship: such a ship would have allowed the Black Sea Fleet to win the war in Georgia in 2008 “in forty minutes, instead of twenty-six hours.”
But Georgians are not the only ones worried. The Baltic countries were annexed by the USSR during World War II. They gained independence only in 1991, and Russian troops were withdrawn from there only three years later. "I'm not sure what the best way is to turn the page" cold war“This is trading in weapons from a hot war,” Latvian Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins said recently.
Even in Russia, the reaction to the Mistral purchase is ambiguous. "This issue has caused controversy in Moscow. Many military leaders would prefer to build helicopter carriers themselves," Marie Mendras, head of the policy planning group at the French Foreign Ministry, explained during a seminar recently organized by the Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS). This is a matter of national pride... The Mistral is huge, but very comfortable. He's very noticeable. It will be difficult to cover him. But, in the end, we had the money, but we didn’t have the technology to build it ourselves, so...”, says naval attache Alexander Dryagin, half-skeptically, half-obediently. But the case is not closed yet. March 25 The French Minister of Defense assured that the Mistrals would be delivered without military equipment. This is out of the question, responded Nikolai Makarov, the Chief of the Russian General Staff. He warned that his country would buy them “only in fully equipped form - with all the means.” control, navigation and weapons."
"Realpolitik"
In addition to economic and military interests, the sale of Mistrals has great political significance. Nicolas Sarkozy reminds that the West needs Russia to resolve international crises. Paris also wants to appease Russia, which is major supplier energy resources. “Some people want to restore a kind of “rear alliance”, similar to what took place between France and Russia in 1891 to prevent the German threat. This refers to “realpolitik”. But what can you do if it is carried out to the detriment of Georgia. Russia to us closer than China. We need to have long-term concepts for developing relations with it,” says one of the Navy officials who shares the pro-Russian choice of the Elysee Palace. "Mistral" in exchange for a toughening of the Kremlin's position on the Iranian nuclear dossier? Be that as it may, Dmitry Medvedev said, while in Paris in February, that the Mistral would become a “symbol of trust” between the two countries.This approach is shared by some American leaders. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates officially announced his doubts about the sale of the Mistral to Russia during his recent visit to Paris. But he also said there was no problem from a military point of view and did not insist on his position. General James Jones, the US national security adviser, recently confirmed to Figaro that "there are no serious differences between France and the US" on this issue. “We ourselves have begun to actively warm our relations with Russia. Therefore, I do not think that this issue should cause us any great concern.” General Jones added that neither he nor President Obama raised the issue with Nicolas Sarkozy. Even NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen recently said that he considers it a “success” that the Mistrals will not be able to attack one of Russia’s neighbors...
Arriving at the White House, Obama promised to “reset” relations with Russia. The president's team needs the Kremlin to make progress on nuclear disarmament and encourage Moscow to approve tougher sanctions against Iran at the UN Security Council, where Russia has veto power. You have to pay for this. And Georgia could be the one paying. Dialogue with Moscow now seems to be more important than friendship with Tbilisi, where Washington's support is becoming less and less pronounced. As for the prospect of Georgia joining NATO, it is very remote.
Moscow remains a regional power
From this point of view, it is not very important that the French managed to achieve the construction of only one or two Mistrals in Saint-Nazaire... The rest will have to be assembled at the Northern Shipyard near St. Petersburg, owned by the Russian billionaire Sergei Pugachev, Alexander’s father, new owner of France Soir... It seems that all this was decided a long time ago, since France Soir already spoke about this in one of the articles published in the issue dated September 24, 2009, even before the release of its updated version...For now, the controversial sale of the Mistral reminds countries in the region that militarily Moscow remains a regional power. The purchase of French ships will also allow Russia to increase its international authority. Marie Mendra warns: "It is not good to maintain the illusion of restoring Russia's zone of influence in its neighboring countries. These countries have always been attracted to the European Union, and they know that Russia will not be the guarantor of their security." On the contrary, she says, it will be necessary to "more boldly develop our relations with these countries and develop long-term concepts in this area."
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