Where are the French mistrals. mistral, floating dream. Ship without Homeland

Three years ago, France refused to hand over the Mistral helicopter carriers to Russia in connection with the annexation of Crimea and the situation in eastern Ukraine. Having terminated the 2011 contract worth € 1.2 billion, Paris returned the previously supplied equipment to Moscow and paid a penalty in the amount of € 949.7 million.

And what about the Mistrals?

The helicopter carriers were bought by Egypt. In June 2016, the Mistrals were sent to Alexandria. They were given new names in honor of the former presidents of Egypt. Vladivostok became Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Sevastopol became Anvar Sadat.

According to media reports, in 2018, the Mistrals took an active part in the anti-terrorist operation against the militants of the Islamic State banned in the Russian Federation in the north and central part of the Sinai Peninsula. On February 9, they took part in Operation Sinai 2018 with the support of the Egyptian Ministry of the Interior in the Nile Delta and desert areas in western Egypt. In particular, special naval units were landed from the Mistrals to carry out operations to clean up the coast in the Al-Arish area.

Also, helicopter carriers are used to conduct various joint military exercises. The Gamal Abdel Nasser helicopter carrier took part in the naval military exercises jointly with the Meduza-6 units of Cyprus and Greece, and the Anwar Sadat took part in the Cleopatra-2018 joint exercises of France and Egypt in the Red Sea. During the exercises, the interaction of ground, air and sea forces during amphibious operations, joint actions to plan and control offensive and defensive operations, as well as to detain ships in case of their possible violation of territorial waters, were practiced.

In addition to participating in joint and anti-terrorist operations, Egypt uses helicopter carriers to protect remote offshore gas fields, which are located more than 200 kilometers from the coast.

The Egyptian authorities and the military operate in a rather closed and slow manner, so any earlier story about the fate of the Mistrals that were acquired by Egypt for its navy would inevitably contain elements of speculation and fantasy. Now everything has more or less cleared up and we can tell you what is known about the deal. So, nevertheless, Egypt bought the ill-fated Mistrals and even claims to have found a use for them. We will present the data we know in the form of questions and answers.

Where is Mistral today?

Did Egypt buy the Mistral or did Egypt buy the Mistral?

Egypt bought one "Mistral" - namely "Vladivostok"... The second is likely to be acquired by the United Arab Emirates. This requires the consent of Moscow, since there is Russian equipment on board the ships. In the case of Egypt, agreement was reached quickly. Any country claiming a second Mistral will also negotiate with Russia. Countries that are openly hostile to the Russian Federation have been excluded from the list of buyers.

When did Egypt sign the contract for the Mistral?

Negotiations began in August. The contract was signed personally by the President of the country Abdel Fatta al-Sisi and the President of France Hollande. This happened during a bilateral meeting in France. On September 23rd, a press release was issued stating that France and Egypt had generally agreed that one of the Mistrals would buy Egypt. France repeatedly, as Hollande was eager to prove that France will not be left with a nose after this whole story. Nevertheless, press reports that the Vladivostok is about to go to sea and head for Alexandria is nonsense. The handover of the ship is scheduled for March 2016, as an Egyptian crew needs to be trained to operate it. Even for much smaller military vessels.

How much did the Mistral cost and who will pay for it?

There is very conflicting information. For obvious reasons, the details of this deal were not disclosed. In the military-industrial complex, it is customary to shamelessly inflate prices and issue kickbacks - this business has very ancient laws. There is a leak of 950 million euros from French circles. This is the price of two ships with the cost of training to operate on French and Russian equipment.

Saudi Arabia will pay for the arms of Egypt.

Where will the Egyptian Mistral be sent and what will it do?

Earlier it was justly noted that. This remains the pure truth even now, since this "hippo" simply does not fit into the naval doctrine of the ARE. A ship two hundred meters long needs protection. And he simply does not care about the typical tasks of the Egyptian fleet. and smugglers on rubber punt boats. However, the authorities of Cairo let themselves be persuaded trio of Paris, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. And somehow they will be able to protect the precious acquisition.

La Tribune claims the Mistral will serve in the Red Sea. This is quite logical, since only there he can come up with some kind of business: to swim along Yemen and make a longing for the colored herring under the protection, recently acquired by Egypt. In the Mediterranean, this ship will be in slightly greater danger.

Significance of the Mistral sale and purchase deal to Egypt

The Ahram newspaper claims that this Mistral will be the only aircraft carrier in the Arab world. This, of course, should please the pride of the Egyptians, but it is not practically useful from the perspective of the Egyptian naval doctrine. Therefore, answering the question "Why Egypt Mistral" needs to answer the question - why were they sold?

France is interested hush up the topic as soon as possible, since the disruption in the supply of Mistrals to Russia coincided with troubles in the entire military-industrial complex of this country. And the sooner Mistrals find a new owner, the better. France itself does not need them and there is no one to pay for them - French legislators will not give money from the budget for new ships.

Riyadh needs enlist the support of Egypt in Yemeni issues. The war in Yemen is long and serious. Therefore, Egypt is needed as a reliable ally in regaining control over the country. An invasion of Yemen is considered a gamble, and a complete victory there is unlikely. However, the excess funds may well lie in the form of heavy metal.

Russia received in the course of termination of the transaction, more than would have received from its execution. The money returned. Some of the technical secrets of French shipbuilders have migrated to Russian production and will surely emerge in the form of new developments. The Russian modules on the Mistrals guarantee the purchase of Russian weapons and contracts for personnel training.

An important side of the deal is Abu Dhabi. After all, it is the UAE-KSA-ARE alliance that is still considered an informal association claiming military dominance in the region. At the same time, only Egypt has a significant army, while Saudi Arabia and the Emirates have significant money. The acquisition of the Mistrals strengthens this alliance and shows exactly what is expected of Egypt. Describing the power of Egypt after the acquisition of the Mistral, the press speculates that it could be used to guard the infamous entrance to the Red Sea "from pirates." The truth is somehow forgotten that the problem of piracy has long ceased to torment Somalia.

It is not excluded that Mistral will appear in the Mediterranean, where he can carry out attacks on Libyan territory. However, everything is much more complicated here - there is no direct benefit for the sponsors of Egypt in this participation. The option of supporting the Russian military operation against ISIS in Syria is completely ruled out, since this directly contradicts the interests of the sponsors - the UAE and the KSA.

The option of selling the ship to Russia is too demonstrative. Egypt will not agree to this, since the Saudis will be against, who paid for the entire deal between Paris and Cairo. The deal with the sale of fifty Ka-52 helicopters is also somehow in doubt.

The French themselves classify ships of the Mistral class not as traditional in our understanding amphibious helicopter docks, but as amphibious command ships. This is approximately how you can translate the original French designation for the Mistral subclass - Batiment de Projection et de Commandement. Hence its two main tasks - to carry out the landing of the forces and means of the assault force and to control the group, formation and unification of ships or dissimilar forces.

Helicopter carriers Mistral - video

By and large, the French specialists quite successfully made an attempt to make a kind of "hybrid" of a universal amphibious assault ship, capable of providing amphibious assault operations, and a command and staff ship. Initially, the history of the project, on the basis of which the Mistral was later created, was much more prosaic. In the early 90s, when the Soviet Union collapsed, the military of the leading NATO countries faced the reluctance of their governments to continue to allocate huge funds for defense against an external enemy, which then - in the person of the Soviet Union - no longer became. The leadership of the French shipbuilding giant DCN, also faced with a shrinking national defense budget, came to the conclusion, not without reason, that in the short term, the navies of different countries of the world may be in demand for amphibious helicopter docks and ships that combine the merits of a light aircraft carrier. with a bow springboard and a universal amphibious assault ship, which has a fairly large capacity and is equipped with a dock camera - all the more so since the French already had some experience in this direction.

In accordance with a fairly wide range of tasks, the solution of which was supposed to be entrusted to the promising ship, it had to have a large capacity for the personnel of the landing force and military equipment, be able to take on board and release air-cushion landing craft (DKAVP), and ensure permanent basing on board. combat and transport helicopters (including to have a covered hangar for their placement), as well as to have a stationary hospital, a well-equipped command post (the flagship command post of the detachment commander or ship formation), etc.
As a result, in 1992, at the next Euronaval exhibition, which takes place in Le Bourget in the same exhibition center as the International Aerospace Salon, but in even years, DCN presented a project of a promising landing craft with a displacement of about 15,000 tons, called BIP-15 (from Batiment D'Intervention Polyvalent, ie "multipurpose attack ship") and was a kind of symbiosis of a light aircraft carrier and an amphibious helicopter dock. The basis of its striking power was to be made up of a fairly large air group - six heavy helicopters of various types and eight VTOL aircraft, which could be used for take-off from a bow springboard. In addition, the ship had a stern docking chamber for two LCAC-sized DKAVPs or four conventional displacement LCM-sized submarines (the latter are also often called a "landing barge").

Finally, in mid-2000, the decision of the French Navy command was officially announced - to create a new ship based on the BIP-19 project, and in June a tender was announced, in which two major French shipbuilding companies were invited to participate: DCN and Chantier de Atlantique ( Chantier de l'Atlantique). The winner was announced quite quickly - by the end of the year DCN received a contract for the construction of two ships of a new type, while the second participant received the status of a subcontractor and supplier of individual elements of hull structures. However, on the issue of dividing the scope of work between the two companies, serious disagreements arose, and the final contract between the customer and the performers was signed only in January 2001, so the terms for the introduction of ships into the combat composition of the national Navy had to be shifted to the right - for 2005 and 2006. respectively.
As a result of all these ups and downs, the command to lay down the lead ship was received only in July, and they began to "cut the metal" in November 2001. The lead ship was named Mistral, after the strong wind blowing in the Rhone valley from north and north-west towards the sea (a kind of analogue of the Black Sea bora). This Provencal word began to be used since 1519, in a broader sense now it also means just a strong wind.

Unlike the basic project - BIP-19 - on ships of the Mistral type there is no longer a bow springboard and the basing of VTOL aircraft is not provided, although theoretically such an option is not excluded - the flight deck of the ship allows you to take off and land on it like an aircraft. With a total displacement of about 21,300 tons, the ship reaches 210 m in length (with a flight deck length of 199 m), and almost 32 m in width. The total cargo capacity of armored vehicles reaches 1000 tons, for example, the French military consider 60 light armored combat vehicles to be a typical option and 13 main battle tanks "Leclerc" (provided there are no helicopters in the hangar below deck). The landing capacity is 450 servicemen in full gear and with personal weapons, or 700-900 people "light" for a short period of time.
Throughout almost the entire upper deck, excluding the superstructure, there is a flight deck with an area of 5200 m2 (according to other sources - 6400 m2), on which there are six landing sites for the simultaneous release and reception of helicopters (they are easily recognized by the corresponding markings). Below the flight deck, in the aft part of the ship, there is a helicopter hangar with a useful area of about 1800 m2. To transfer the helicopters to the flight deck from the hangar and back, there are two lifts in the stern. The landing of personnel and armored vehicles of the assault force can be carried out either in an equipped port to the berth, or directly at sea using boats: the ships are equipped with an internal dock with a total area of about 2,650 m2, which can accommodate two 95-ton LCAC-type submarines or four smaller LCM-type submarines. displacement.

Mistral and Tonnerre BPC (bâtiment de projection et de commandment) new French 21,300-ton amphibious assault ships for command and control. Built by DCN in partnership with Thales and Chantiers de l "Atlantique, each ship has the capacity and versatility to carry up to 16 heavy helicopters and one-third of a mechanized regiment, as well as two LCAC hovercraft or up to four landing craft. DCN became DCNS in April 2007. This was made possible by an agreement in which Thales acquired 25% of the new company and DCN acquired Thales' naval business in France (excluding naval equipment). Mistral has a high performance communications center which allows it to be used as a command ship and is also capable of accommodating combined (multinational) multipurpose forces.
The contract for two ships was awarded in January 2001. Keel FS Mistral (L9013) was laid in July 2003, it was launched at the Brest shipyard in October 2004. Mistral was commissioned into the French Navy in February 2006. Tonnerre (L 9014) was laid down in August 2003 and launched in July 2005, and was commissioned into the Navy in February 2007. The French Navy placed an order for a third ship, Dixmude, in April 2009. The keel of the ship was laid in January 2010. It was launched at the end of 2010 and is due to enter service in 2012.

In June 2011, the Russian arms export agency Rosoboronexport signed a contract with DCNS for the supply of two Mistral / BPC-class ships and related services. The deal is part of an intergovernmental agreement between France and Russia for the supply of four Mistral-class ships. The delivery of the first and second ships was planned for 2014 and 2015, respectively. In July 2006, Mistral took part off the coast of Lebanon in an operation by the French fleet to evacuate French citizens during a conflict involving Israel and Lebanon. Mistral and Tonnerre replaced the L9021 Ouragan and L9022 Orage, which were built at the Brest Naval Dockyard and entered service in 1965 and 1968.

Management and control

The Mistral class is equipped with the DCN Senit 8 Combat Processing System and will be compatible with the French Navy's Joint Operations Command System SIC 21, which was developed by Thales. The high performance communications center includes the Thales Syracuse III satellite communications system.

Aircraft capabilities and hangars

The ship has the ability to carry up to 16 medium or heavy helicopters below deck, such as NH90, SA 330 Puma, AS 532 U2 Cougar AS 665 or AS 665 Tiger helicopters. The flight deck has six landing sites and a 1800m² hangar. The 5,000-meter² flight deck can accommodate up to six helicopters simultaneously.

Amphibious capabilities of Mistral-class ships

The Mistral will carry either four landing craft (LCU) or two air cushion landing craft (LCACs). The French Navy has ordered new high-speed landing craft, engins de débarquement amphibie rapide (EDA-R), which can be deployed on the Mistral.

Crew of the ship consists of 160 sailors, including 20 officers. An operational campaign involving the transportation of troops and equipment, as a rule, takes from two to three weeks. Mistral and Tonnerre carry enough supplies to support the crew and 450 troops for 45 days. The maximum speed is 19 knots, the range at a speed of 14 knots is 11,000 miles. The 750 m2 hospital with 69 beds is equipped with two operating theaters. If an additional hospital or additional sanitary facilities are required, the hangar can be converted into a modular field hospital.

Armament: armed with two launchers of French MBDA Simbad air defense missiles with infrared guidance and a range of up to 6 km. The ship also has two 30mm Breda Mauser naval cannons and four 12.7mm machine guns. The ship's electronic support facilities include a Thales ARBR 21 radar receiver, a multipurpose G-band MMR-3D NG surveillance radar from Thales Naval France. The MRT-3D has a light phased array antenna and works as a radar surveillance radar and as a self-defense system sensor with automatic mode switching. In the surface observation mode, the MRT-3D NG can detect targets at low and medium altitudes at a distance of up to 140 km, and in the long-range 3D observation mode, air targets up to 180 km. In self-defense mode, it can detect and track any threats within a 60 km radius. The Sperry Marine Bridgemaster navigation radar operates in the I-band.

The Mistral is the first French ship to be equipped with two 7 MW electric slewing drives. The power generating system consists of three 16V32 and one 18V200 Wartsila diesel generators providing 20.8 MW. Rightfully proud of its "product", the French company DCNS calls the "Mistral" in advertising materials only the "Chameleon" of the World Ocean. " Currently, ships of the "Mistral" type are in service only with the French Navy, the fleet has two such ships, "Mistral" and "Tonner" (Tonnerre - "thunder"). Attempts to carry out their deliveries abroad were unsuccessful, although almost simultaneously with obtaining a contract from the French Navy, the international branch of the developer company, DCN International, began to actively promote a whole family of such ships on the world naval market: BPC 140 (displacement 13,500 t), BPC 160 (16 700 t) and BPC 250 (24 500 t). At first, the ship was shown a high interest from many countries of the world, in particular - the BPC 250 project was included in the "short list" of the tender announced by the Australian Ministry of Defense for the purchase of promising universal amphibious assault ships. However, the Australians gave preference to another bidder - the Spanish company Navantia (formerly Isar), which proposed a BPE-type ship (Buque de Proyeccion Estrategica) for the tender. In fact, this is a universal amphibious assault ship, a distinctive feature of which is the presence of a bow springboard to ensure take-off of aircraft with short take-off and vertical landing.

The performance characteristics of the Mistral helicopter carriers

Manufacturers: DCNS (aft, assembly), Brest; Alstom (bow), Saint-Nazaire; Baltic Shipyard (aft for two hulls in France)

Displacement helicopter carrier Mistral

21,300 t (full); 32300 t (limit)

Dimensions of the helicopter carrier Mistral

Length: 199 m (maximum)
- Width: 32 m (waterline)
- Height: 64.3 m
- Draft: 6,3 m (with GAS)

Mistral helicopter engines

3 diesel generators Wärtsilä 16V32 (6.2 MW),
- 1 diesel generator Wärtsilä 18V200 (3.3 MW),
- 2 propellers Alstom Mermaid (7 MW)

Power: 20400 hp With. (15 MW)
- Propeller: two five-blade propellers
- Travel speed: 19 knots (maximum); 18 knots (cruising)
- Cruising range: 5800 miles (10800 km) at 18 knots (33 km / h); 10,700 miles (19,800 km) at 15 knots (28 km / h)
- Swimming autonomy: 30 days

The crew of the Mistral helicopter carrier

160 men (20 officers) + 450 marines (900 short-range marines)

Armament of the helicopter carrier Mistral

Radar armament: 2 navigation radars DRBN-38A Decca Bridgemaster E250, target detection radar MRR-3D NG
- artillery: AK-630
- Anti-aircraft artillery: 2 × 30-mm gun mount Breda-Mauser, 4 × 12.7-mm machine gun "Browning"; "3M47" Bending
- Missile armament: 2 × 2 - PU SAM Simbad

Aviation group

16 heavy helicopters or 32 light helicopters;
- The number of air groups on the Russian DVKD 30 helicopters Ka-52K and Ka-29 or Ka-27M

Photo of helicopter carrier Mistral

Helicopter landing dock ship (DVKD) / universal amphibious helicopter carrier / VRS (Вâtiments de Projection et de Commandement - projection and control ship). The development of the ship's project began in 1997 as part of research on the concept of an initial ship for amphibious landing operations - CNOA (Concept National des Operations Amphibies, France). The purpose of the ship is to airborne military units, support helicopter flights, the command center of the operation of heterogeneous forces, a hospital ship. On December 24, 2010, an agreement was announced with a consortium consisting of the French company DCNS and the Russian USC. When transferring ships, France will transfer to the Russian side all the technologies it is interested in. The letter of intent was signed on June 10, 2011 in Paris, the final contract was signed within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 17, 2011. According to the agreement, it is planned to build two helicopter carriers in France and two in Russia. Also, the Baltic Shipyard (St. Petersburg) ordered the construction of part of the hull sections and the first two ships of the series (12 block sections of the aft parts of the ships). On October 1, 2012, the official construction of the Russian part of the sections of the lead ship for the Russian Navy, Vladivostok, began at the Baltic Shipyard.

The design of the version of the ship for the Russian Navy (BPC Russe) is carried out in two stages. The first stage - preliminary design - was completed in April 2012. The technical design of the ship should be completed in September 2012.The project provides for modification for the placement of Russian aviation equipment, Russification of user interfaces and adaptation of the ship and flight deck for winter operation (electric deck heating, etc.) P.).

http://www.shipspotting.com/).

The beginning of assembly of the first section of the first ship for the Russian Navy at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire - February 1, 2012. The first 100-ton section of the first ship will be manufactured in September 2012 and will be exhibited at the beginning of 2013 at the dock assembly of the ship's hull. As of April 23, 2012, Baltiyskiy Zavod received the final order sheet for metal rolling for hulls (first and second), the rest of the documents required to start work will arrive at the enterprise on June 1, 2012. In July 2012, the French company STX France delivered to the Admiralty Shipyards a 3D model of the floating parts of the Mistral helicopter carrier and the first batch of technical documentation for the ship's project. The Admiralty Shipyards, without violating the design of the future ship, redesigned the project so that it would become realizable at the facilities of the Baltic Shipyard. Metal cutting for the first hulls at the Baltiyskiy Zavod began on August 1, 2012. The laying of blocks under construction in Russia for the first ship is expected on October 1, 2012.

The official laying of the first BPC Russe will take place on February 1, 2013 in Saint-Nazaire - the first bow section will be placed in the dry dock, where the ship will be assembled. The delivery of the first ship is planned for November 1, 2014 (as of October 2013), the second one - in 2015.

Servicing and technical inspection of the Russian Mistral helicopter carriers were supposed to take place at the facilities of the Wartsila representative office in St. Petersburg (media report dated February 14, 2012).

In 2014, the contract for the supply of ships was suspended and later terminated. In September, the ships were sold to Egypt, where they received the names Gamal Abdel Nasser (formerly "Vladivostok") and Anwar al-Sadat (formerly "Sevastopol").

Design- in the version for the Russian Navy, it is planned to make some changes in the design of the ship:
- reinforcement of the hull sides for operation in northern latitudes in ice conditions;
- provision of heating of the flight deck for operation in winter conditions;
- an increase in the height of the hangar opening in the area of lifting elevators for basing helicopters of the Ka-29 type;
- it is planned to install Russian-made weapons on the ship.

The sides of the ship's hull are not armored.

Helicopter carriers Mistral L9013 and Tonnerre L9014 of the French Navy (photo by Pascal Fournier, Marine Nationale, http://en.dcnsgroup.com).

Propulsion system:
- 2 x Alstom Mermaid propellers with a capacity of 10200 hp each with 5-blade propellers;
- 3 x Wartsila 16V32 diesel generators with a capacity of 2.075 MW each
- 1 х Wartsila 18V200 diesel generator with a capacity of 3.3 MW

Thrusters in the bow of the hull.

Propeller-driven steering column DVKD "Vladivostok" Mistral type. Before launching. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France. 10/15/2013 (photo - Daniil Nizamutdinov, http://en.ria.ru).

The Mistral-class landing helicopter-carrying dock ship "Vladivostok" for the Russian Navy shortly before launching. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France. September 2013 (photo - AFP, http://legatus-minor.livejournal.com/).

TTX of the ship:
Crew - 160 people (including 20 officers)

Length - 199 m
Waterline length - 189 m
Waterline width - 32 m
Height - 64.3 m
Draft - 6.3 m
Aircraft hangar area - 1800 sq.m

Displacement standard - 16500 t
Full displacement - 21300 t
Limiting displacement - 32300 t

Full speed - 19 knots
Cruising speed - 18 knots
Economic speed - 15 knots
Travel range:
- 10800 miles (speed 18 knots)
- 19800 miles (speed 15 knots)
Autonomy - 30 days

landing 450 people, evacuation - up to 900 people. As well as up to 150 staff personnel .
Payload weight - 1100 t
Cargo deck dimensions - 122 x 13.5 x 7.7 m

Armament: in the version for the Russian Navy, Russian-made weapons. On February 16, 2012, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Vladimir Vysotsky, told the media that "on the Mistrals, which are being built for the Russian Navy, it is possible to deploy weapons with a special warhead of Russian design." Probably, we are talking about the possibility of placing on ships some strike systems with nuclear warheads. It is also possible that this statement was made solely for the purpose of PR.

	"Mistral"	"Mistral" of the Russian Navy
SAM	2 x 2 PU SAMS Simbad	2 combat modules 3R89 ZRAK "" with 2 x 2 x 4 PU SAM 9M340 (presumably not confirmed)
MANPADS		2 installations 3M47 "Flexible" with missiles "Igla"
Secondary armament	4 х 12.7 mm Browning machine guns	4 x 12.7 mm machine gun
ZRAK / AK	2 х 30-mm gun mounts Breda-Mauser	2 x, ammunition 2 x 2000 rounds
Jamming
Other

Project image of a variant of the BPC Russe project. In the bow of the ship you can see the AK-630 and 3M47 "Gibka" installations (DCNS, http://bmpd.livejournal.com).

Air wing: the ship is designed to carry up to 16 helicopters weighing 12 tons each / 32 light helicopters. The Russian Navy is planning to base 8 attack helicopters (tested in early September 2011 on ships of the Northern Fleet of the Navy) and 8 Ka-29 transport and landing helicopters.

In the version for the French Navy, the ship carries up to 16 helicopters - the standard composition of the air group is 8 NH90 landing helicopters and 8 Tiger assault helicopters.

Equipment:

	"Mistral"	"Mistral" of the Russian Navy
BIUS	"Zenit-9" / Senit-9	"Zenit-9" / Senit-9
Radar for detecting air and surface targets	Target detection radar MRR3D-NG	similar?
Navigation radar	2 х DRBN-38A Decca Bridgemaster E250 navigation radars	similar?
Navigation inertial system
Electronic countermeasures
GAK / GAS
Observation tools		Vampir NG ultra-long-range infrared optocoupler search and sighting system manufactured by Sagem (the contract for equipping the first two ships was signed by 28.09.2012). The system provides passive all-round panoramic surveillance of the surface situation, automatic detection, tracking and information about various types of threats, from anti-ship missiles with flat trajectory to high-speed ships. The system has two modes of operation: - "ocean" mode for long-range observation on the high seas, - "coastal" regime for coastal waters.
Laser detection station
Communication complex	Syracuse satellite communication system	Syracuse satellite communications system?
General operational control system

Price ship for 2010, about 900 million euros.

Status: Russia

The Mistral L9013 helicopter carrier after launching, Brest, 06.10.2004 (photo from the Rama archive, http://commons.wikimedia.org).

French Navy helicopter carrier Tonnerre L9014, 07.24.2007 (photo by Beotien Lambda, http://commons.wikimedia.org).

French Navy helicopter carrier Tonnerre L9014 (http://www.venik4.com).

Helicopter carrier Mistral L9013 during a visit to St. Petersburg in November 2009 (photo - Vitaly Kuzmin, http://vitaly.livejournal.com).

- 2011 June 17 - Rosoboronexport and DCNS Corporation (France) signed a contract for the supply of the first two Mistral helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy. The amount of the contract is 1.2 billion euros, incl. 980 million euros is the direct cost of the ships.

2011 December 02 - A contract was signed between USC and Baltiyskiy Zavod for the manufacture of floating parts of the hulls of two (2) Mistral helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy. The amount of the contract is 2.5 billion rubles.

2011 December 09 - information appeared about the start of work on changing the technical documentation for the Mistral project to meet the requirements of the Russian Navy. We are talking about changing the height of a part of the hangar to ensure the basing of Ka-29 helicopters and heating the flight deck.

2011 December 22 - Russian Defense Minister A. Serdyukov told the media that the second pair of Mistral helicopter carriers will probably be built at the Sevmash Production Association (Severodvinsk).

2012 February 1 - The first Mistral helicopter carrier for the Russian Navy was laid down at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard. At the same time, Vladimir Vysotsky, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, announced that the first two ships of this type would be named Sevastopol and Vladivostok.

2012 April 20 - information appeared in the media that in August 2012 it is planned to start cutting metal for the hull sections of the first ship of the series at the Baltic Shipyard. The laying of the first section is planned for October 1, 2012. The beginning of metal cutting for the second ship of the series is planned for May 2013. These are hull sections that will be produced at the Baltic Shipyard for the first two ships of the French assembly.

2012 October 1 - the construction of the Russian part of the Vladivostok head DVKD sections for the Russian Navy has officially begun at the Baltiyskiy Zavod in St. Petersburg.

- 2013 January 24 - in the media there were critical notes on the decision of the previous leadership of the Ministry of Defense on the purchase of Mistral helicopter carriers. The media report that the decision to build or refuse to build the third and fourth helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy will be made in 2016.

2013 01 February - according to the media, in an atmosphere of increased secrecy, the official laying of the first BPC Russe ship in Saint-Nazaire (France) took place - the first bow section (,) was placed in the dry dock, where the ship will be assembled.

2013 05 February - Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Government D.O. Rogozin told reporters that Russia does not produce fuel for Mistral helicopter carriers. Later, he also stated that in fact he meant something else. At the same time, in November 2009, when the helicopter carrier entered St. Petersburg, Baltic Bunker Company LLC bunkered this vessel, supplying it with 450 tons of diesel fuel (MGO 0.1). Also IAA PortNews informs that the representatives of physical suppliers of bunker fuel in Russia interviewed by IAA PortNews did not agree with the statement about the lack of the necessary fuel. Mistral-class ships run on diesel fuel and fuel oil of the IFO-180 brand, - confirmed to IAA PortNews in one of the largest bunkering companies in the North-West of Russia, - the so-called "NATO" specification of marine fuels does not differ from ISO standards, as well as GOSTs and technical specifications, according to which marine fuel is produced in Russia. As for the type of engines, a large percentage of ships in the world run on similar engines. Therefore, any bunkering company can physically supply fuel to such a vessel in Russia, the agency's interlocutors are sure ().

http://www.meretmarine.com via http://bmpd.livejournal.com).

The landing helicopter dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral-type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, June 2013 (photo - Vincent Grоizeleau, published 20.06.2013, http://www.meretmarine.com via http://bmpd.livejournal.com).

- 2013 June 19 - the construction of the second Mistral-type DVKD for the Russian Navy began in France ().

2013 June 26 - Baltiyskiy Zavod plans to launch the aft section of the Mistral-type DKVD, which is being built at the plant. Earlier, some media reported about the postponement of the construction of ship sections for the Russian Navy to France in connection with the alleged failure of the construction deadline (). The descent of the aft part of the DVKD according to the plan took place on June 26, 2013. The launch of the lead ship is planned on 10/15/2013. The aft part should arrive at the shipyard in France on July 25, 2013 ().

http://www.fontanka.ru).

The ceremony of launching the aft part of the head DVKD Mistral for the Russian Navy, Saint Petersburg, "Baltiyskiy Zavod", 06/26/2013 (photo - Igor Russak, http://ria.ru).

The ceremony of launching the aft part of the head DVKD Mistral for the Russian Navy, Saint Petersburg, "Baltiyskiy Zavod", 06/26/2013 (http://www.fontanka.ru).

Aft part of the head DVKD Mistral for the Russian Navy, St. Petersburg, "Baltic plant", early July 2013 (photo - http://pfc-joker.livejournal.com).

- 2013 July 7 - built at the "Baltiyskiy Zavod" stern part of the DVKD "Vladivostok" July 6 was sent to France to assemble the ship. As part of the work on saturating the hull of the first DVKD with the Baltic plant, foundations were installed for the propeller-driven propellers, aft and side ramps, lifting platforms for helicopters, an ammunition lift, and clinker hangar gates. The ballast pump room was equipped, towing and mooring equipment was installed for transporting the hull to Saint-Nazaire. All the hatches and doors provided for by the project have been assembled, electrical fittings equipment (cable trays and foundations for electrical appliances) has been installed. The casing was also saturated with pipes for ballast, sewage and fire systems. The total length of the pipes is about 5 thousand meters ().

2013 July 23 - the aft part of the Vladivostok DVKD arrived at the dream destination in Saint-Nazaire (France).

The stern part of the Vladivostok DVKD arrived in Saint-Nazaire, France, on July 23, 2013 (photo - DCNS via http://ria.ru).

The landing helicopter dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral-type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, July 23, 2013 (photo - Gilbert Cailler, http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1843349).

The beginning of the docking of the Vladivostok DVKD hull - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy - has been completed. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, July 25, 2013 (photo STX France via http://bmpd.livejournal.com).

The docking of the Vladivostok DVKD hull - Mistral type DVKD for the Russian Navy has been completed. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, July 25, 2013 (photo STX France via http://bmpd.livejournal.com).

The landing helicopter dock ship "Sevastopol" - Mistral-type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, 08/10/2013 (photo - Christophe Dedieu, http://www.shipspotting.com/).

The landing helicopter dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral-type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, 08.09.2013 (photo - Christian Plague, http://www.shipspotting.com/ via http://prokhor-tebin.livejournal.com/).

The Mistral-class landing helicopter-carrying dock ship "Vladivostok" for the Russian Navy before launching. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France. 10/15/2013 (photo - Daniil Nizamutdinov, http://en.ria.ru).

The landing helicopter dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral-type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, 21.10.2013 (photo - brunoh, http://www.shipspotting.com/).

The landing helicopter dock "Vladivostok" - Mistral-type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, 21.10.2013 (photo - Gilbert Cailler, http://www.shipspotting.com/).

The landing helicopter dock ship "Sevastopol" - Mistral-type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, 02.01.2014 (photo - Christian Plague, http://www.shipspotting.com/).

The landing helicopter dock ship "Sevastopol" - Mistral-type DVKD for the Russian Navy. France, Saint-Nazaire, shipyard STX France, 01/25/2014 (photo - Christian Plague, http://www.shipspotting.com/).

- 2014 January 31 - the media announced that USC will need about 1 year to integrate domestic systems on the Vladivostok DVDKD. The integration of weapons systems and avionics will be carried out in Kronstadt.

Mistral Helicopter Registry(06/26/2013):

No.	Name	head №	factory	laid	launched	entered service	Status
01	Mistral L9013		DCNS (Brest, stern and assembly) and Alstom (Saint-Nazaire, bow)	10.07.2003	06.10.2004	February 2006
02	Tonnerre L9014			26.08.2004	26.07.2005	December 2006	French Navy, home port of Toulon
03	Dixmude L9015		DCNS (Brest, stern and assembly) and Alstom (Saint-Nazaire, bow)	18.04.2009	10.12.2010	expected in May 2012 03.01.2012	transferred to the French Navy three months ahead of schedule, home port Toulon
04	Gamal abdel nasser Former # 1 for the Russian Navy "Vladivostok" (according to the statement of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy from 01.02.2012)		DCNS (Brest, stern and assembly) and Alstom (Saint-Nazaire, bow)	2011 planned 01.02.2012 (construction of sections) 02/01/2013 (official tab, assembly)	plan - 10/15/2013 (06/26/2013) 10/15/2013 (fact)	planned for 2014 (2012) plan 11/01/2014 (10/04/2013)	ship readiness - 36 months from the date of laying
05	Anwar al-Sadat Former # 2 for the Russian Navy "Sevastopol" (according to the statement of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy from 01.02.2012)		DCNS (Brest, stern and assembly) and Alstom (Saint-Nazaire, bow)	2012 planned (as of 2011) June 19, 2013 (construction started) plan - 04.07.2013 (official tab, 26.06.2013)	plan - October 2014 (June 2013)	planned for 2015 (2012)	ordered, home port Vladivostok, Pacific Fleet ship readiness - 36 months from the date of laying
06	No. 3 for the Russian Navy		possibly LAO, St. Petersburg, manufacturing of floating parts of the hull - "Baltic plant". 12/22/2011 announced about possible construction at PO "Sevmash"	-	-	-	Pacific Fleet or Northern Fleet, the decision on construction will be made in 2016 (24.01.2013)
07	No. 4 for the Russian Navy		possibly LAO, Saint-Petersburg, manufacturing of floating parts of the hull - "Baltiyskiy Zavod" 12/22/2011 announced about possible construction at PO "Sevmash"	-	-	-	Pacific Fleet or Northern Fleet, the decision on construction will be made in 2016 (24.01.2013)

Italic the presumptive data are highlighted.

Sources of:

Baltiyskiy Zavod began cutting for the hull of the first Mistral. Website http://flotprom.ru, 2012
Wikipedia is the free encyclopedia. Site http://ru.wikipedia.org, 2011
The French change the technical documentation for "our" "Mistrals". http://navy-rus.livejournal.com, 08.12.2011
BPC Russe. http://bmpd.livejournal.com/292022.html, 2012
Lenta.Ru. 2010-2012

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 helicopter carriers because of the sanctions imposed on Russia and because of the deterioration in relations between Russia and the Western countries. The fate of the Mistrals was decided for a long time, primarily because of their high cost, there was even talk of sinking the ships, however, in 2015, unexpectedly, a buyer was found for them in the person of Egypt. At that moment, many were surprised - why does this African country need powerful warships? The answer was unexpectedly revealed this year.

Mistral. Egypt. Multi-way

Today the presenter of the Egyptian TV channel SIS TV reported the following: « Egyptian billionaire Nassef Onsi Sawiris, who allocated funds for the purchase of the French helicopter carriers "Mistral" and actually owns them, decided to resell them to Russia for a symbolic price of $ 1. The sale of two ships to Russia has been agreed with the President of Egypt, Abdul-Fattah Khalil al-Sisi. This is an important step towards the rapprochement of the two countries - Egypt and Russia, strengthening their cooperation and great friendship ”. It is believed that Egypt's initial purchase of the Mistrals was sanctioned and sponsored by official Moscow.

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