Russia Reveals Two Different Warships to Replace Mistrals

Sputnik News

21:55 20.06.2015(updated 22:06 20.06.2015)

Russian-made Priboy and Lavina, two amphibious helicopter carriers, will replace the Mistral-class warships that France failed to deliver to Russia.

The Russian Defense Ministry revealed the layout of a new amphibious assault ship during the 'Army-2015' military show at a shooting range in Alabino near Moscow earlier this week, Lenta.ru reported.

With its new amphibious warship, known as Priboy ('Surf'), the Defense Ministry plans to replace the Mistral-class helicopter carriers that France failed to deliver to Russia.

For now, the ship is available in the layout form on the stand. Priboy will be a relatively smaller-size (a 14,000-ton, 165 meters in length and 25 meters in width) helicopter carrier capable of transporting 8 helicopters, up to 600 marines and between 40-60 armored vehicles.

St. Petersburg-based Nevsky Design Bureau announced that it plans to start the construction of Priboy next year, RT said.

Furthermore, later on the Krylov State Research Centre revealed another amphibious helicopter-carrier, codenamed Lavina ('Avalanche').

Lavina will apparently be bigger and faster than French Mistrals. The Russian helicopter carrier will have a full load displacement of 24,000 tons, compared to Mistral's 21,300 tons. Lavina's maximum speed will be 22 knots, as opposed to Mistral's 19 knots. Similar to Mistrals, Lavina will be capable of carrying 16 helicopters, around 50 armored vehicles and possibly six smaller boats, versus Mistral's four, RT reported.

Russia and France signed a $1.3 billion deal for the delivery of two Mistral-class ships in 2011.

The deliveries were put on hold in late 2014 over Moscow's alleged involvement in the Ukrainian civil war. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied these groundless claims and pushed for peace in the war-torn nation.

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