MOSCOW, April 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will base its French-made Mistral-class amphibious assault ships
in the Far East ports of Vladivostok and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky when
they enter service, a senior Defense Ministry official said in an
interview.
Russia signed a 1.2-billion euro deal with a French shipyard in 2011
for two Mistral-class ships, the first of which is due for delivery in
2014 and the second in 2015.
“There are several options [for their location], but the choice fell
on Vladivostok due to its existing transport infrastructure,” Roman
Filimonov, head of the Defense Ministry’s construction department, told
RIA Novosti.
“In future, we should create conditions for a short-term base
equipped for storage replenishing, loading and unloading troops and crew
rest in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky,” Filimonov said. Other possible bases
for the ships are still being considered, he added. A navy spokesman
told RIA Novosti in 2011 one of the ships could be based with Russia's
Northern Fleet.
Filimonov said the necessary infrastructure for the two ships is due to be built in the Primorsky Krai by 2015.
He also noted it is more convenient to dock the ships near major
cities to provide housing for the crew and their families. The
Mistral-class is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing
vessels, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 personnel.
Procurement of the Mistral-class ships has been the subject of
considerable controversy within the defense community in Russia. In
January this year, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin criticized the
decision to buy the ships after it was revealed they needed high-grade
fuels and lubricants which were not produced in Russia in order to
operate in cold temperatures.
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