Project 23900 amphibious assault ship
The Project 23900 Ivan Rogov is the newest class of Russian amphibious assault ships intended as a replacement for the French Mistral class, two of which were ordered by Russia in 2011, but that France refused to deliver in September 2014 due to Russia's military intervention in Ukraine.[5] A contract was signed on 22 May 2020 for the construction of two Project 23900 ships with a displacement of 40,000 tons.[3] The construction is led by JSC Zelenodolsk Design Bureau, which is a part of JSC Ak Bars Shipbuilding Corporation.
Official model of the Project 23900. | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Zaliv shipyard, Kerch[2] |
| Operators | Russian Navy |
| Preceded by | Khalzan class Project 11780 |
| Cost | RUB 50 billion ($688 Million)[1] |
| Built | 2020–present |
| Planned | 2 |
| Building | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Amphibious assault ship |
| Displacement | 40,000 tons[3] |
| Length | 220 m (721 ft 9 in)[4] |
| Beam | 38 m (124 ft 8 in) |
| Draught | 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 × 16D49 turbo diesels (5 MW each), 2 × M90FR gas turbines (21 MW each) |
| Speed | 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) |
| Range | 6,000 mi (5,200 nmi; 9,700 km) |
| Endurance | 60 days |
| Capacity |
|
| Troops | up to 900 marines |
| Complement | 320 crew |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried |
|
| Aviation facilities | Hangar deck |
Previously, the Lavina (Russian: Лавина, lit. 'Avalanche'), and Priboy (Russian: Прибой, lit. 'Surf')[6][7] designs were proposed by the Nevskoe Design Bureau and Krylov State Research Center as the replacement for Mistrals.[8][9]
Project 23900 is also a successor class to the unrealized Soviet Project 11780 program.
History
Initially, the "Priboy" and "Lavina" helicopter carrier designs were first revealed in June 2015 during the "ARMY-2015" military-technical forum, as a replacement for the two undelivered Mistral-class vessels ordered by Russia in 2011 under a $1.3 billion contract.[citation needed] However, due to the Western sanctions against Russia, the French refused to proceed with the delivery and the deal was suspended in 2015. France subsequently returned to Russia the deposit paid for the construction of the two vessels.[10] Both vessels were later sold to the Egyptian Navy.
On 25 May 2017, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yury Borisov stated that the construction cycle of new Russian helicopter carrier would last at least four years and the first such ship will be completed by 2022.[11][12]
In June 2017, Vice President of the United Shipbuilding Corporation Igor Ponomarev said the "Priboy" helicopter carriers were implemented in Russia's New State Armament Programme for 2018–2025 and that the construction of the ships could be carried either by Severnaya Verf, Baltic Shipyard or Sevmash.[7]
In July 2017, a member of the Russia's State Duma Dmitry Belik announced, the lead ship of the class will be named Sevastopol, after the city of Sevastopol.[13] The cost for the ship is to be about RUB40 billion ($675 million),[14] and its construction would begin after approval of the New State Armament Programme for 2018-2025.[15]
On 11 September 2019, it was reported that the first and second vessel of the class will be laid down in May 2020 at Zaliv Shipyard, Crimea.[16]
On 22 May 2020, according to a TASS news agency report, the Russian Defence Ministry had signed a RUB100 billion deal for the construction of two universal landing ships, the construction of which will take place at the Zaliv Shipyard in Crimea.[17][18] The two vessels should be delivered to the Russian Navy in 2026 and 2027, respectively.[19]
On 20 July 2020, during the laying down ceremony, the names of the first two ships were officially revealed. The ships were named Ivan Rogov and Mitrofan Moskalenko, the same as two already decommissioned Ivan Rogov-class vessels.[20]
On 28 February 2021, it was reported that the shipbuilders had begun to build the hulls of two future amphibious assault ships. It was also reported that construction was going on schedule, that the displacement of each of them will be 40,000 tons, and that the ships will be able to carry up to four Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B drones, to both perform strike missions and to perform target designation for the hypersonic Zircon missiles launched from other ships.[21]
On 11 October 2021, it was reported that Mitrofan Moskalenko will become the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet. Infrastructure facilities initially intended for the second Mistral-class vessel are being prepared in Sevastopol, scheduled to be ready by the time the ship is commissioned.[22]
Design
"Lavina" was the first designation for the class, revealed at the «ARMY-2015» military-technical forum, and stands for the heavier variant designed by Krylov with a displacement of about 24,000 tons. "Priboy" used to refer to the lighter variant designed by Nevskoe, and displacing about 14,000 tons.[8][9]
Based on images showed to Vladimir Putin at January 2020 exposition devoted to the future for the Russian Navy, the two Project 23900 ships ordered for the Russian Navy appear to be a design derivative from the French Mistral class, having similar architecture and dimensions.[23] The Project 23900 will be even larger and displace about 40,000 tons.[21]
On 20 July 2020, at the official ceremony for the laying down of the Project 23900, a computer-generated image was showcased to represent the warship. Based on that image, the design of Project 23900 looks like a hybrid between the Lavina and the Mistral.[20]
On 14 December 2021, it was reported that the Project 23900 ships will be able to carry strike and reconnaissance drones, which will greatly enhance the helicopter carriers' combat capabilities.[24]
On 6 January 2022, it was reported that the amphibious assault ships will be armed with mine warfare unmanned surface vessels, which will detect, identify, and destroy sea mines. This will allow the vessels to operate independent from the support of minesweepers, allowing them to independently fulfill missions in blue waters.[25]
Export
Krylov has also proposed an export version of the Priboy design, dubbed "Priboy-E".[26]
Ships
Italics indicate estimates
See also
References
- ^ "Источник: Россия потратит 100 млрд рублей на постройку первых двух вертолетоносцев" [Source: Russia will spend 100 billion rubles on the construction of the first two helicopter carriers]. TASS (in Russian). 10 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Минобороны рассказало о водоизмещении строящихся в Керчи вертолетоносцев" [The Ministry of Defense spoke about the displacement of helicopter carriers under construction in Kerch]. RIA Novosti (in Russian). 30 December 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "Севастополь и Bладивосток" [Sevastopol and Vladivostok] (jpg). servimg.com (in Russian).
- ^ "Ukraine crisis: France halts warship delivery to Russia". BBC News. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ "Эксперт рассказал, почему российский корабль "Прибой" лучше французского "Мистраля"" [Expert explains why the Russian ship "Priboy" is better than the French "Mistral"]. Zvezda (in Russian). 27 June 2017. from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ a b "В России началась работа над проектом перспективного вертолетоносца "Прибой"" [In Russia, work has begun on a project for a promising helicopter carrier "Priboy"]. TASS (in Russian). 28 June 2017. from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ a b "В России разработали второй корабль на замену "Мистралям"" [Russia has developed a second ship to replace the "Mistrals"]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). 15 June 2015. from the original on 29 December 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ a b "ВМФ заявил о подготовке технического задания на разработку аналога "Мистралей"" [The Navy announced the preparation of technical specifications for the development of an analogue of "Mistrals"]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). 29 July 2016. from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ "Mistral warships: Russia and France agree compensation deal". BBC News. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
- ^ "Russia to build first helicopter carrier by 2022". TASS. 25 May 2017. from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ "Russian MoD: First LHD Amphibious Assault Ship to be Built in Russia by 2022". Navyrecognition.com. 29 May 2017. from the original on 9 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ "Перспективный российский вертолетоносец назовут "Севастополем"" [Promising Russian helicopter carrier to be named "Sevastopol"]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). 27 July 2017. from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ "Russia's First Priboy LHD Amphibious Assault Ship to Cost $675 Millions". NavyRecognition.com. 10 July 2017. from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ "Строительство российских вертолетоносцев начнут после утверждения госпрограммы вооружений" [The construction of Russian helicopter carriers will begin after the approval of the state armaments program]. TASS (in Russian). 20 September 2017. from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ "Источники: первые два российских вертолетоносца заложат на верфи в Крыму весной 2020 года" [Source: The first two Russian helicopter carriers will be laid at a shipyard in Crimea in the spring of 2020]. TASS (in Russian). 11 September 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ "Источник: Минобороны подписало контракт на два вертолетоносца" [Source: the Ministry of Defense signed a contract for two helicopter carriers]. TASS (in Russian). 22 May 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ "Russian MoD Signs Contract for Two Project 23900 Helicopter Carriers LHD". NavyRecognition.com. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ a b c "Источник: Россия потратит 100 млрд рублей на постройку первых двух вертолетоносцев" [Source: Russia will spend 100 billion rubles on the construction of the first two helicopter carriers]. TASS (in Russian). 10 April 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d "В России впервые заложили два универсальных десантных корабля-вертолетоносца" [Two universal amphibious assault helicopter carriers were laid down for the first time in Russia]. TASS (in Russian). 20 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Источник: на заводе "Залив" начали формировать корпуса будущих кораблей-вертолетоносцев" [Source: The Zaliv plant began to form the hulls of future helicopter carriers]. ТАSS (in Russian). 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Russian Navy Project 23900 LHD To Become Black Sea Fleet's Flagship". navalnews.com. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ "Russian MoD Signs Construction Contract for Two Project 23900 LHD for the Russian Navy". NavalNews.com. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ "Russian Navy Project 23900 LHD To Carry Drones". navalnews.com. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ "Russian Navy Project 23900 LHD To Carry Mine Warfare USV". navalnews.com. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ "Russian Krylov State Research Center Developing Priboy-E / UDK-E LHD for Export". NavyRecognition.com. 10 June 2016. from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Zaliv Shipyard Begins Construction of UDC Assault Ships". SeaWaves Magazine. 2 March 2021.
- ^ "Mitrofan Moskalenko helicopter carrier to become Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship — source".