Mistral: French Amphibious Assault Ship to Visit St. Petersburg

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Le BPC Mistral (L9013), French Navy’s amphibious assault ship/helicopter carrier/hospital ship is expected to visit St. Petersburg, Russia on November 23. Mistral was mainly built to civilian standards. The visit is significant because, Russia is planning to buy a Mistral-class helicopter carrier worth 400-500 million euros (around $600-$750 million) from France. The Russian Navy and defense industry experts are further expected to inspect the ship during the visit.

Some interesting features of [Building Projection and Command (BPC), Le Bâtiment de Projection et de Commandement] Mistral are:

Commissioned in January 2006
Length: 199 metres
Width: 32 metres
Draft: 6.2 metres
Displacement: 16500 tons; 21 500 tons full load
Maximum speed: 19 knots
Surface area of flight deck: 5200 sq metre
Number of landing spots of helicopters on flight deck: 6
Helicopter hangar: can accommodate 16 helicopters
Propulsion: Diesel-Electric including a bow thruster
Crew: 160
Hospital: has 69 beds including 2 operation theatres, a radiology room with a provision to convert helicopter hangar also as a hospital
Has satellite communication including internet and video conferencing facilities
Has 4 VTC (Barge Transportation Equipment), 2 LCAC (Landing Craft, Air Cushioned) and capable of deploying other armoured vehicles and infantry that are stored board on 2,650 square metre deck