Russia to buy Mistral assault ships from France
Russia is seeking to buy a Mistral class amphibious assault ship from France. This is a huge admission of inability on the part of Russia.
Assault ships are small aircraft carriers which are used for marines and helicopters, and in a pinch can use Harriers and other VTOL aircraft. The Mistral is about 20,000 tons - which makes it a medium weight assault ship.
The us versions are about 40,000 tons, which put them in the same class as most other country's full aircraft carriers.
The fact that Russia, which has been struggling to even convert a Kiev class crusier to an aircraft carrier for India, is now shopping abroad is a sign of just how far their shipyards and domestic military industry has fallen. The Russian Navy was never the strongest of its forces, but buying from France? That is falling a long long way.
On another note, France continues its longstanding trend of supplying military hardware to every undesirable corner of the globe. Damn French.
Assault ships are small aircraft carriers which are used for marines and helicopters, and in a pinch can use Harriers and other VTOL aircraft. The Mistral is about 20,000 tons - which makes it a medium weight assault ship.
The us versions are about 40,000 tons, which put them in the same class as most other country's full aircraft carriers.
The fact that Russia, which has been struggling to even convert a Kiev class crusier to an aircraft carrier for India, is now shopping abroad is a sign of just how far their shipyards and domestic military industry has fallen. The Russian Navy was never the strongest of its forces, but buying from France? That is falling a long long way.
On another note, France continues its longstanding trend of supplying military hardware to every undesirable corner of the globe. Damn French.
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