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| Mistral class LHD (Wiki Info) |
According to ITAR-TASS citing a source in Russian defense industry newest Russian strike and defensive weapon systems including supersonic cruise missiles will be fitted on all four Mistral-class amphibious assault ships built for Russian Navy in France and Russia.
"As is planned, first two French-made ships and other two helicopter-carriers built in Russia will be armed with state-of-the-art Russian weapon systems including supersonic cruise missile launchers, and advanced missile/air/submarine defense systems", specified the source.
Mistrals will accommodate attack and ASW helicopters, artillery, amphibious landing craft, boats, armored vehicles and other weapon systems, he added.
Russian arms will be mounted on French-built Mistrals by one of Russian defense companies once ships reach Russia from Saint-Nazaire (the French shipyard where the Mistral are being built) pointed out the source.
Russian General Staff confirmed that information. "We don't need unarmed landing ships like French Navy has. In fact, such Mistrals are huge ferries equipped with up-to-date combat control, navigation, reconnaissance and communication systems. They are a sort of vulnerable floating command posts need to be protected from the sea and the air by other ships and aviation", said a spokesman for Russian General Staff.
Read the full story at Navy Recognition