Krylov: Russian Navy needs four general-purpose LHD amphibious assault ships

: Posted On Thursday, 15 September 2016 19:12

Naval Industry News - Russia

Krylov: Russian Navy needs four general-purpose LHD amphibious assault ships

The Russian Navy is in need of four versatile amphibious assault ships, of which one is needed for the standing naval force in the Mediterranean, Yuri Yeryomin, chief, Military-Technical Cooperation Dept., Krylov State Research Center, believes.

Priboi LHD scale model showcased by Krylov during Army 2016 exhibition.

"The Northern Fleet needs a ship like that, and the Pacific Fleet needs two. Given the growing importance of the Mediterranean basin, where we have a standing naval force, one ship should be afforded to the Black Sea Fleet, even though she is unnecessary to the fleet itself. There is no sense in building a ship in the class for the Baltic Fleet either," Yeryomin said at the Army 2016 forum.

The Krylov Center has worked out the concept of the Priboi amphibious landing ship with an estimated displacement of 23,000 tons. The ship is to carry 900 Marines with their kit and an air wing of 16 assault helicopters.

Priboi LHD scale model showcased by Krylov during Army 2016 exhibition.

According to Yeryomin, the Russian Navy is interested in the Priboi, "but a decision is yet to be made."

The expert estimates the Priboi’s unit cost at 40-45 billion rubles ($615 million to $690 million). The ships in the class may be built by the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad or by the Severnaya Verf Shipyard in St. Petersburg.

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