The Mistral class' is a class of three amphibious assault ships, also known as a helicopter carrier, of the French Navy. Referred to as "projection and command ships" (bâtiments de projection et de commandement or BPC), a Mistral class ship is capable of transporting and deploying 16 NH90 or Tiger helicopters, four landing barges, up to 70 vehicles including 13 Leclerc tanks, or a 40-strong Leclerc tank battalion, and 450 soldiers. The ships are equipped with a 69-bed hospital, and are capable of serving as part of a NATO Response Force, or with United Nations or European Union peace-keeping forces.
Two ships of the class are in service in the French Navy: Mistral and Tonnerre. The work on a third vessel, Dixmude, was launched in April 2009 and a fourth ship may also be built. A deal for 2 ships (+ 2 options) for the Russian Navy was announced by French PresidentNicolas Sarkozy on 24 December 2010, and signed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin and French Defence Minister Alain Juppé in the presence of Sarkozy on 25 January 2011. RIA Novosti
History
French doctrine of amphibious operations in 1997
In 1997, the DCN started a study for a multipurpose intervention ship (bâtiment d’intervention polyvalent or BIP). At the same time, the French doctrine of... Read More