Posted on 05/07/2016 3:08:09 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
The first Mistral-class LHD Gamal Abdel Nasser (hull number L1010, the former Vladivostok initially intended for the Russian Navy), purchased by Egypt after the cancellation of the contract with Russia went out to sea for the first time with an Egyptian crew for a week of training.
Egyptian Navy Mistral-class LHD Gamal Abdel Nasser sailing out of Saint-Nazaire with an Egyptian crew aboard for the first time. Picture taken on 06/05/2016. Source: www.facebook.com/EgyptMilitary
180 Egyptian Navy sailors are reported to be aboard the vessel. A second series of formation at sea is set to take place on the second half of May. The Gamal Abdel Nasser is set to sail to its homeport in Egypt in June this year.
The second unit, Anwar al-Sadat (hull number L1020, the former Sevastopol) is expected to start sea trials and training from Saint-Nazaire in August this year and sail to Egypt in September 2016.
In early August 2015, France and Russia reached an agreement for the non delivery of the 2 Mistral class LHDs originally ordered in June 2011. It was officially announced in September 2015 that Egypt would acquire the two Mistral LHDs originally intended for Russia.
Regarding the amphibious means associated with the LHDs, DCNS will deliver four new generation LCUs (CTM NG). These were designed by the Group as part of an integrated amphibious force system organized around the Mistral ships. Two landing catamaran (L-CAT / EDAR) designed and built by CNIM will also be delivered.
Mistral class vessels are capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing craft, 70 armored vehicles and 450 soldiers.
Mother of all ironies: 60 years after Gamal Abdel Nasser’s Egypt was invaded by the French (along with the Israelis and British), the French are selling a ship to Egypt that will be called Gamal Abdel Nasser!
Can these ships operate VSTOL aircraft?
Probably not. The only country making them is the U.S. with the F-35B and the deck would need to be built out to handle the heat and stress. I doubt it was.
ooops. Warcraft = warships
“Picture taken on 06/05/2016.”.......
As I read that the picture will be TAKEN next month, June 5th, 2016.
On the other hand, they *can* operate some pretty nasty Russian helicopter gunships from them... and since Egypt got the amphibious assault carriers that Russia was going to put their Ka-52K scout/gunships on, Russia has sold Egypt the Ka-52Ks that Russia was going to put on the Mistrals. An additional 46 or so Ka-52 land-based variants have been ordered to go along with them.
Europeans and much of the rest of the world do dates in Day/Month/Year as opposed to our Month/Day/Year format.
That is a wicked looking helicopter
While, ISO conforming countries use year/month/day.
Since it has no tail rotor, it’s very fast for a chopper - and surprisingly quiet indeed.
Here’s the first known public footage of the Ka-52 in action from just last month in Syria. The Ka-52 is using free-flight unguided rockets (a standard attack heli munition) to attack targets on the ground.
Thanks.
That was fun
Incidentally
http://www.gripenblogs.com/Lists/Tags/Tag.aspx?TagId=25&Name=Sea+Gripen
An inexpensive VSTOL
This is when military format works better - 6May2016
That’s still under development. They’re asking India to come help pay to develop and build it. It is not available for purchase yet.
It’s also STOL, not VTOL.
It also has ejection seats.
Among lots of other interesting features, yeah. It’s also the first Russian chopper to have network warfare capabilities out of the box instead of having to have it retrofitted.
Interesting. Thanks to all posters. BTTT
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