Flat deck, island-type superstructure and Ka-52 Katran helicopters. This will be the newest Russian large landing helicopter carrier “Avalanche”. The Navy plans to receive two ships of this series as part of the new state weapons program until 2025. According to Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov, they will replace the Mistral in our fleet, which was never delivered by France. Previously, the general director of the Nevsky Design Bureau, Sergei Vlasov, and the head of the Navy shipbuilding department, Rear Admiral Vladimir Tryapichnikov, announced that the Krylov Center had formed the appearance of a large landing ship of a new project, which is codenamed "Avalanche". In contrast to the Project 11711 BDK of the Petr Morgunov type, which the Navy receives today. The ship, more similar to the French Mistral, is a bare “aircraft carrier deck” for basing Ka-52K attack helicopters and Ka-32 anti-submarine helicopters plus a powerful air defense system based on the naval version of the Pantsir-S complexes. The ship will be able to deliver 60 units of light armored vehicles and at least 20-30 main battle tanks to the shore. If it is not possible to approach the coastal zone, this will be done using four Project 11770M landing boats or two Project 12061M landing boats. “Avalanche” exists only in a mock-up. According to its characteristics, this is a ship with a displacement of 14 thousand tons. It has a length of 165 m. It can accommodate up to 12 attack or anti-submarine helicopters. In the hold there are up to 60 armored vehicles and at least 500 marines. It was first shown at the Army 2015 forum and exhibition as part of the Navy exposition. Compared to the new aircraft carrier Storm and the nuclear destroyer Leader, the ship went virtually unnoticed. Although it was he, of the three newcomers, who was considered by the fleet command as the main contender for inclusion in the weapons program. And precisely because Paris did not give up the large landing ships of the Mistral type, paid for and built with Russian money. But every cloud has a silver lining. 
“We have quite serious studies on a new generation universal landing ship,” Valery Polovinkin, advisor to the general director of the Krylov State Scientific Center in St. Petersburg, told the Zvezda TV channel. - We gained useful experience in the construction of aft parts for Mistral - the main ships from the point of view of basing and deploying a helicopter group. So we are ready to offer the customer a more versatile ship.” The Ka-52 helicopters themselves are a perfect weapon. And “Katran” is not just “adapted” for deployment on Navy ships. To achieve this, the helicopter is equipped with a shortened wing, a blade folding system and an air conditioning system designed for use in a humid marine atmosphere. This is the first helicopter in the world capable of using anti-ship strike missile systems - Kh-31 and Kh-35 cruise missiles. Previously, they were placed only on carrier-based MiG-29K/KUB fighters. That is, the Kamov vehicle, recognized as a flying tank on land, becomes a real ship destroyer at sea. And provided that in the future the Katran can be equipped with the R-77 (RVV-AE) air-to-air missile, the helicopter will be able to master all types of operations both at sea and in the coastal zone. 
To understand: the uniqueness of the Kh-31 missile lies in the fact that it is actually a smaller version of the 3M-80 Moskit anti-ship supersonic missile, which is in service with the 956 destroyer of the Sovremenny class. The missile has supersonic speed, flies almost above the surface of the sea at an altitude of 3-5 m, which is why it cannot be detected by radar, and delivers a 100-kilogram high-explosive warhead to the target. Or maybe nuclear. The X-35 is also based on ships or Bastion coastal mobile systems. Its peculiarity is its passive homing head. During the flight, the missile does not “scan” the space in search of a target, but receives a signal from the target, actually conducting the entire flight in “radio silence” mode, which is why the missile (like its partner X-31) cannot be detected by radar. At one time, the Americans even wanted to buy the X-35. The United States planned to install guidance heads from the X-35 on its own AGM-84 Harpoon missiles. Another feature of the X-35 with the “U” index is that it is capable of hitting not only ships, but also ground targets. 
Unlike Mistral, Avalanche is also a well-protected ship. The project provides for the creation of a powerful air defense system on it by deploying the latest Pantsir-M complexes and the AK-176MA artillery mount. The latter is the latest product of the St. Petersburg machine-building plant "Arsenal". The weapon is controlled by a digital guidance system. 
An arsenal of 152 76-mm shells is located in the artillery cellar under the gun mount. Automation and ammunition supply systems allow firing at a rate of up to 125 rounds per minute. Thanks to the barrel cooling system, it is possible to fire in a long burst, up to 75 shots. When firing at surface or coastal targets, the effective firing range is 16 km. “Pantsir-M” is better known to us for its land version. Although at the Victory Parade on May 9 on Red Square, for the first time we actually saw its “freaked out” version. It was shown on the Arctic two-link tracked all-terrain vehicles DT-30 “Vityaz”. Compared to its land counterpart, the naval air defense missile system has a doubled range for detecting and hitting targets. The locator sees everything that happens in the air and on the water at a distance of up to 75 km, and the anti-aircraft complex hits targets at a distance of up to 40 km. 
As experts explain, a traditional marine locator consists of a huge antenna canvas-sail rotating on the roof of the wheelhouse. The new Pantsir radar on the Avalanche will be a continuation of the deckhouse superstructure, on three sides of which flat antennas will be placed. Each of them consists of many transceiver modules combined into one, along which an electron beam scanning the space moves in a fraction of a second. It detects air and surface targets in a sector 180 degrees along the ship's heading, selects them, aims weapons, and can also work as a means of electronic suppression. 
In April 2014, the Ministry of Defense signed a contract for the supply of 32 production Ka-52K helicopters. In total, by 2020, according to the state armament program, the army should receive more than 120 such helicopters. Actually, based on these parameters, as well as knowing the number of Katrans ordered by the Ministry of Defense, one can easily imagine what group of Avalanche-class ships the Navy plans to deploy in the near future. The series is more than serious, which speaks of the new geopolitical views of the leadership of the Ministry of Defense on ensuring the security of our state.
The International Naval Show taking place in St. Petersburg has become a source of the most important news in the domestic shipbuilding industry. A representative of the Russian Navy command announced plans to build two helicopter carriers and one aircraft carrier.
To replace the Mistrals
Since 2015, discussions have continued in Russia regarding the need to replace the French Mistral-class helicopter carriers, which Paris refused to give to Moscow under the pretext of the “aggressive policy of the Kremlin.” As a result, two dock ships without weapons and helicopters were transferred to Egypt.
Today we can say with confidence that the intrigue that lasted two years has been resolved. Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy for Armaments, Vice Admiral Viktor Bursuk, confirmed that the construction of two Priboy UDCs was included in the State Armament Program (GPV) for 2018-2025.
- Model of the landing ship "Priboy"
- RIA News
- Alexander Vilf
On May 25, 2017, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov told reporters that two helicopter carriers were included in the State Program until 2025 (which is still under discussion). However, he did not specify what project he was talking about.
On June 28, in an interview with TASS, Vice-President of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) Igor Ponomarev said that Priboi-class ships will be built at the facilities of two St. Petersburg enterprises - Severnaya Verf and Baltic Plant, as well as at Sevmash (Arkhangelsk region).
“Surf” was first presented at the international forum “Army-2015”. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the project could become an alternative to French ships. “Everything on Priboi will be domestic: the landing craft, the air wing, and the weapon systems,” the department’s statement said.
The displacement of the UDC will be 14 thousand tons with a draft of 5 meters. The ship's maximum speed is 20 knots (cruising speed is 15-16 knots), cruising range is 6 thousand. nautical miles(11 thousand km), cruising autonomy - 60 days. The air defense of Priboy will be supported by the Pantsir-M sea-based anti-aircraft complex.
Up to 8 Ka-27 and Ka-52K anti-submarine and landing helicopters will be placed on the deck of the Priboy. Also, the universal ship will be able to carry on board four Project 11770M Serna landing boats and two Project 12061M Murena landing boats.
It is assumed that Priboy will accommodate about 500 paratroopers and up to 60 units of various military equipment, including 20-30 tanks. The author of the project is the Nevsky Design Bureau (PKB).
Increased need
“Surf”, like any other modern universal landing ship, will perform a wide range of tasks. In modern warfare, the UDC is an indispensable maritime transport, command ship and means of patrolling the far sea and ocean zones.
The appearance of two Priboys will significantly strengthen the expeditionary capabilities of the Russian Navy. The need for long-distance military campaigns has objectively increased due to the start of the Syrian operation and the creation of new bases in the Far East.
Domestic UDCs should become a full-fledged alternative to the French helicopter carriers Sevastopol and Vladivostok, which Russia never received from France. Meanwhile, among experts there is an opinion that two ships of this class are still not enough.
- Helicopter carrier ship "Mistral"
- Yannick Le Bris/Wikimedia Commons
In mid-June 2015, the head of the USC State Defense Order Department, Anatoly Shlemov, said that Russia needs 6-8 helicopter carriers. Two years ago, the Ministry of Defense assessed the Navy’s needs for at least four Priboys, although the department did not indicate the time frame for their construction.
On this moment it is known that by 2025 the Navy will receive two UDCs. The implementation of the Priboy project will be challenging task for Russian shipbuilders who have never built ships of this class. (IN Soviet years all aircraft-carrying ships were built at the Black Sea plant in Nikolaev, Ukraine. — RT).
However, Russian shipyards gained a lot of experience by working in cooperation with the French corporation Chantiers de l’Atlantique, which built the Mistrals for the Navy. Domestic enterprises performed part of the assembly work, and engineers had the opportunity to observe the construction of ships in French shipyards.
The editor-in-chief of Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, Viktor Murakhovsky, in a conversation with RT, suggested that the construction of two Priboys would take at least 5 years. The cost of the contract with USC, in his opinion, will be approximately $1 billion (excluding helicopters and weapons).
In general, the costs of domestic UDCs will be comparable to the money that was paid to Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Let us recall that the French corporation received $1.2 billion from the Russian Ministry of Defense. Weapons, helicopters and some equipment were produced at Russian enterprises - this was one of the key conditions of the contract.
Clean aircraft carrier
In addition to helicopter carriers, the multi-purpose aircraft carrier of Project 23000 “Storm” is called upon to ensure a strong presence of the Navy in the waters of the World Ocean. This project was first demonstrated behind closed doors in July 2013. Its developer is the Krylov State Research Center (KGSC).
Currently, Russia has one aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov (project 1143.5), which was launched in 1987. However, the ship belongs to the class of aircraft-carrying cruisers and is not a pure aircraft carrier.
For comparison: the deck of the Storm can accommodate 80-90 aircraft, and the deck of the Admiral Kuznetsov can accommodate no more than 52 aircraft and helicopters.
"Storm" will be significantly larger in size aircraft carrier"Admiral Kuznetsov". The ship's displacement will be 90-100 thousand tons (versus 50-60 thousand tons), length - 330 m (versus 270 m), waterline width - 40 m (versus 33 m).
An important feature of the Storm will be its nuclear power plant, which provides the vessel with virtually unlimited autonomy of movement.
- The cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" during the passage of an aircraft carrier group of the Russian Northern Fleet
- RIA News
At Kuznetsov, the power plant runs on fuel oil. On the one hand, it increases the survivability of the ship, on the other, it negatively affects the speed and range.
At the naval show in St. Petersburg, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said that the contract for the construction of the aircraft carrier is planned to be signed by the end of 2025. However, he did not name the shipyards that will participate in the project.
According to information foreign media, the command of the Russian Navy expects to receive at least two Storms in the future. Construction of the lead cruiser will cost $6.2 billion (excluding aircraft and weapons), the second ship will cost less.
A monumental task
The editor-in-chief of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, Viktor Murakhovsky, drew attention to the fact that the appearance of three aircraft-carrying ships in the Navy will require the construction of warships of the first and second ranks (with a displacement of over 3 and 4 thousand tons).
The expert believes that Project 23560 Leader destroyers will probably accompany helicopter carriers and aircraft carriers on their voyages.
“To escort one aircraft-carrying ship, 4-5 frigates or corvettes and one submarine are required. “Leader” would definitely solve these problems, but it is still unclear whether this project will be included in the State Program until 2025,” stated Murakhovsky.
Vice Admiral Viktor Bursuk said that the design of destroyers will be developed at the Northern Design Bureau (St. Petersburg). However, the Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy did not announce the start of production.
- Cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov"
- RIA News
In turn, Viktor Murakhovsky hopes that in the future the Russian Navy will acquire about four Priboi-type UDCs, as the Ministry of Defense planned in 2015: “Helicopter carriers are important for the Russian Federation, primarily for supplying exclaves and remote bases with everything they need. Therefore, we will need two ships in the Pacific Ocean and one in the Baltic. And another UDC should be on duty in the Black or Mediterranean Sea.”
“The implementation of such projects will require large-scale expenses. The cost of the air wing, equipment, material and time costs for training pilots and sailors cannot be discounted. This is a monumental task in the current environment. We’ll probably manage, but I wouldn’t draw far-reaching conclusions today,” concluded Murakhovsky.
At the Army-2015 exhibition in Alabino, specialists from the Nevsky Design Bureau demonstrated a model of the ship, which, judging by reports from sources in the military-industrial complex, will replace Mistral-class helicopter carriers. The presented project turned out to be quite unexpected. Similarities with the Dutch Rotterdam-class landing ships were predicted. But if the Russian ship is similar to them, it is only in its technical characteristics. The architecture is completely different.
The mentioned characteristics of the new helicopter carrier do not yet allow us to draw final conclusions regarding its capabilities and place in the fleet. It was reported that the Priboy project involves the construction of a ship 165 meters long, 25 meters wide (along the flight deck), capable of transporting up to 600 landing troops and up to 40-60 units of automobile and armored vehicles.
The air group consists of eight helicopters, and the presented model contains not only combat Ka-52 and transport-landing Ka-29, but also Ka-27 helicopters of unknown modification (search and rescue or anti-submarine). Whether this indicates a possible additional specialization of the Priboy as an anti-submarine defense ship is unclear: additional information is required about the proposed driving performance and equipment.
The prospects of Priboy as a control ship are also unclear, which was one of the most interesting features of the Mistral for the fleet. To clarify this issue, you need to know the capabilities of the combat information and control system that is supposed to be installed on the Priboy.
Even during the discussion of the purchase of the Mistrals, it was reported that the Russian Navy showed interest in the Dutch amphibious helicopter carriers of the Rotterdam and Johan de Witt type. This, in particular, was mentioned by the head of the state defense procurement department of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, Anatoly Shlemov, in an interview with the Voice of Russia radio station.
Subsequently, representatives of the Navy also spoke out, not directly naming the prototype, but voicing alleged characteristics that were surprisingly similar to the Dutch project. And yet, the model demonstrated at Army 2015 turned out to be not very similar to the creation of the Damen Shelde Naval Shipbuilding shipyard.
Judging by the layout, the helicopter carrier of the Priboy project, like the Mistral, will receive a classic aircraft carrier architecture with a through flight deck and an “island” superstructure shifted to the starboard side. The Rotterdam and Johan de Witt have an aft flight deck and a superstructure moved to the bow with a hangar for helicopters located in it.
The Dutch version of the architecture makes it possible to reduce the cost of building a ship, reducing its displacement by reducing the volume and weight of structures pertaining to the hangar deck in ships of the Mistral type and others similar to it. In addition, the need for massive and expensive lifts disappears: helicopters simply roll out of the hangar in the superstructure onto the flight deck located at the same level.
However, this solution also has disadvantages. First of all, this is a reduction in the size of the air group due to the limited volume of the hangar in the superstructure (compared to below deck) and the reduction in the area of the flight deck itself, which does not allow accepting more than 3-4 helicopters at the same time.
Judging by the appearance of the Priboy, Russian designers tried to find a compromise between the cost of the ship and its capabilities. They resorted to a solution similar to that used in Japan when creating Osumi-class helicopter carriers.
The location of the docking chamber gate on the Priboi indicates a relatively small space between the flight deck and the docking chamber, in which, apparently, it is impossible to fit a hangar (just like on the Osumi). However, the Japanese helicopter carrier is equipped with lifts that allow a limited number of helicopters (2-3 vehicles) to be placed on the cargo deck in the bow of the ship, in the same place where vehicles and armored vehicles are placed before loading onto landing craft in the docking chamber in the stern. On the UDC of classical architecture, the hangar and cargo decks are separated.
This solution, although it limits the size of the air group (the ship can carry no more than 6-8 helicopters, with most of them constantly on deck, periodically moving down for maintenance and minor repairs), allows the same 6 aircraft to be lifted into the air at the same time, as on the larger Mistral. At the same time, “Priboy” should have no less capabilities for delivering equipment and people to the shore using boats.
Thus, the proposed version of the helicopter carrier is a kind of synthesis of solutions from projects studied by Russian specialists. Indeed, it matches the characteristics of the Dutch DVKD, but surpasses them in the capabilities of conducting flight operations.
Taking into account the fact that, most likely, like most modern landing ships, Priboy will be built according to the survivability standards of commercial shipbuilding, the project can be implemented relatively quickly and relatively inexpensively. The deadlines mentioned by representatives of the Navy (laying down in 2016 and commissioning of the first one by 2020) seem quite realistic. The last unclear question is the number of these ships in the state armament program.
Anatoly Shlemov voiced six to eight units, and if this is so, then in combination with a similar number of Ivan Gren-type large landing craft, the Priboi will allow, firstly, to completely renew the landing forces of the Navy, and secondly, to sharply increase their expeditionary capabilities and , thirdly, to expand the experience of operating carrier-based aircraft and managing its operations. The latter is vital if the Navy is serious about building a new aircraft carrier.
UDC-helicopter carrier pr. "Priboy" will be equipped with everything necessary for use in most naval operations
Events related to the “freezing” of the contract for the Mistral universal landing helicopter carriers by the French side acquired Last year completely stupid and dysfunctional looking. Already in the fall-winter of last year, it was approximately clear that this project could be put to rest, but the French continued to come up with various “myths” and delay time, thereby confusing our military departments and negotiators.
This could not continue for long, especially since a powerful and high-status superpower is participating in the negotiation process, which has proven itself to be a reliable and stable party both in the arms market and in any other areas, such as the economy and energy. Why does Russia, which launched such ships as the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser "Peter the Great" and the aircraft-carrying missile cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov", need an empty French dock hull, which still needs a long time to be re-equipped and modified to the proper condition that meets the needs of the Russian Navy? So the Navy command began to look for ways to solve the problem.
A lot of different options for a promising landing and helicopter carrier ship were considered, which should become a worthy alternative for the fleet and better suit our conditions of use and needs. One of these options was the possible modernization of the BDK pr. 1174 “Ivan Rogov”, but structurally this ship is more designed for internal transportation of light and heavy armored vehicles and troops; the deck is not capable of fully supporting the use of helicopter aircraft. The front and rear parts of the deck are separated by a large superstructure across the entire width of the ship, which in difficult meteorological conditions will pose a certain danger to helicopters landing and taking off.
A solution was required that was most suitable for the use of helicopter aviation in different conditions, i.e. – compact superstructure at the side and the most spacious deck. The results of the design work to create the first visual aid of the promising ship, which was the model presented on June 16 at the Army-2015 forum exhibition, were not long in coming.
UDC-helicopter carrier pr. "Priboy" will be equipped with everything necessary for use in most naval operations
The universal landing ship of the Priboy project, developed by the Nevsky Design Bureau, is a product with an exclusively Russian elemental base, which combines all the features of Soviet-Russian shipbuilding, as well as the most modern trends that appeared in the late 20th - early 21st centuries and provide for a reduction in radar signature due to the original design of the superstructure.
The superstructure itself has a width of no more than 8 meters and a length of about 30 meters, all corners of the superstructure provide minimal amount right angles, due to which its ESR should have very small values, comparable to the ESR indicators of small patrol boats. IN Lately It is precisely the reduction of the radar signature of the architecture on the deck of a ship that shipbuilders pay special attention to.
The ship will be much smaller than the French Mistral , its length is approximately 165 meters, width 25 meters. The Russian fleet absolutely does not require huge landing ships-helicopter carriers, since The current capabilities of the Ka-52 and Ka-52K attack helicopters have stepped far forward, and to ensure combat stability in a naval theater of operations, no more than ten such combat helicopters are sufficient.
Thus, the modern Ka-52K will be able to perform a complex list of anti-ship missions due to the use of the Kh-31A and Kh-35U anti-ship missiles; in addition, a lighter modification of the radar with the Zhuk-AE AFAR is being developed for helicopters, which will also be able to operate against air targets within a radius of up to 80 km; It is likely that in the future the R-77 (RVV-AE) air-to-air missile will be unified with the Ka-52K and helicopters will be able to master all types of operations in the sea and coastal zone.
Such a radical improvement in the concept of using helicopters could become an important part in providing “closed airspace” over coastal territory, where UDC Surf will carry out missions to land armored vehicles and troops on enemy territory. Currently, the Priboy project provides for the transportation and use of 8 attack helicopters from the deck of the ship, but after the design work is fully completed, these numbers may change. Multi-purpose Ka-27 helicopters can also be placed on the surf deck. It is worth considering that such naval attack systems based on helicopters are not being developed in any country Western Europe, nor in the USA.
The compactness of the ship with a displacement of 14,000 tons is not limited to its small length and width. The draft of the ship will be only 5 meters, for the Mistral -6.3 m, for the Ivan Rogov - 7 m. This draft gives the UDC of the far sea zone many advantages for maneuvering in waters, bays and straits, where shallow waters are often observed (the ship will be able to enter seas such as the Azov Sea with almost no restrictions). Draft indicators are most important specifically for helicopter carrier ships and UDCs from a tactical point of view, since sometimes, at the time of an operation, it is necessary to get as close as possible to the enemy, and shallow water can prevent a ship with a deep draft from doing this; attack helicopters often have a combat radius of no more than 400 km, which is why the enemy on land may remain beyond the reach of attack helicopters.
UDC pr. "Priboy" will have a cruising range of about 11,500 km, a cruising speed of 15-16 knots, and a maximum speed of 20 knots, which is no different from the Mistral. Only at economical speed does the Mistral have an almost 2-fold advantage in range up to 20,000 km. The autonomy of the Priboy will be 2 times higher than that of the Mistral (the duration of the autonomous cruise is more than 2 months).
Enough important criterion can be considered the landing capabilities of dock chambers and armored holds for transporting heavy and light armored vehicles, landing craft, as well as fully equipped marines or landing forces. Here, “Priboy” is also no different from foreign products such as “Hyuga” and “Mistral”. The ship is capable of taking 60 units of light armored vehicles and at least 20-30 main battle tanks into its internal compartments, as means of operational landing, in conditions where it is impossible to approach the coastal zone of the UDC, the ship is equipped with 4 landing boats pr. 11770M or 2 pr. 12061M.
One of the most important indicators of the versatility of this ship compared to Western ones is the equipment with a bow landing device and a 25-35 meter strong gangway, which before landing is pulled out from under the upper deck by hydraulic drives, all in the traditions of the good and reliable Soviet school of shipbuilding!
The small size of the Priboy UDC, as well as a decrease in radar signature, are also provided for the possibility of using this ship as a command and staff ship of the KUG/AUG of the Russian Navy. It is known that at the moment of a “star raid” of enemy anti-ship missiles, the active radar homing head locks on a more radio-contrast target, i.e. larger and visible ship, and the radar signature of this ship will not be greater than that of the frigate EM pr. 956. But there is also a smarter VTO with TV and IR seeker, for example, AGM-84E or products such as the NLOS tactical missile, in this case fighting back will clearly be required. For this purpose, “Priboy” is equipped with at least 3 combat modules of the multi-channel shipborne air defense system “Pantsir-M”.
The Pantsir-M/Palitsa anti-aircraft missile and gun system is a naval modification of the Pantsir-S1 land-based air defense system and has inherited its similar firing characteristics. The 57E6E missile defense system has a radio command system based on coordinates that are transmitted to the missile's on-board computer from optical-electronic and radar detection and target designation equipment on the combat module. To guide the missile, radar and optical transponders are used in the tail of the missile, which allow the fire control system on the combat module to most accurately correlate the coordinates of the interceptor missile defense system and the target to align the missile defense system with the target.
The flight speed of the missile defense system is 1300 m/s, the range and interception ceiling are 15 and 20 km, respectively. The maximum speed of the target hit is about 3650 km/h. The guidance speed is 100 deg/s, thanks to which even anti-aircraft missiles flying towards a neighboring support ship that have broken through to the nearby line of defense can be intercepted.
The Palitsa radar channel is represented by a “phasatron” multifunctional radar with phased array 1RS2 and radar 1RS1-1E, in which a “friend or foe” radio interrogator is installed. Autonomous optical direction finder - a two-channel TV/IR sight, capable of capturing the HARM-type anti-ship missile system from a distance of 14 km, the AGM-86C cruise missile - 13 km, and the Harpoon anti-ship missile system - about 9-11 km. The multifunctional radar and optical direction finder are capable of capturing 2 air targets, realizing the simultaneous firing of 4 air targets, while up to 10 targets can be fired at in a minute. The performance of the KZRAK "Pantsir-M" together with 2x6 30-mm AP is almost 2 times higher than that of the KZRAK dirk.
BM KZRAK "Pantsir-M"/"Palitsa" will be installed on "Priboy" in the amount of at least 3 BM, which will ensure all-aspect air defense/missile defense against enemy missiles On the UDC “Priboi” project, 2 Pantsir-M modules are installed in niches along the edge of the starboard side of the ship, as well as in the front part on the edge of the left side, there is the possibility of installing another module in the rear niche of the side. Thus, the Priboy air defense system can fire simultaneously at 12 attacking missiles, and up to 30 dangerous objects can be fired at in a minute. In fact, this UDC can be both a command and staff ship and a short-range air defense ship of a small naval formation.
Today, only one helicopter carrier has similar air defense parameters - the Japanese Hyuga, which is equipped with the Japanese-Dutch FCS-3A radar and the latest export version of the RIM-162 ESSM air defense missile system.
The command of the Russian Navy expresses hopes that in the coming years at least 4 ships of the Udaloy project will be laid down, which will be able to partially fill the lack of modern landing, strike and anti-ship naval systems in the Russian fleet.
/Evgeny Damantsev/
Several years ago, the development of the domestic fleet of landing ships was one of the main topics for discussion. Subsequently, well-known events occurred, as a result of which the radical renewal of the fleet was postponed indefinitely. Subsequently, the shipbuilding industry proposed new methods of modernization navy. If they are implemented, the Russian Navy will receive a number of new landing ships, currently known under the general name “Priboy”.
Let us recall that the model of a promising landing ship of the Priboy type was first shown at the Army-2015 military-technical forum two years ago. At the same time, the design characteristics of the ship were announced. Subsequently, the landing ship project repeatedly became the topic of official statements and publications in the press. The recent International Naval Show, held in St. Petersburg, became a new occasion for reports on the progress and future of projects to create amphibious ships.
On June 28, Igor Ponomarev, vice president of the United Shipbuilding Corporation for military shipbuilding, spoke about the progress of work towards creating new landing ships. According to him, the management of the shipbuilding industry already has some ideas about further work. There is an understanding of all the basic technologies, and development has also begun. In addition, a circle of possible builders of promising ships was identified. Ships of the Priboy type can be built at the Severnaya Verf enterprise, at the Baltic Shipyard or at Sevmash. All these factories have extensive experience in building surface ships.
Soon new details of the ongoing work became known. On June 29, the TASS news agency published an interview with the General Director of the Nevsky Design Bureau Sergei Vlasov. The topic of the conversation at the IMDS-2017 salon was a promising design of a landing ship, considered as a possible addition or even a replacement for existing ships. The head of the design organization revealed some details of its work in the field of promising landing ships.
According to S. Vlasov, the promising landing ship is still at the pre-design stage. However, the exact appearance of the new ship has not yet been determined. Many options for the ship are being considered, and the final appearance will be chosen by the customer. Also, the head of the Nevsky Design Bureau noted that it is possible to use different options landing ship. You can create a helicopter carrier ship, a universal landing ship, or a landing helicopter dock ship. S. Vlasov suggests that the most likely option is a universal landing ship, reminiscent of the French Mistrals, but with some differences from them.
The TASS interviewer recalled the new developments of the Nevsky PKB, mentioned in the reporting documentation. Thus, the annual report of the design bureau mentioned work on the creation of a new modification of a promising helicopter-carrying dock ship, adapted for work in the Arctic and capable of landing troops directly on the ice. The displacement of such a ship, like the base model, should reach 15 thousand tons. S. Vlasov noted that the design bureau is actually developing such ships.
Arctic-class landing ships are being created on a proactive basis, taking into account the prospects for the development of the fleet. The Nevskoye PKB cannot stand still, and therefore is engaged in new projects that are proposed to the navy. According to the general director of the design bureau, there is nothing technically complicated in the design of a landing ship for the Arctic. To avoid dire consequences, the ship must have a reinforced ice-class design.
The same report mentioned existing projects of landing ships built on the basis of a universal design module with a displacement from 10 to 35 thousand tons. First of all, on the basis of such a product it is proposed to develop a universal landing ship with a displacement of 30 thousand tons or an amphibious helicopter-dock ship with twice the displacement smaller displacement. As S. Vlasov explained, similar results can be obtained by using existing volumes different ways. This is what leads to different displacements.
S. Vlasov also noted that some developments of the Nevsky Design Bureau are included in the new state weapons program. At the same time, he did not specify which projects will be developed in the foreseeable future.
On June 30, new information appeared about possible ways development of domestic landing ships. This time important topic was touched upon by the head of the advanced ship construction department of the Krylov State Scientific Center, Vladimir Pepelyaev. In this case, we were talking about the already well-known “Surf” project, which can be developed and even reach the construction of ships. The research organization has already assessed some of the features of the new project, and also determined the approximate completion time and cost of the required work.
According to V. Pepelyaev, a promising landing ship will cost the customer approximately 40 billion rubles. This “estimate” includes all the required design work, construction of the lead ship and its subsequent testing.
The specialist also announced approximate deadlines for completing the work if the order is received. According to V. Pepelyaev, the preliminary design will take about a year. The subsequent preparation of the technical project will take approximately six months. It will also take some time to create working and design documentation, after which quite a long construction period will begin. In total, at least five years will pass from the start of design to the delivery of the ship to the customer.
However, the Krylov State Scientific Center or related design organizations have not yet begun work on the landing ship project due to the lack of a corresponding order and technical specifications. In his interview, V. Pepelyaev revealed the possible course of further events. If the Ministry of Defense makes a fundamental decision to start work in the very near future, then by the end of the year the Center, in cooperation with the Nevsky Design Bureau, will be able to complete the preliminary project. Then the Design Bureau will be able to begin developing a full-fledged project according to which construction will be carried out.
Relatively quick completion preliminary work Certain features of the current project may contribute. During IMDS-2017 CEO Krylov Center Vladimir Nikitin said that the concept of the Surf project has not undergone significant changes since its presentation at the Army-2015 exhibition. However, at the request of the customer, certain changes can be made to the project. In accordance with the requirements of the military, the position of the missile systems can be changed, and it is also possible to use a bow ramp.
While representatives of shipbuilding industry enterprises talk about existing plans and possible ways of developing the fleet, the leadership of the Ministry of Defense remains silent. The issue of building new landing ships in addition to existing ones is regularly raised at various levels, but there is no real action in this direction yet. The command recognizes the need for such ships, but the development of new projects and construction have not yet begun. Moreover, it is currently unknown when such work will start.
According to the heads of shipbuilding enterprises, several preliminary projects of promising landing ships of different classes, differing technical features and opportunities. In particular, the Nevskoye Design Bureau has worked on a number of design options for such ships, and the Krylov State Scientific Center continues to demonstrate materials on the Priboi and Avalanche projects. Which of the proposals will be approved and developed in the interests of the navy is still unknown.
The most developed and interesting project at the moment looks like symbol"Surf". This project, proposing the construction of a universal landing ship, was created by the Nevsky Design Bureau several years ago and presented in 2015. From the very beginning, the new ships were considered as a possible replacement for the Mistrals, which were never transferred by France. Subsequently, suggestions were made about the possible start of construction of new ships, but so far the Priboi have not been laid down or even ordered.
The task of the Priboi-class ships is to land troops on equipped and unequipped coasts using helicopters or landing boats. To solve such problems, Priboy has characteristics, significantly distinguishing it from other domestic landing ships. Thus, for the transportation and operation of attack and transport helicopters, it was proposed to use a large flight deck, occupying almost the entire area of the hull.
According to published data, the ship will have a displacement of 14 thousand tons, thanks to which it will be able to transport a fairly large payload. The internal compartments of the hull had areas sufficient to transport several dozen units of armored vehicles or hundreds of paratroopers. The deck dimensions made it possible to transport up to eight helicopters and ensure their operation. It was planned to include both transport helicopters and attack or anti-submarine vehicles in the aviation group. In the aft part of the hull it was proposed to place a docking chamber suitable for transporting two or four landing craft of existing types. The ship is supposed to be equipped with a gas turbine power plant capable of providing fairly high performance characteristics.
The possibility of equipping the ship with a developed set of weapons for various purposes was considered. In particular, it was assumed that air defense in the near zone could be carried out using the Pantsir missile and gun system of a special ship modification. It should be noted that a few days ago an official presentation of such an air defense system took place, which led to a new wave of discussions about the areas of its application, including in the context of the development of the amphibious fleet. The project probably does not provide for its own strike weapons.
The model of the Priboy ship, demonstrated since 2015, has a number of important features. Thus, a bow ramp and a stern dock can be used to disembark equipment. The first can be used by self-propelled floating equipment, while the second is intended to work with landing craft. In addition, troops can be delivered from ship to shore using existing types of helicopters. As has been repeatedly noted earlier, the need to use certain means of landing will be discussed with the customer. In particular, the topic of such discussion will be the bow ramp, necessary for landing equipment in close proximity to the shore.
Currently, the landing ship “Priboy” exists only in the form of working documentation and an exhibition model. The situation is similar with the Avalanche project. This project of domestic designers provides for the construction of a larger universal landing ship with improved characteristics and increased capacity of internal compartments.
With a length of about 200 m and a maximum width of more than 30-32 m, the Avalanche ship should have a displacement of 23-24 thousand tons. Using a gas turbine power plant it will be able to reach speeds of up to 24 knots, and the cruising range will reach 6,000 miles with an autonomy of up to 25-30 days. The cargo compartments will be able to transport up to 50 units of armored vehicles of various classes. It is also planned to transport 500-900 paratroopers from. The aviation group will include 16 helicopters for various purposes. The docking chamber will allow the use of existing and future types of boats. The weapons complex will include various systems for protection against air attack.
According to recent reports, the design and construction of new landing ships is included in the new state weapons program. According to various statements and estimates, the first ships of the new type could be built by the middle of the next decade. With a successful combination of circumstances, by 2025 the lead and first production landing ships of the new type will enter service with the Russian Navy.
From latest news it follows that the command of the navy, after several years of preliminary study of the issue, decided to initiate the development of promising landing ships capable of complementing the existing group and significantly increasing its potential. At the same time, however, the new program has not yet started, which is why a lot of critical issues has not yet been resolved. Work in this direction will most likely begin in next year, along with the launch of a new state program planned for 2018-25.
To date, leading shipbuilding enterprises have worked and proposed to the military department a number of options for the appearance of landing ships for one purpose or another, differing in all the main parameters, capabilities, etc. Thus, the fleet command has the opportunity to formulate its own requirements and choose one of the proposed options that best matches the technical specifications. In addition, it is possible to start the development of a new project from scratch.
According to design organizations, if the full development of one of the proposed projects begins as soon as possible, all the required work, including the construction and testing of the lead ship, will take at least five years. Thus, within the framework of the new state weapons program, it will be possible to build and transfer to the fleet no more than a couple of ships.
The latest progress in the development of promising landing ships for the Russian fleet looks optimistic, but there are no serious reasons for joy yet. Shipbuilding and design organizations have worked on the issue and proposed their own options for promising ships, but the Ministry of Defense has not yet initiated full-fledged work, the result of which will be the start of construction. However, recent statements show that the military department understands this situation and is already planning to launch a new project. Thus, the development of a promising landing ship can begin in the very near future.
Based on materials from sites:
http://tass.ru/
http://ria.ru/
http://lenta.ru/
http://interfax.ru/
https://vpk.name/
https://defendingrussia.ru/
http://bastion-opk.ru/
