Barracuda to Mistral DCNS show in DEF EXPO

Barracuda to Mistral DCNS show in DEF EXPO

French naval giant DCNS offers variety of naval systems in the defense exhibition held in Goa. The systems include next generation Barracuda submarine, Mistral helicopter carrier and evolved aircraft carrier model, the showcased models are all already front running in many naval tenders, which include the Scorpene submarine.

As expected earlier, The french formally offering the Barracuda submarine for the Indian navy's P 75I program. DCNS is front running in the Australian collins class replacement program, who also offering the same variant to Indian P 75I. which capable to launch cruise missile from vertical tubes and also capable to deliver marine commandos and capable to operate unmanned underwater vehicle's.

Barracuda is the French nuclear submarine, who is in construction as of now, French Navy plans to receive the first Barracuda by next year. They also modded the submarine by replacing the nuclear reactor and making it an conventional submarine. whose projected displacement is more than 4000 tons.  The conventional variant called as shortfin Barracuda Block 1A.

France also showcasing the model of Mistral helicopter landing ship in the expo. who offered the Mistral many times before, Where govt yet to announce the winner of the project. Mistral along with Juan Carlos leading the project. The Mistral was once studied by Indian navy, However they rejected the model due to the podded propulsion system.

DCNS joined with Reliance's Pipavav shipyard to build those LHD's in Indian shipyard, to accelerate the construction govt announced in the RFI, that two shipyards will be selected to build those ships. DCNS announced that they will ready to redesign the ship as Indian Navy wanted.

French also displays the evolved air craft carrier model in the Def Expo, with the operating capacity of some 40 aircraft's. However sources say the proposed aircraft is conventionally powered, with assisted launching. Indian navy in talks with the Americans to build the next gen aircraft carrier. France and Russia also proposes their interest in building one for India. However It's highly unlikely India won't look on other models.

DCNS also showcasing the lightweight MU 90 torpedo, which can be launched from warships and helicopters assigned for ASW mission. The MU 90 jointly developed by french and Italian company, which is already being used by many nations.

Indian navy also looking for Torpedo's for both surface and submerged launched platforms, The MU 90 is one of best available system, however Indian Varunastra torpedo also evolving as a best system, Varunastra also offering Helicopter launched, Sub launched and Ship launched version, However the torpedo programs are kept as secret, where more details are not available in open media. 

Ministry plans to reissue the MANPAD Tender

Ministry plans to reissue the MANPAD Tender

   The Defense ministry plans to re issues a tender to procure man portable air defense systems for the Indian Army. As first the RFI issued in early 2010. Following with weapon system trails in Indian conditions which include high altitude winters and hot weather trails in Mahajan Range. Indian Army almost short listed the Russian Igla S system and forced to perform some tough trials include live air interception. The Results are varied since it failed to hit the target Multiple times.

    It's back in 2012, Indian Army invited the Russian Igla S demonstration team to perform live interception. The firing trails started in Mahajan range, The Igla S failed to perform to meet Army criteria. The Igla S Scored only one shot out of four firings. Then Army plans to start the sea trails. where two shots fired only one hits the target. Army told the Russians to repeat the trails giving a chance to Russians to perform better in next time.

    During the next trials, Igla S Managed to hit all targets, four targets set for interceptions, and all of them destroyed, However Army find issues in the sights in cold trails, And the Army evaluation team suggested the Russians to modify the Sight lens, Receiver metrics and it's software's. Army gives another chance to Russians to prove the capability of Igla S later 2013.

    During 2012, USA offered it's Stinger missiles to Indian MANPAD tender. This forced the Indians to re evaluate the entire contract. India asked the US firm to provide know how technology and asks co producing those units in India. US denied the Indian offer and that's the closure of 2010 RFI.

Stinger MANPAD

    After pressures from the armed forces, Ministry once again floated the MANPAD tender, This time too the same companies who participated earlier comes again. The new tender added one more condition that's the Transfer of Technology and most of the Firing units could be produced in Indian private companies only.

    The trails once again conducted in the same place and results also same, However Army didn't published the actual test results. However the companies who offered the MANPAD systems find difficulty's in the tender. The contenders like Russian Rosboronexport who offered the Igla S, France MBDA who offered the Mistral and the Sweden SAAB who offered RBS 70 NG found there is a lack of transparency in the procurement process. As clearly Indian government wants the technology of the MANPAD's. While the foreigners are not ready to share with Indian Companies.

    The above Reason makes the Second RFI also withdrawn, due to the above known issues. Earlier the French MBDA teamed up with Larson and Tubro, and the SAAB joined with state owned PSU Bharath  Electronics. They were ready to produce those systems in Indian companies while they didn't provide critical technologies like seekers and firing guidance systems.

    This time government stricken the procurement plans under Indian vendors only, Which means 100% of Make in India. This also pave the way to compete new private defense companies like Punj Lloyd and Bharath Forge. Under this new RFI the Armed forces buy entire missiles systems from an Indian company.

    Foreign companies who makes the MANPAD's teamed up with Indian vendors may compete in the RFI. The government short list the low price vendor as L1 bidder, and start negotiate for procurement. Indian government ink contract with only Indian companies who also have stakes in foreign companies who offered the MANPAD's. As simply MBDA and L&T jointly proposes the Mistral missile and Army impressed with the performance and price tag. The contract goes to L&T and L&T makes those Missiles in Indian plants.

Mistral MANPAD

   Indian Army currently using decade old early model of Russian Igla MANPAD systems. Those systems are running behind the schedule. Army wants a man-portable system weighing less than 25 kilograms with fire-and-forget capability. Other Army requirements include a capability of engaging aerial targets day or night with an effective range of 6 kilometers.

   As per the RFI of MANPADs in 2010, Of the 5,175 missiles and associated equipment sought under the 2010 tender, 2,315 missiles were to be delivered fully assembled and 1,260 partially assembled, with 1,000 missiles to be assembled entirely in India and 600 to be made at Indian facilities.  Associated equipment includes launchers, sensors, thermal imaging sights, and command-and-control units.

Will Reliance fielded South Korean Dokdo make the cut for the Indian Navy LHD Tender

Reliance in Talks with South Korean Dokdo for Indian Navy LHD Tender

      With NDA’s magic wand ‘Make in India’ initiative gaining credibility, the involvement of private players in the lucrative Indian defense industry has been on the rise. Major private players from India have now teamed with global defense technology providers to equip India with the best military hardware. Responding to the spur from the industry, the government has relaxed the procurement norms and going a notch up the government is all set to bring a reformed and refined ‘Defense Procurement and Procedure (DPP)’ framework for hurdle free procurement process.

   Tata, Mahindra, Kalyani and Reliance have been actively lobbying in the power corridors to secure strategic projects which promise to keep the factory lines rolling for years. Probably the real giant in the avail is the Reliance Corporation headed by Ambani. Reliance has shown keen interest in involving itself with the Indian defense industry, key executive level meetings have been conveyed and every possible way to secure foreign partnerships is being worked upon. The modernization of ‘armed forces’ has been the key policy for Modi’s government, the modernization of Navy has been receiving due impetus with the naval force floating tenders every passing day.

    With China’s naval rise and presence of its naval assets in the backyards of India, the Indian Ocean it is no wonder the Indian Navy has long way to go before taking the Chinese head-on. The key factor for this would be induct more naval platforms that can help, India project its power even to the remotest parts of the IOR. Reliance has shown renewed interest in constructing the latest naval platforms for the Indian Navy. Reliance recently has taken a major share in the Gujarat based Pipavav shipyards. Reliance dreams to enter the complex world of shipbuilding by teaming up with the experienced Pipavav marine engineers, who have floated out patrol ships to guard Indian coastal waters. Reliance has shown interest in the P-75 I project and has also ambitions of mastering the complex technology involved in the building of nuclear powered attack submarines with the assistance of Russian shipyards.

    It is now learnt through reliable sources that, Pipavav officials have sought the help of South Korea to participate in the LHD tender floated last year by the Indian Navy. Pipavav officials are believed to have shown keen interest in indigenously building the Dokdo-class helicopter dock ship pitched by Hanjin heavy industries. Indian navy, last year had floated a tender worth nearly US $2.5 billion for procuring four latest LHD vessels. Designated the as the multi-role support vessels these platforms not only serve as helicopter docks/carriers but can also be a boost for the navy since these vessels promise to help achieve navy’s dreams of mounting amphibious assaults. These platforms can also house STOVL/VTOVL aircraft thus proving to be a stand-in aircraft carrier.

    In accordance to the tender, the navy will acquire four vessels designated as the multi-role support platforms. Of the four vessels two will built in foreign shipyards and the rest two will be built indigenously in an Indian shipyard. But the project is being conceived under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, which would mandate building all the four vessels in an Indian shipyard with full ToT to the Indian company. The tender value is inclusive of the air wing and all defensive & offensive systems which are to be incorporated to the vessel.

    With Indian navy formally rejecting, France offer of selling the Mistrals which were originally built for the Russians, the procurement has taken wings. The main back draw with the Mistrals was the podded propulsion systems which has been a no-no in Indian navy for quite some time. Reliance is slated to have a tough competition with other shipyards pitching some of the most advanced vessels under the program. Even though the French built Mistrals were denied, the Mistrals cannot be ruled out f the race since France will surely make headway in replacing the podded propulsions to meet India’s demands.

    Being operated by the South Korean navy, the Dokdo-class helicopter dock vessel is the flagship of the raising regional Asian power. South Korean navy currently operates a single Dokdo LHD and another LHD vessel is under construction which is slated to join the force by the year end. Displacing around 18,000 tonne, the Dokdo’s are undoubtedly one of the most capable support vessels for the Koreans. The vessel’s airwing is centrically formed around the UH 1 huey and Blackhawk helicopters which take care of the troop transportation and also are part of the ASW and SOR missions. South Korea is a working partner for USA’s ambitious F-35 project, and the South Korean navy has plans of operating the F 35 B VTOL jets and from the Dokdo-class vessels.

    Dokdo-class vessels measure around 200 meters in length and are 31 meters wide. The vessels can accommodate and operate helicopters and VTOL jets from the flat deck. The requirement according to the LHD tender floated by the Indian navy, the vessel has to measure 215 meters in length. The vessel currently accommodates ten UH 60 Sea hawk helicopters, Indian navy has plans of operating the heavier CH 53 Sea Stallion and the CH 47 helicopters from the deck of the vessel and this can be confirmed with the set-bar of 35 tonne for the vessel.

    These vessels can also carry 720 marines and also house amphibious assault vehicles to mount amphibious ambitious assaults on enemy shores.The vessel is guarded by 300 officers and sailors in charge of operating the platform to the best of its capability. Indian navy has a requirement of hosting 1500 personnel's, which will be a fine mix of 900 marines and 500 sailors. Perhaps this can turn out to be the major drawback of these vessels with the deficient being as high as 500 personnel’s.Squeezing in these personnel would be a demanding task as major redesigning has to be carried out. The vessels are also expected to carry six main battle tanks,20 infantry combat vehicles and 40 heavy trucks.

    But the Dokdo can carry 10 tanks, 10 trucks, 7 AAVs, three field artillery pieces, and two LCAC hovercraft. Even though this a drawback for the Dokdo-class vessels, the cheer would be for the less competition in this sector as only the American San Antonio Class LHD would be making it through this set-bar. The vessel would also be equipped with point defense missile systems and CIWS systems. The defensive capabilities of the vessel will be formed around the decoy, chaffs machine gun systems. Currently the Dokdo-class vessels are equipped with ‘rolling air-frame missile’ for point. With renewed interest from Reliance and Hanjin, the Dokdo may make the cut with minor redesigning be constituted for matching Indian navy’s need. South Korean ship building capabilities are unmatched and if cleared for the LHD tender, a new dawn will be signalled in the Indian ship building capabilities.

Editor Karthik Kakoor 

Indian Navy MSV Part 1

 Indian Navy MSV Part 1

Mistral in Action

 

Mistral French Navy

           The Multi Role Support Vessel is a warship that was sought by the Indian Navy to perform multiple roles from a single platform. Indian Navy aimed to perform humanitarian and disaster relief operations, evacuation missions, aviation operations using the rotary wing aircrafts attached to these vessels. The vessels were also required to perform amphibious assault operations and force projection. 

            Indian Navy was also charged to protect the water and islands around the strategic Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The Navy along with the Coast Guards was charged the overall responsibility of the Lakshwadeep Islands. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands form an archipelago in the crucial Bay of Bengal waters. 

INS GHARIAL

          Andaman and Nicobar Islands were captivated by the Japanese during the World War II. Repeated reporting of suspicious activities in and around these Islands has been a major problem the Navy has been unable to solve. Constant threat to these Islands from a sea borne hostile force is something India can’t role down. To curb the presence of Chinese vessels and influence in and around these strategic islands the Andaman and Nicobar Command was carved out.   

          Performing amphibious operations on these Islands is something Indian forces have to be always committed to be and with various vessels being placed under the ANC it has turned out to be a major Amphibious Warfare Hub. Amphibious operations have been part of the warfare for quite a long time. The primary method in amphibious operations is to deliver troops to shore. The forces are delivered to the shore through mechanized landing crafts and the forces are usually given air support through the Rotary and fixed crafts attached to the vessels.

         Indian navy is currently in command of the Austin Class amphibious transport dock INS Jalashwa. India procured INS Jalashwa with six Sikorsky Sea king helicopters for US $90 million. It is currently under the Easter Naval Command. 

       The Kumbhir class tank landing ships have been used by IN for amphibious operations. IN also operates eight Kumbhir class vessels; four each of these vessels are homed in Vishakhapatnam and Port Blair. 

        IN operates Magar class amphibious ships which were indigenously developed in Hindustan shipyard limited. HSL built two ships of these class, both the vessels operate out of Vishakhapatnam. 

      The Shardul class vessels have been charged with the responsibility of landing main battle tanks on the shores. The last vessel inducted by Indian navy for amphibious roles was the INS Jalashwa in 2007. The other vessels charged with amphibious operations have turned obsolete thus arising the need for newer vessels to perform this crucial task. 

      By 2009 Indian Navy forwarded a request to Ministry of Defence for acquiring Landing Helicopter Dock. This would enable the Navy with capabilities for performing humanitarian and disaster response, amphibious warfare and for protecting the Islands of India. The Ministry of Defence taking note of the depleting fleet floated a tender for procuring 4 LHD Multi-Role Support Vessels in November 2013. 

         The program was designated under the ‘Make and Buy’ scheme. The vessels were to be built under foreign and Indian shipyard collaboration. The first two ships were to be built under the collaboration in an Indian ship yard. The remaining two would be built by the state run Hindustan Shipyard Limited under a ToT program. A committee setup by the Indian Navy for the LHD program setup strong requirements for the program.

       The vessel itself was to be no more than 35 tons. The vessel was expected to endure a mission of roughly 45 days and was required to float at speeds not less than 20 knots. It was to be powered by an electronic propulsion system and was to carry at least 10 rotary aircrafts. The vessel was to accommodate 1400-1500 troops with landing crafts, air-cushion vehicles, 40 heavy load trucks, at least 6 main battle tanks, armoured vehicles and mechanized landing crafts to ferry the troops and the vehicles to the shore. 

       The vessel was required to be fitted with a defensive suite which included heavy and light machine guns, missile systems, CIWS, anti torpedo decoys and counter measure systems. It was also required to accommodate a command centre for planning and monitoring the course of an assault. The vessel was also planned to be used as a floating hospital for which the vessel was to accommodate an “emergency hospital area “. 

       India received consent from various foreign shipyards to be part of the program. Larsen & Toubro tied up with the Navantia of Spain which offered Juan Carlos to the Indian Navy. Pipavav Defence, a leader and pioneer in shipping technologies in India teamed up with France’s DCNS which is considered to be one of the biggest exporters to India in terms of transfer of technology and also in revenue term. The ABG Shipyard partnered with Alion of the USA. Fincantieri, BAE systems, Raytheon ThyssenKrupp Marine systems and the Schelde naval shipbuilding have shown interest.

Pipavav Defence  – DCNS

     One of the very first firms to respond for India’s RFP was DCNS, France. DCNS is one of the largest exporters to India in terms of technology. DCNS is already involved in the construction of the Scorpene submarines which are currently under construction in Mazgon docks,Mumbai.  

        DCNS teamed up with the Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering to offer the Mistral–class amphibious vessels. BPC 250 at 24542 tonnes and measuring 214.5 mts was offered to India.

   The French navy currently operates three ships of the class .Mistral is based on the BIP-19 design. BIP was designed at 19000 tons with a 190 meter long flush deck aiding for amphibious operations. An aircraft carrier like design was put forward by DCNS, which could launch an aircraft in STOBAR configuration using a Ski-jump.

    French senate turned down this design for the NTCD program. A more robust rotary aircraft carrier or mainly an amphibious assault ship was to be supplied to the French Navy. During the Euronaval 1998 which is an international event applying high technology to naval defence and maritime security and safety, the French made a formal announcement that the vessels under PHI program would be designed based on the design of the BIP-19 vessels.   

   By December 2000 an approval was received from the public purchase authority for the construction of these vessels. A contract for construction was handed over to DCN and Chantiers de l’Atlantique. An initial order for the construction of two ships of the class was handed over. The keels for the ships were launched by July 2002 and December 2002. The first of the ship under the class was designated as the Mistral and the other as the Tonnerre. 

       Mistral was launched by October 2004 and Tonnerre by July 2005. Mistral was inducted on 15 December 2006 and Tonnerre by August 2007. A third ship of the class under the name Dixmude was ordered. Mistral made her maiden voyage from 21 March to 31 May 2006. Tonnerre's maiden voyage took place between 10 April and 24 July 2007. 

     With over 20000 tonnes the Mistral class amphibious ships are one of the biggest ships in service under the French navy.  The Mistral can accommodate up to 450 troops, the ship is equipped with a sprawling 28000 sq ft vehicle hangar which can easily accommodate up to 40 battle tank battalions. The vessel also has a 9,530 sq ft well deck that can easily accommodate up to four landing crafts. The vessel is also capable of operating hovercrafts which are already under the command of the Indian Coast guard. The ship has a 9,100 sq ft command centre which can accommodate up to 150 personnel. 

   The information relay system for the ship based on the SENIT system (System for Naval Usage of Tactical Information). SENIT is developed on the Thales 3D MRR3D-NG Multi Role Radar which operates on the C band. For communications, the Mistral-class ships use the SYRACUSE satellite system, based on French satellites SYRACUSE 3-A and SYRACUSE 3-B. Indian Navy can effectively enhance these systems with its own satellite systems that has been put to extensive use.

        Mistral class amphibious ships are currently armed with an effective defensive suite. The vessel lacks an offensive suite but was never really designed with an offensive role. The Mistrals are armed with two Simbad launchers which can launch the Mistral missiles designed by the MBDA missile systems. The Mistral is an infrared homing which was basically designed as a Manportable surface-to-air missile. 

Mistral VSHORAD

   Improved version of this missile was equipped onboard armoured vehicles, helicopters and ships. Mistral uses an advanced proportional navigation system using a gyro as a reference when in pursuit of a target.  To effectively enhance the Electronic counter-countermeasures capabilities the seeker of the Mistral missile has a very narrow field of view to reject decoys and interference. The ship also has an autocanon built by the Alenia Marconi systems and is armed with the advanced 30 mm/70 guns. 

     The ship is also armed with the Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun which is a heavy machine gun. The M2 is battle proven weapon and has been in production longer than any other machine gun.

         The vessel also has a space for emergency medical facilities which comes with specialized facilities for dentistry, diagnostics, specialist surgical and medical capabilities, food hygiene and psychological capabilities. The ship has a 900 sq mt space for the medical facilities which can room 20 emergency medical rooms and 69 hospitalisation bed. The ship can also accommodate 7 intensive care beds.

     The ship has a sprawling 69000 sq ft flight deck which is one of the largest flight decks provided by any ship in its role.  The flight deck has six helicopter landing spots which can be used simultaneously without any hindrance to other crafts operations. The vessel also has a 19000 sq ft hangar deck which can accommodate up to 16 rotary crafts. The ship is also provided with two aircraft lifts which can lift loads up to 13 tonnes. 

    The Mistral’s are powered by azimuth thrusters and is one of the first to be used in French Navy. Azimuth thrusters are a configuration of marine propellers placed in pods that can be rotated to any horizontal angle. The use of azimuth thrusters over the rudder and the traditional propeller enhances the maneuverability of the ship. The most powerful podded thrusters in use are the four 21.5 MW Rolls-Royce Mermaid units. Retractable thrusters are used as auxiliary propulsion for dynamically positioned vessels and take-home propulsion for military vessels. These thrusters are powered by electrical propulsion unit and use five 16-cylinder Wärtsilä 16V32 diesel alternators, and can be used in any angle. This propulsion technology gives the ships significant manoeuvring capabilities, as well as freeing up space normally reserved for propeller shafts. This system also reduces the space. 

Podded Propulsion System

   Crew cabins on aboard the Mistral-class ships are present in the forward section of the ship. The ship has ample of space for allotting a single cabin to each of the officer on board the ship.  Senior non-commissioned officers share two-man cabins, while junior crew and embarked troops use four- or six-person cabins. Each of these cabins are carved out with the interest of the crew and is said to be providing one of the best living conditions for the crew in high seas. 

 

      Mistral was part of operation Baliste which provided support during the Lebonon war in 2006. During Cyclone Nargis Mistral provided humanitarian supplies to Burma. 

      Tonnerre was involved in ‘Operation Licorne’ in the Ivorian civil war. Tonnerre was involved in the Corymbe 92 mission in 2008 it provided humanitarian support in the Gulf of Guinea. 

     Mistral till date has only been operated by the French Navy, the Russian navy had signed a contract for purchase of two Mistral class ships. The ships were to be delivered to the Russian forces by 2014. But owing to an arms embargo against Russia due to the alleged involvement of Russian forces in Crimea, France declined to deliver these ships to the Russian Navy. 

         Though Indian Navy has shown an inclined interest towards the Mistral a lot many issues have cropped up with Mistral basic design which is not in par with the RFP issued by India. Mistral works on a podded engine system. Indian Navy has strongly rejected this design. Indian Navy has also requested for better utilization of the flight deck and aims to operate heavier rotary crafts from the deck. It has to been seen if India chooses Mistral and DCNS will come up with new design asked by the Indian forces. But Mistral is one of the battle proven platforms under the program and the links of DCNS to the Indian Industry may have scored value points for it in the procurement process. 

 Article By Karthik Kakoor

Indian Navy LHD the Multi-Role Support Vessel

The Juan Carlos LHD showing it's LST's and Fixed and Rotary wing Aircrafts

        The LHD project or the Navy's multi role support vessel is the long pending naval ship building contract, for which a tender was announced in November 2013, and, the initial contract is under the Buy and Make category, the same make in India Plan, under the contract the foreign vender builds two LHD's in its shipyard and last two will be built in India under Transfer of Technology except the engines and other crucial technology. 

      But the project was shelved for more than five years and till now, the MoD had received responses from foreign ship builders time and again, but several countries offered their models to India, from Juan Carlos LHD to French Mistral which was recently notified, by some interior reports Indian officials denied the offer due to podded propulsion system. Mistral offered the ships built for Russia and new customized model of Mistral.

         Here two main factors have led to the denial of Mistral, Primarily Mistral was built for Russian standards under a Russia and French agreement which means nearly 40% of the ship’s hull was initially built in Russia, Russian built systems were integrated with the ship which would mean a ToT clause would not be applicable here.

    ToT would require Indian ship builders to be part of the ship building process from the start and working together with the foreign shipyards. Here Indian requirements is clearly for a LHD type, which have more number of helicopters and use small landing crafts for beach landing unlike LST the ship which themselves land in beaches for assault, the LHD is having good factors. 

       More helicopters and units, which is more important for amphibious assault can be easily integrated with the ship. The ship is able to land based defence batteries and the ship can be effectively used for humanitarian support and war time evacuation missions.


          Indian navy currently operates a sizeable fleet of these of LST's and the American transferred Jalashwa and the Viraat carrier itself which is a Good LHD, where it can carry good number of fixed and rotary wing crafts, so the need of LHD remains vacant, which would be important for beach assault.

       GoI has allowed three Indian Ship builders who can build these huge ships. The Indian shipyards are required to have a contract with foreign vendors for work share agreements. L&T has collaborated with Spain's Juan Carlos, the Pipavav with French DCNS for Mistrals, and ABG with American Alion Technology's, where they are currently involved in designing and modelling most of the US Navy Ships.

      The Mistral is a good Platform for LHD oriented missions, Mistral is a 20,000 Tons with capabilities of carrying good number of helicopters and small number of landing crafts and air cushioned vehicles, along with good endurance and range. Mistral can carry up to 16 Chinooks or 25 Sea Hawk helicopters clubbed along with attack helicopters, along with some 10 to 20 tanks with 500 fully armed assault troops with two to three air cushioned vehicles for support the Beach landing.

       The other competitor is the Spain Juan Carlos. Juan Carlos is equipped with a Ski Jump capability, which can launch Fighters ranging from AV 8B and F 35 B, meanwhile the Mistral too can launch such VTOL crafts but Juan has an upper edge with the Ski jump capability which is easy for launching aircraft's, recently the Australian forces have taken delivery of its Juan LHD from Spain.

          The LHD's won't be armed with any offensive suites, like land attack cruise missiles or air defence missile; they are usually armed with smaller number of HMG's and one or two CIWS weapons. A destroyer or frigate is needed to escort these crucial LHD’s. If Indian forces had been armed with these ships as of now, we could have evacuated 4000 of our citizens from war torn Yemen in one or two runs, while as of now the need for five frontline warships to evacuate such mass peoples from Yemen is required.

The Mistral Capability of Joint Amphibious Assault 

Back side view of Mistral showing It's Docking Facility

Mistral Cutaway infographic

Juan Carlos LHD Cutaway infographic

Artistic impression of Juan Carlos conducting Beach Assault

Editor Karthik Kakoor