Russia begins Designing Helicopter Carrier ‘Priboy’

Design work on the Russian Priboy advanced helicopter carrier has started, United Shipbuilding Corporation’s (USC) Vice President for Naval Construction, Igor Ponomaryov, told TASS in St.Petersburg today.

The Priboy is Moscow’s answer to the French Mistral carrier which was denied to Russia and sold to Egypt instead.

"The USC enterprises have started working on this project. There is a project pipeline and there is understanding of all basic technologies. The modernized Northern Shipyard, as well as the Baltic Shipyard and Sevmash, has vast experience in building large surface ships," he said.

Earlier, the USC head Alexey Rakhmanov said in an interview with TASS that the construction of the Priboy helicopter carries is included in the state armaments program for 2018 - 2025.

The model of the Priboy amphibious assault ship, with a capacity of 14,000 tonnes, was first displayed at the Russian Navy’s exhibition stand at the Army-2015 forum.

Russia already has the helicopters required to operate from the deck of a large helicopter carrier which can be used as a beach assault ship. It has also acquired considerable expertise in building such a ship as its technicians were involved in the final assembly and tests of the Mistral carrier before the deal with France fell through.