designeraccd
10-11-2008, 11:45
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Building Russian Aircraft Carriers in... Europe?
Ilya Kramnik, a Russian analyst for RIA Novosti who also contributes opinion and analysis of Russian military subjects with UPI, is one of our favorite foreign naval analysts. If there is an idea truly worthy of being "Crazy Ivan" label worthy, he is usually putting it out there. Back in June he was one of the first in the media promoting the idea of the International strike group including Europe, the US, Russia, and the Middle Eastern nations to fight Somalian piracy. Guess he could read the tea leaves.
This story did not run in English, but did run in French, and in light of the submarine accident is one worth thinking about. Ilya Kramnik has long been in touch with the state of Russian shipbuilding, so he does know enough to know whether this is necessary or not. The headline: Русский авианосец с французским акцентом or Un porte-avions russe à l'accent français, translated as A Russian Aircraft Carrier with a French Accent.
The international exhibition of naval defense and maritime safety EURONAVAL 2008, which was not initially expected to result in much news, has a chance to make history. The commander of the Russian navy, Admiral Vladimir Vyssotski, who is visiting the exhibition, has shown a keen interest in the potential of the French group Thales in the construction of aircraft carriers.
The article goes on to note that the Russian Navy has a history of buying ships built by foreign countries, and that the current state of Russian shipbuilding is at a point where this makes sense. The article notes that disruption and delays for several ships under construction highlight the real difficulty Russia faces building ships today, and that working with Thales offers promise.
The idea being floated is that all indications are Russia would like to build 6 aircraft carriers similar to the 60-70 thousand ton CVF design being developed for the British and French Navies. Ilya Kramnik's idea is to build the lead ship in France with foreign assistance, including some experience for Russian shipbuilders, then do follow on serial construction of the rest of the class in Russia.
It is impossible to believe this would ever happen, mostly because of the technology transfer issues. Thales is building the CVF with the assistance of the United States, and it is hard to believe the US would allow Thales to help the Russians build aircraft carriers without violating some sort of export agreement that protects shared technologies.
But if Russia does look to go overseas to save money building aircraft carriers, there is certainly a possibility out there. There are plenty of indications that China is in development of an aircraft carrier, and China may require technical assistance in order to complete the project. This may be a way that Russia can help reduce costs and still get some industry exposure building aircraft carriers. It is unclear what size aircraft carrier China is interested in building, or if China is actually serious in building aircraft carriers, but if there is a serious effort in China and Russia is indeed interested in building the first aircraft carrier overseas due to lack of modernization for current shipbuilding facilities (a real problem, probably hurt even more by recent economic troubles), then if Thales is prevented from helping Russia, China might be a legitimate alternative.
Who knows, maybe the model of Jiangnan Changxing Shipbuilding Base included a Russian aircraft carrier and not a Chinese aircraft carrier? Just speculating out loud...
from a Naval Blog......bizness, just bizness. right..........DFO :rolleyes:
Building Russian Aircraft Carriers in... Europe?
Ilya Kramnik, a Russian analyst for RIA Novosti who also contributes opinion and analysis of Russian military subjects with UPI, is one of our favorite foreign naval analysts. If there is an idea truly worthy of being "Crazy Ivan" label worthy, he is usually putting it out there. Back in June he was one of the first in the media promoting the idea of the International strike group including Europe, the US, Russia, and the Middle Eastern nations to fight Somalian piracy. Guess he could read the tea leaves.
This story did not run in English, but did run in French, and in light of the submarine accident is one worth thinking about. Ilya Kramnik has long been in touch with the state of Russian shipbuilding, so he does know enough to know whether this is necessary or not. The headline: Русский авианосец с французским акцентом or Un porte-avions russe à l'accent français, translated as A Russian Aircraft Carrier with a French Accent.
The international exhibition of naval defense and maritime safety EURONAVAL 2008, which was not initially expected to result in much news, has a chance to make history. The commander of the Russian navy, Admiral Vladimir Vyssotski, who is visiting the exhibition, has shown a keen interest in the potential of the French group Thales in the construction of aircraft carriers.
The article goes on to note that the Russian Navy has a history of buying ships built by foreign countries, and that the current state of Russian shipbuilding is at a point where this makes sense. The article notes that disruption and delays for several ships under construction highlight the real difficulty Russia faces building ships today, and that working with Thales offers promise.
The idea being floated is that all indications are Russia would like to build 6 aircraft carriers similar to the 60-70 thousand ton CVF design being developed for the British and French Navies. Ilya Kramnik's idea is to build the lead ship in France with foreign assistance, including some experience for Russian shipbuilders, then do follow on serial construction of the rest of the class in Russia.
It is impossible to believe this would ever happen, mostly because of the technology transfer issues. Thales is building the CVF with the assistance of the United States, and it is hard to believe the US would allow Thales to help the Russians build aircraft carriers without violating some sort of export agreement that protects shared technologies.
But if Russia does look to go overseas to save money building aircraft carriers, there is certainly a possibility out there. There are plenty of indications that China is in development of an aircraft carrier, and China may require technical assistance in order to complete the project. This may be a way that Russia can help reduce costs and still get some industry exposure building aircraft carriers. It is unclear what size aircraft carrier China is interested in building, or if China is actually serious in building aircraft carriers, but if there is a serious effort in China and Russia is indeed interested in building the first aircraft carrier overseas due to lack of modernization for current shipbuilding facilities (a real problem, probably hurt even more by recent economic troubles), then if Thales is prevented from helping Russia, China might be a legitimate alternative.
Who knows, maybe the model of Jiangnan Changxing Shipbuilding Base included a Russian aircraft carrier and not a Chinese aircraft carrier? Just speculating out loud...
from a Naval Blog......bizness, just bizness. right..........DFO :rolleyes: