Russian universal landing ships (UDC) of project 23900, being built in Kerch (Crimea) using developments on the French helicopter carrier Mistral, can accommodate up to a thousand marines. The advantage of the Russian Mistrals over the BDK was revealed to RIA Novosti by a source in the shipbuilding industry.
According to the interlocutor, the large landing ships (BDK) of the improved project 11711 being built in Kaliningrad can accommodate up to 300 infantrymen. “On each ship [project 23900] there is a landing of no more than a thousand marines, respectively, there will be a dock chamber and up to four landing boats will be placed in it,” the source said.
In March, RIA Novosti, citing a source in the shipbuilding industry, reported that Project 23900 UDCs would be able to carry on board up to 16 helicopters, in particular, Ka-52K Alligator reconnaissance and strike and Ka-27 anti-submarine aircraft and four drones.
On July 20, 2020, six warships were laid down in Russia at once, in particular, the construction of the ships “Ivan Rogov” and “Mitrofan Moskalenko” of project 23900 began in Kerch.
In May of the same year, Forbes magazine wrote that the UDC of Project 23900 is a clone of the French helicopter carrier Mistral.
