Update: Yantar Baltic Shipyard Orders Equipment for Second Gren Landing Ship

This is a follow-up to my October 14 blog entry regarding the decision to restart construction of a second Gren-class landing ship for the Russian Navy.

According to contract documents, the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense and Yantar Baltic Shipyard (Kaliningrad) both signed state contract #Z/1/1/0488/GK-14-DGOZ on September 1 of this year for the construction of a second Gren unit (Factory #01302). Since then, at least four Requests for Proposals were released by Yantar Baltic Shipyard. In addition to the October 9 RFP I mentioned in my earlier blog entry, the following RFPs have been published:

• Delivery of ADG-1000NK diesel generator | Delivery: August 2016 | Cost: RUB 278,246,892

• Delivery of various shafts | Delivery: July 2015 | Cost: RUB 25,942,000

• Installation of sea water desalination plant | Delivery: July 2015 | Cost: RUB 16,623,075

• Delivery of DRRA.3700 reverse reduction gear unit | Delivery: April 2016 | Cost: RUB 358,247,126

Additionally, on November 14, Prime Minister Dmitriy Medvedev signed Decree #2263-r that provides state credit guarantees for defense industry companies, including Yantar Baltic Shipyard. According to the decree, Yantar Baltic Shipyard will receive a RUB 2,000,000,000 state-backed credit line from SberBank for the period of September 1, 2014 - December 31, 2018.

The lead unit of the class, "Ivan Gren", was laid down in December 2004 and launched in May 2012. After two and a half years in the water, the landing ship has yet to begin sea trials. Sea trials are where the builders and designers learn what does and doesn't work, so that corrections to the ship's design can be made (preferably) before the next unit is launched. So, why now? Has the France-Russia Mistral drama forced the Russian military to restart construction a second ship of an unproven design?

Yantar Baltic Shipyard Orders Equipment for Second Gren Landing Ship

Gren LST "Ivan Gren" - May 23, 2012
(Image courtesy of TASS)

Yantar Baltic Shipyard in Kaliningrad has begun ordering parts for Project 11711 (Factory #01302) - the second Gren-class landing ship (as yet unnamed). According to an October 9 Request for Proposals, the shipyard is seeking to purchase the following:

DMU-20-10 metering device (x14)
1FShch 20/10-0.15 filter (x1)
1FShch 65/6-0.25 filter (x4)
2FMT 50/6-1-1 filter (x6)
FMT 80/6-1-1 filter (x1)
FMT 100/6-1-1 filter (x2)
PTsZ-3-0.63-KRD-2 (VNTA.061611.009-02) pressure tank (x1)
PTsZ-Pp-1,0-KRD-2 (VNTA.061611.005-01) pressure tank (x1)
SPRU-300-8 chemical mixer (x1)

The contract for this equipment is worth RUB 10,573,890 and must be fulfilled by the third quarter of 2015.

Today, the general director of Neva Draft Design Bureau, Sergey Vlasov, confirmed that a decision has been made to complete construction of a second Gren-class landing ship, which was laid down in 2004. The ship will be built using the design for the first unit, "Ivan Gren", but with a few modifications based on lessons learned during construction of the lead ship. Vlasov stated that "a number of imported equipment will be replaced with domestic versions."

The design bureau is also working on a new landing ship design. "On our own initiative we are now preparing materials to brief the Navy Commander-in-Chief," Vlasov said. "After that, everything will depend on the Navy's decision."

UPDATE: Is Russia's Surface Fleet Being Stretched to the Limit?

In a brief update to my previous blog entry:

• Admiral Panteleyev finally returned to the Mediterranean Sea last week following possible repairs of unknown equipment that broke down some time in July.
  
• Russia had to use a Tarantul III-class patrol combatant to escort another "Syrian Express" landing ship to the Mediterranean Sea and back in mid-August.
  
• Rumors abound that Udaloy I-class destroyer Vitse-Admiral Kulakov suffered some type of propulsion problem in early-August shortly after its Havana, Cuba, port call. The ship failed to meet its previously scheduled port calls despite Moscow's insistence that the destroyer has been tagging along with Slava-class cruiser Moskva the entire time. Instead of bringing the ship home early, naval officials apparently decided it was better to keep the destroyer out of sight and tow it back to the Barents Sea on/about its scheduled return date. Given that no immediate tow service was required, it's possible the destroyer is as least partially operational, which means it has enough power to limp into port while TV cameras are rolling. As soon as the sailors hit the shore, we'll learn more... According to some internet chatter, Sorum-class oceangoing tug MB-304 may be towing the destroyer northeast in the Atlantic Ocean, and both units may rendezvous with Baklazhan-class salvage and rescue tug Nikolay Chiker, which has been hanging around the United Kingdom for several weeks -- most recently southeast of Cork, Ireland.