Russia dawdles on improving naval infantry equipment
An official keel-laying ceremony is expected in the coming weeks for two Project 23900 amphibious assault ships at the Zaliv Shipyard in Kerch, as Russia aims to show it can build large warships without using foreign expertise or technologies.
The programme is certainly ambitious and its implementation by Russia is a matter of international prestige, to compensate for the suspension by France of the sale of two Mistral-class vessels in 2015.
Project 23900 does raise one pressing question, though: how capable and combat-ready is the Russian Naval Infantry (RNI)?
Amphibious assault ships would add the capability to carry out expeditionary
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