go on. what's the difference in performance and safety?? and does it justify the the nearly 5 times cost increase.
On Mistral civil standards and technologies are used in the production process, which significantly reduces both cost and time to completion. Consider use of commercial off the shelf component versus special (re)designed military part.
So what does it mean Mistal class is built to "commercial" standard (vs military standards?)
- Structural integrity requirements are relaxed compared to military standards
- relaxed standards with regards to shock absorption, hull strength, compartmentalisation
On the plus side:
- civilian standards are pretty high these days, so structurally the differences are not as great as they were, for example, in WW2
- Most amphibs are constructed to civilian standards these days.
- it is a matter of certification: the Royal Navy upgraded HMS Ocean from Lloyd's standard to Admiralty standard after she was finished, the difference was only in reliability of electricity etc.
- civilian standards are stricter on environment
Food for thought: "throw away" light fleet carriers of the british Colossus class were constructed to Lloyd's standards in WW2 and the last one left service in ... 2001