A "projection and command" vessel, a couple of these already operate within the French navy. Details are now being provided as G-8 leaders meet that France is selling four of these to Russia at 400 million Euro a pop-righteous deal, actually. A pretty cool, versatile ship; only helicopters, tanks/trucks and troops-no fixed wing aircraft. Each ship also has a modern hospital unit aboard. Definitely the pragmatic, more efficient/economical, wave of the future rather than full flight deck aircraft carriers. Can you imagine how these could be used to really fuck up pirates' days if employed around Somali/Yemeni international shipping lane areas! The French are one of the few nations that employ a full deck, nuclear powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle-they desire to build another one, but have not been able to afford it. India has become a player in the aircraft carrier club, stating it hopes to have two modern carrier groups in service within the next 5 years or so-right now they have an outdated, smaller, Harrier jet carrier they bought from England. China and India are not part of the G-8, which technically means no truly global solutions to failing states/economies can be properly addressed. But we bet there will a lavish dinner...and all the hotel maids in France have suddenly called in sick for at least 48 hours.