Mistral contract would cost about EUR 1 bln

(Rusnavy) : Approximate cost of the Russian-French contract on four Mistral class helicopter carriers is about EUR 1 bln, said the director of state-led corporation Rostehnologii Sergei Chemezov on May 31.

Deputy defense minister Vladimir Popovkin earlier stated that the Mistral contract would cost at least EUR 1.5 bln.

According to Chemezov, the talks over the contract price still go on. Being asked whether the talks could finish in June, he said that "it is difficult to answer this question now".

French president Nicolas Sarkozy stated on May 26 that France and Russia would sign the contract until June 21, prior to the visit of Russian premier Vladimir Putin to France. Shortly before that Sarkozy said he and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev had agreed that the contract would be signed in 15 days.

Non-simple bilateral talks over Mistrals last since Jan 25, 2011 when the Russian-French intergovernmental agreement on Mistral type landing ships was signed. The agreement specified neither deadlines nor cost of the future contract; they will be set in separate document to be signed by Rosoboronexport and DCNS.

A source involved in the negotiations told to RIA Novosti in Dec 2010 that the first Mistral would be constructed for Russia in France late in 2013 or early in 2014, the second one – late in 2014 or early in 2015. Russia's participation in the first ship construction would be 20%, in the second one – 40%. After that, other two ships are to be built in Russia under French license.

Mistral class assault landing ship has displacement of 21,000 tons; hull length is 210 meters; speed is over 18 knots; fuel range is up to 20,000 miles; crew is 160 men plus 450 marines, 13 main battle tanks or 70 wheeled trucks. Air wing includes 16 helicopters; six of them can be placed on the flight deck.