The contract for the purchase of French Mistral helicopter carrier for the Russian Navy is unlikely to be signed before the end of 2011, Interfax reports citing an undisclosed source.
"Given the deal price, which reaches EUR 1.5 bn, as well as the need to finalize by the parties the legal framework for the implementation of the contract, it may be signed not earlier than 2012," Interfax quoted the source as saying.
According to the source, Russians and their French partners held last week another round of talks on the deal.
In October 2010, Russian Ministry of Defense announced the tender for the warship contract. In late December Russia and France formally announced that a consortium of the United Shipbuilding Corporation and French DCNS will build 2 Mistral class warships at Saint-Nazaire shipyard and two vessels, under the license - at the Russian shipyards.
French multipurpose amphibious assault ship of Mistral-class is designed for vehicle and personnel transport and for landing operations. She can also serve as a command ship. Ship's length overall – 199 m, beam - 32 m, max. speed – 18,8 kn. The ship is capable of transporting and deploying 16 helicopters (8 troop helicopters, 8 helicopter gunships), 40 tanks and 70 vehicles. Mistral ship can accommodate 160 crew members and over 150 marines. Its armament includes air defense systems, artillery systems and heavy machine guns. According to unofficial estimates, the cost of one helicopter carrier for the Russian Navy may be around EUR 600 million.