Russia and France terminate Mistral contract
The President of Russia and the President of France adopted a joint decision to terminate the contract for the construction and delivery of two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships, signed in June 2011, Kremlin says following Vladimir Putin’s telephone conversation with President of France Francois Hollande.
During expert talks, which were held in a friendly atmosphere typical of Russian-French relations, the parties were able to reach a mutually acceptable agreement on reimbursing the Russian side for the funds paid under the contract and returning the Russian equipment and materials that had been supplied.
France has already transferred the refund and once the equipment is returned, it will obtain ownership of both ships and be able to use them.
According to the statement, Moscow considers the Mistral issue to be fully resolved.
The EUR 1.2 bln contract to supply two Mistral-class ships was signed between the French shipbuilding company DCNS and Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport in June of 2011.
The first ship, the Vladivostok was to be delivered to Russia in 2014 with the second one, the Sevastopol, to arrive in 2015. Though he United States were against the delivery, DCNS insisted that the sanctions imposed on Russia by the USA would not hinder the construction and transfer of Mistral ships.
In mid September, France threatened Russia to suspend the supply of the helicopter carriers associating the decision to the crisis in Ukraine. Later, a French government spokesman told RIA Novosti that the delivery of the ship is not officially suspended and that French President Francois Hollande was simply outlining his political stance. Hollande stated he would not approve of the transfer of the vessel in November should the situation in Ukraine not improve.
Mistral-class helicopter carriers have a displacement of 21,000 t, hull length max - 210 m, speed max - 18 knots, range max – 20,000 miles. Mistral’s air wing consists of 16 Ka-52K helicopters.
