Warship deal with Russia losing support in France

The agreement to sell advanced warships to Russia is losing support in France because of Moscow's wish to get hold of sensitive military technology and concerns among Russia's neighbors, Le Figaro daily said on Wednesday.

Russia and France signed an intergovernmental agreement in January on four Mistral-class helicopter carriers - two to be built at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, and two in Russia under a French license.

Russia, France struggle over Mistral contract

A Russian-French contract on the construction of Mistral class helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy is unlikely to be signed in the near future, a Russian deputy defense minister said.

Russia and France in January signed an intergovernmental agreement to jointly build two Mistral-class helicopter carriers at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Another two are planned to be constructed later at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg.

Russian Mistral Procurement Stalled

The governments of Russia and France are reportedly in a deadlock over the price of the Mistral-class vessels. Russia is expected to procure two Mistral-class ships from France under a joint venture that will lead to an additional two vesmistrsels being constructed in Russia. While an agreement was reached in January 2010, final contracts detailing costs and deadlines have yet to be signed. Negotiations are now stalled over price.

Russia to buy Mistrals for EUR 1.5 bln – Popovkin

Procurement contract for two French Mistral class helicopter carriers and shipbuilding license for other two ships is evaluated at least as EUR 1.5 bln, said Russian deputy defense minister Vladimir Popovkin. 

"The question is purchase of two ready-made Mistral class ships from French company DCNS and license for construction of twoMistrals in Russia; the overall contract cost is evaluated as at least EUR 1.5 bln", said Popovkin in the interview to Defense Industry Review. 

He emphasized that Russia would buy from France two Mistral class assault landing ships with all navigational and technical equipment, including one of the key components – tactical control system (TCS). 

Talks on Mistrals are in good progress – Putin's spokesman

Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of Russian prime minister confuted media reports that Russian-French negotiations on procurement of Mistralclass helicopter carriers had reached the deadlock. 

Indeed, there are some minor problems, but that is absolutely natural for such large-scale projects, said Peskov in the interview to radio Echo Moskvy. 

As was reported by Thursday's Kommersant, the talks had reached the deadlock due to discords in price. According to the newspaper, the contract cost may increase from EUR 980 mln to at least EUR 1.15 bln.