Russia to get Mistrals fully-equipped, defense ministry says

Holding negotiations with France on Mistral ships procurement, Russia has achieved agreement that the ships will be constructed with all appropriate systems and equipment, reports RIA Novosti on Wednesday referring to defense ministry's top-ranking official. 

"During bilateral talks French party did consider Russia's requirements that the ships must be equipped with all shipborne systems satisfying demands of Russian Navy", said the interviewee. 

Earlier on, some Russian news agencies reported negotiations were deadlocked allegedly because French party had refused to sell ships with all combat systems. 

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 dismisses report of deadlock in talks on Mistral purchase

Reports of an impasse in contractual talks between Russia and France on the purchase of Mistral class helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy are false, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's spokesman said on Thursday.

Russia's Kommersant business daily reported on Thursday that last week's contractual talks between Russian state-arms exporter Rosoboronexport and French DCSN company, which were attended by government officials from both countries, resulted in deadlock.

Mistrals to perform command tasks in Russian Navy

While commissioned into Russian Navy, main task for Mistral class assault landing ships will be control of naval forces, reported ITAR-TASS referring to a source in defense ministry. 

"After joining Russian Navy, basic task for Mistrals will be control over various naval assets in different operational zones worldwide, including Pacific Ocean, of course. That is going to be a sort of command centers developed at sea and controlling surface ships, submarines, and naval aviation", said the source. 

"The second high-end task for Mistrals will be delivery of Russian attack and antisubmarine helicopters (Ka-52 Alligator and Ka-27 respectively) to assigned sea- or coastal area. And only the third-priority task will be projection of marine units for landing operations", added the source. 

President of USC refutes rumors that the company leaves Mistral talks

United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) continues to participate in negotiations on Mistral ships; information that the company withdraws from the talks is incorrect, reports RIA Novosti citing the head of USC Roman Trotsenko. 

According to Tuesday's Kommersant, French shipbuilding company DCNS which is about to sell Mistral technology to Russia negotiates directly with Rosoboronexport, while USC which is to build two out of four landing ships takes no part in the talks. 

"Rather, we were not withdrawn from talks. That does not reflect reality. We do participate in the consortium", said Trotsenko. 

The information which had emerged in media surprised him much.