President of USC refutes rumors that the company leaves Mistral talks

09.02.2011 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"Rather, we were not withdrawn from talks.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.

Late in Dec 2010 Russia and France officially declared that the consortium consisting of United Shipbuilding Corporation (Russia) and DCNS (France) would construct two Mistral class ships in Saint-Nazaire and other two – in Russia under license. Russian defense ministry issued an appropriate tender in Oct 2010.

RIA Novosti reported in Dec 2010 referring to a source involved in negotiations that the first Mistral class ship for Russia would be constructed in France late in 2013 (early in 2014), the second one – late in 2014 (early in 2015). Provisionally, the first ship would cost EUR 720 mln, the second one – EUR 650 mln.

Assault landing ship Mistral has displacement of 21,000 tons; overall length is 210 meters; speed is over 18 knots; operational range is up to 20,000 miles; crew is 160 men plus 450 marines. Air wing consists of 16 helicopters; six of them can be simultaneously placed on the flight deck.