Defense ministry: Mistrals will be repaired by Russians specialists

23.05.2011 Once Russia purchases Mistral class landing ships, they will be repaired by Russian specialists, said deputy defense minister Gen Dmitry Bulgakov on May 21.

"In Russian Armed Forces all imported equipment is maintained by specially trained Russian specialists", said the officer on the air of Ekho Moskvy radio answering the question about possible repairs of Italian-made trucks Iveko and French helicopter-carriers Mistral in Russia.

According to Bulgakov, armed forces gradually move toward outsourcing maintenance of military equipment by civil defense-oriented plants.

"Those companies are licensed. Russian specialists are qualified for repairs of foreign equipment. Now they also maintain cars made abroad", said Bulgakov.