Talks on Mistrals Go Up to Plans

13.06.2012 Director of Rosoboronexport Anatoly Isaikin says Russia and France have no problems to sign contracts for third and fourth Mistral-class amphibious ships.

In particular, he said that "the work goes on in accordance with plans, talks are in progress. I can't see any reasons why we won't sign a contract for other two ships of this type. Production will be 80% located in Russia".

In June 2011, after months of negotiations, Russia and France signed the EUR 1.2 contract for construction of two French Mistral-class landing ships in Saint-Nazaire. The first ship will join Russian Navy in 2014, the second – in 2015. The contract for other two Mistrals will be signed later.

Length of a Mistral-class landing ship is 210 meters; displacement is 21,000 tons; max speed is over 18 knots; crew strength is 160 men plus 450-men landing party; operating range is up to 20,000 miles; air wing comprises 16 helicopters including six placed on the flight deck.