Russia will pay France 1.37 billion euros ($1.81 billion) for two
Mistral-class assault warships that Moscow agreed to purchase from the
NATO member last week, news reports said Dec. 30.
“The first ship will cost 720 million euros and the second 650
million euros,” the RIA Novosti news agencies cited a source close to
the negotiations as saying.
The deal, which involves joint construction of the vessels, is the
first sale to Russia of such naval high-tech by a NATO country.
It has been condemned by Alliance members from the three Baltic
nations, with leaked cables showing that U.S. Defense Secretary Robert
Gates also raised the issue while on a visit to Paris this year.
The helicopter carrier costs about 500 million euros ($650 million)
and it was not immediately clear why Russia was paying a premium.
Moscow had sought to purchase the craft together with their sensitive
equipment and the December 24 announcement in Paris made no mention of
whether Russia had got its way.
The source close to the negotiation said Moscow was paying a higher
price for the first craft because most of it would be produced in
France, with Russia’s share in the project growing by the second vessel.
“If Russia’s share of construction on the first ship is 20 percent,
it may reach up to 40 percent for the second ship,” the source told RIA
Novosti.
The source said the third and fourth ships would be fully
manufactured in Russia as per agreement, but gave no time frame of when
the craft would be built.
A Mistral-class ship can carry up to 16 helicopters, four landing
craft, 13 battle tanks, around 100 other vehicles and a 450-strong
force. It has facilities for a full command staff and is equipped with a
69-bed hospital.
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