Article Posted on : - Dec 01, 2011

BPC Mistral and BPC Tonnerre. Photo: ECPA-d / Marine nationale/DCNS

MOSCOW (BNS): French shipbuilder DCNS has begun construction work of the first Mistral warship for the Russian Navy following an advance payment from Moscow.

The two countries had signed a contract in June for two Mistral class amphibious assault ships including the transfer of sensitive technology.

"The advance payment was received several weeks ago and work on the first ship is getting underway," a DCNS statement said.

The Russian Mistral to be deployed by the Northern and Pacific Fleets will be armed with combat helicopters Ka-52, reports said.

Moscow and Paris had signed an intergovernmental agreement to jointly build the four ships on January 25.

Under the contract, the first ship will be delivered in 2014 and the second in 2015. Two of the warships are to be built in France and two in Russia.

French shipyard companies DCNS and STX would build two Mistral-class warships along with Russia's state-run United Shipbuilding Corporation.

Russia will construct 20% of the first warship, 40% of the second and 80% of the last two, which are to be built on Russian territory, according to reports.

The French-built Mistral is capable of transporting and deploying 16 helicopters, four landing barges, up to 70 armoured vehicles including 13 battle tanks, and 450 personnel.