Article Posted on : - Mar 04, 2011

Mistral class amphibious assault ship.

MOSCOW (BNS): Russian will spend around $2.08 billion (1.5 billion euros) for the construction of the four Mistral class helicopter carriers with France, a media report said.

"The contract stipulates the purchase of two ships built by France's DCSN and the licensed construction of two additional ships in Russia for at least 1.5 bln euros," First Deputy Defence Minister Vladimir Popovkin said in an interview with the Military-Industrial Courier publication.

On January 25, France and Russia had signed a contract to jointly build the four Mistral class carriers. French shipyard companies DCNS and STX would build the two Mistral-class warships along with Russia's state-run United Shipbuilding Corporation.

According to RIA Novosti, In December 2010, deputy chief of the Russian Navy, Vice Admiral Nikolai Borisov signed a protocol with France, which established the price of the contract at $2.08 billion (1.15 billion euros).

Mistral class ships can carry and deploy up to 16 helicopters, including attack helicopters like France’s Tiger or Russia’s Ka-50/52. It has 4 landing barges or 2 medium hovercrafts, which deliver armored vehicles, tanks, and soldiers to shore.

The first two Mistral ships will be deployed to the Pacific for protecting the four disputed Kuril Islands, it said.