Russian Defense Minister Says Ready to Sue France Over Mistral Delivery

MOSCOW, January 15 (Sputnik) – Moscow could file a court case against Paris within six months over the latter's nonfulfillment of a contract to deliver the first Mistral-class helicopter carrier to Russia on time, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday.

"If the contract isn't fulfilled, then naturally a suit will be filed. The first part [before filing the suit] was already done in January, that is a [request for] an explanation, then why [the contract was not fulfilled] is the next, and that will take between three and six months," Shoigu told RIA Novosti.

Earlier this week, a high-ranking Russian military source told RIA Novosti that the Defense Ministry did not intend to take any action regarding the matter before February.

On Tuesday, an official from Defense Ministry's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation stated that an official inquiry had been sent from Moscow to Paris. The case will either be taken to court or France will be given more time; both possibilities would require France to write an explanation of the situation at hand.

In 2011, a $1.5 billion dollar contract was made for the delivery of two Mistral-class assault ships between Russian state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport and French shipbuilder DCNS. French President Francois Hollande announced the suspension of the delivery of the first ship, due November 14, 2014. Hollande cited Russia's alleged role in Ukrainian conflict as the reason for suspension.

According to Russian experts, Paris could face penalties as high as $10 billion if it fails to fulfill its contractual obligations.