“We have these types of ships planned…but we will build them a bit differently. We’re not going to blatantly copy the [French] Mistral [design] right out,” Oleg Bochkaryov told journalists.
French Rep to Visit Russia to Discuss Mistral Solution
A special representative from France will soon arrive in Russia to negotiate a solution to the non-delivery of Mistral-class helicopter carriers to Russia, Bochkaryov added.
“[Louis] Gautier will arrive in Russia today or tomorrow to hold more difficult negotiations on the Mistral,” Oleg Bochkaryov told journalists.
Under the $1.5 billion warship contract signed in 2011, France had to sell two Mistral-class helicopter carriers to Russia.
Russia has repeatedly denied its involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.
Earlier in May, Paris reportedly proposed terminating the contract, and offered to pay about $865 million, on condition that Moscow allow France to sell the ships to a third party. Moscow denied the offer, as the deal is currently estimated to represent a value of about $1.3 billion.
