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Subject: struggle over Mistral contract (from RIA NOVOSTI)
FCUS    3/17/2011 10:47:16 AM
source: *ttp://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20110316/163028059.html A Russian-French contract on the construction of Mistral class helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy is unlikely to be signed in the near future, a Russian deputy defense minister said. Russia and France in January signed an intergovernmental agreement to jointly build two Mistral-class helicopter carriers at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Another two are planned to be constructed later at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg. However, the sides have since experienced difficulties in agreeing the terms of the actual contract between Russian state-arms exporter Rosoboronexport and French DCSN company. "The negotiations have not been easy so far, I would even describe them as tough," Anatoly Antonov told reporters in Paris on Tuesday during a visit of Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to France. "It is too early to talk about specific dates, and too many technical details have yet to be settled. The contract must be adapted to our conditions. Experts will have to do a difficult and skillful job to adjust all parameters of the future contract," Antonov said. The official added that Russia prioritized the purchase of Mistrals with full technology transfer. The overall price of the contract was also a "big issue," he said. According to Russian media, the initial talks in February reached an impasse after France increased the total price tag from 980 milllion euros to at least 1.15 billion euros for the first two ships to be built in France. In addition, France insists on signing a separate contract for licensed construction of two Mistrals in Russia. Antonov said Russia would not push for a quick conclusion of negotiations because their results must meet the interests and requirements of both sides. A Mistral class ship is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 personnel. Russia plans to deploy the first two Mistral ships in the Pacific to protect the four Kuril Islands, which Russia has disputed with Japan since World War II.
 
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FCUS    typical russians....   3/17/2011 10:49:15 AM
 

Reports of an impasse in contractual talks between Russia and France on the purchase of Mistral class helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy are false, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's spokesman said on Thursday.

Russia's Kommersant business daily reported on Thursday that last week's contractual talks between Russian state-arms exporter Rosoboronexport and French DCSN company, which were attended by government officials from both countries, resulted in deadlock.

"This information is false. It is a large undertaking, and there are always certain issues, but I would like to stress again - this information is unfounded," Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.

Russia and France in January signed an intergovernmental agreement to jointly build two Mistral-class helicopter carriers at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Another two are planned to be constructed later at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the contract would set out terms for the purchase of two ships built by France's DCSN and licenses for construction of two additional ships in Russia for at least 1.5 bln euros.

France is expected to put forward the final commercial proposal on March 15.

 
2) *ttp://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20110303/162844466.html
 

Russia estimates a contract with France on the construction of four Mistral class helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy to be worth at least 1.5 billion euros, First Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin said.

Russia and France signed an intergovernmental agreement in January to jointly build two Mistral-class helicopter carriers at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Another two are to be constructed later at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg.

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

The official reiterated that Russia would buy the ships with all the original navigational and other technical equipment, including the SENIT 9 naval tactical data system.

The design of the helicopter deck will be slightly changed to accommodate Russian helicopters, and the hull will be reinforced to allow the use of the ships in the Arctic, Popovkin said.

Meanwhile, Russia's Kommersant business daily said on Thursday that last week's contractual talks between Russian state-arms exporter Rosoboronexport and French DCSN company, which were attended by government officials from both countries, resulted in a deadlock.

The talks reached an impasse after France increased the total price tag from 980 mln euros to at least 1.15 bln euros for the first two ships to be built in France, the Kommersant newspaper said, citing sources close to the talks.

France is expected to put forward the final commercial proposal on March 15, but the price issue might demand a new political decision reached on the highest level of authority, which would throw the negotiations back to the start.

The dispute over the price tag is the result of "an unprofessional approach to the contract by the Russian Defense Ministry," Kommersant says.

In December 2010, deputy chief of the Russian Navy, Vice Adm. Nikolai Borisov signed a protocol with France, which established the price of the contract at 1.15 bln euros. The price included the construction cost of two ships (980 mln euros), some unidentified logistics expenses (131 mln euros, and crew training expenses (39 mln euros).

Borisov had no authority to sign the document, and did it without consulting with Rosoboronexport and the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation.

The French side now has a legal basis to increase the price of the contract.

In addition, Russia wants the price of the construction licenses and technical documentation to be included in the contract, while France insists they should be sold separately for an additional 90 mln euros.

Experts believe that the controversial issues of such a highly-publicized and politically-charged deal could be resolved only through a compromise between the Russian and French leaders.

A Mistral-class ship is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 personnel.

Russia plans to deploy the first two Mistral ships in the Pacific to protect the four disputed Kuril Islands.

 
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gf0012-aust       3/17/2011 3:30:56 PM

Russia plans to deploy the first two Mistral ships in the Pacific to protect the four disputed Kuril Islands.

where they will be opposed by Hyugas....  by the time they hit work up the Hyugas may be going through rotation deep cycle maint....
 
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