Nothing Super Hard About It': Mistral-Like Ships Could Be Built in Russia

Sputnik News

10:43 24.03.2015(updated 12:27 24.03.2015)

Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) is ready to build assault ships similar to the Mistral-class helicopter carriers should the country's Ministry of Defense make such a decision, said USC president Alexei Rakhmanov.

'Of course, we will build them. There is nothing super hard about it. On the other hand, we understand that a well-defined request and a clear stance are required to do that,' Rakhmanov told the Ekho Moskvy radio station.

The ships could be manufactured at the Baltic Shipyard facilities in St. Petersburg, he added.

In 2011, Russia and France signed a $1.5 billion deal for the delivery of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers to Russia. The hand over of the first ship was scheduled for mid-November, but never took place. French President Francois Hollande put the delivery on hold, citing Moscow's alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis.

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