France spends €2.5 million monthly on maintaining Mistral ship intended for Russia

‘France is paying around €2.5 million monthly for maintenance of the Vladivostok Mistral-type helicopter carrier that is supposed to be delivered to Russia, the French LSI TV channel reported Friday.

The first helicopter carrier is ready to be delivered but it lies in the Atlantic port of Saint-Nazaire, the report says. The vessel has been there for 4 months already.

Russia signed a €1.2 billion contract with France in June 2011. The contract stipulates construction of two Mistral class helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy. The first warship – the Vladivostok – was to be handed over to Russia in autumn 2014 but the French side postponed the delivery citing the conflict in Ukraine.’

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