Article Posted on : - Sep 15, 2009

The Minstral. Image Credit: Wikipedia

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia’s plan to buy a French Mistral class amphibious assault ship would be finalised soon, a source close to the negotiations said on Tuesday.

“We are holding technical consultations, which are expected to be completed by the end of September. The results will be reported to Russia's military-industrial commission in order to determine the viability of the purchase,” Ria Novosti quoting the source said.

He added that a group of Russian naval officers had already inspected a Mistral class ship at a French naval base in Toulon.

“The officers were shown the interior of the ship and provided with technical data,” the official said.

He however denied media reports that Russia was considering alternative purchases of the same type of warship from other countries, including the Netherlands and Spain.

“These countries also build amphibious assault ships of a similar class, but we have not considered their offers so far,” he said.

A Mistral class ship is capable of transporting and deploying 16 helicopters, four landing barges, up to 70 vehicles including 13 main battle tanks, and 450 soldiers. The vessel is equipped with a 69-bed hospital and can be used as an amphibious command ship.

The ship could cost between 300 and 400 million euros ($430-580 million), the news agency said.