DefenceTalkRussia will sue France if Paris refuses to honor a contract on construction of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy, Kremlin chief of staff Sergei Ivanov said Thursday. “We will file a lawsuit and demand compensation [if the contract is not fulfilled], as it’s commonly done in a civilized world,” Ivanov told reporters. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/kremlin-threatens-to-sue-france-over-possible-mistral-contract-breach-60844/

DefenceTalkThe Mistral-class helicopter carrier, the Vladivostok, carrying some 200 Russian sailors on Saturday left the French port of Saint-Nazaire to pass a series of tests. The Vladivostok had left docks at 3:30 a.m. local time (1:30 GMT), but was forced to wait until the tide thus eventually sailing out to sea at 7:20 a.m. (5:20 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-mistral-class-ship-built-for-russia-sets-off-for-sea-trials-reports-60579/

DefenceTalkFrance suspended Wednesday the delivery of the first of two Mistral-class warships to Russia “until November” after fierce criticism from its allies given the crisis in Ukraine. Paris agreed in 2011 to build and sell the two advanced helicopter assault ships to Russia for a total of 1.2 billion euros ($1.6 billion), with the first […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-suspends-delivery-of-warship-to-russia-over-ukraine-60529/

DefenceTalkFrance’s contract to sell a pair of Mistral aircraft carriers to Moscow has come under fire in recent months, as relations between the West and Russia have deteriorated over Ukraine. Last month, President Barack Obama said it would be preferable if France pushed the “pause button” on the deal. “I have expressed some concerns, and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-criticized-for-warships-contract-with-russia-60248/

DefenceTalkFrench Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius defended Tuesday in Washington the sale of two warships to Russia, despite US opposition — while leaving open the door to re-examine the contract in October. Per a 2011 agreement worth $1.2 billion, France is to deliver two Mistral warships — an advanced helicopter assault ship — to Russia. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/french-foreign-minister-defends-sale-of-warships-to-russia-59592/

DefenceTalkUS officials voiced concern Thursday at the sale of French warships to Moscow as they mulled tougher sanctions on Russia for the political upheaval triggered by the Ukraine crisis. “We have regularly and consistently expressed our concerns about this sale even before we had the latest Russian actions and we will continue to do so,” […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-concerned-at-sale-of-french-warships-to-russia-59534/

DefenceTalkFrance has suspended most of its military cooperation with Russia, the French defence minister said Friday, as Paris was still mulling whether to nix the sale of two Mistral warships to Moscow. Paris has suspended “the majority of its military cooperation with Russia” in the wake of Moscow’s takeover of Crimea, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-suspends-most-military-cooperation-with-russia-59106/

DefenceTalkParis will consider canceling a 1.4-billion-euro deal to deliver two Mistral-class warships to the Russian Navy if Moscow provokes further escalation in Ukraine, the French foreign minister has said. In the interview with France’s TF1, Laurent Fabius denied the legitimacy of Sunday’s referendum in Crimea to join Russia and urged Moscow to take urgent measures […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-may-scrap-russian-warship-deal-over-ukraine-crisis-59076/

DefenceTalkRussia does not produce the type of fuel necessary for the French-made Mistral-class amphibious assault vessels it has ordered, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Tuesday. The Mistral class are powered by electric motors supplied by diesel-powered turbo generators, according to naval-technology.com. Diesel fuel can suffer from a condition known as waxing or gelling in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/no-fuel-in-russia-for-french-built-warship-deputy-pm-46672/