Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) has been ousted from the ongoing contractual talks on the purchase of Mistral class amphibious assault ships with France.

The Kommersant newspaper reported that Rosoboronexport, state-run arms exporter will represent Russia in direct talks with France’s DCNS.

Rosoboronexport’s share in arms sales profits in 2010 totaled to $10bn, according to RIA Novosti.

Russia and France had signed an intergovernmental agreement to jointly build four Mistral-class helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy.

The talks on the actual contract to build Mistral ships are still underway and the contract could be signed by April 2011.

The first two Mistral class ships are likely join Russia’s Pacific Fleet to protect the disputed Kuril Islands.

Naval Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Naval Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Virtualitics has secured the Innovation and Business Expansion awards for its Integrated Readiness Optimization (IRO) suite. Discover how its explainable AI is transforming maintenance, sustainment and mission readiness, giving defence leaders faster, clearer, and more confident operational decisions.

Discover the Impact