Rosoboronexport has officially transferred the first tranche for the construction of the Mistral-class assault landing ship’s technical documentation to France-based DCNS.

The payment was for the ship’s technical documentation although the tranche amount was not disclosed.

According to United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) president Roman Trotsenko Russia will conduct 40% of the construction work for the first two ships.

Russia signed a €1.2bn deal with France for four Mistral-class landing ships, along with crew training and licences for equipment such as the SENIT-9 data transfer system, earlier this year.

Construction is expected to start in January 2012.

The French Mistral-class amphibious assault ship is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armoured vehicles and 450 personnel.