Russia Mistral: France 'agrees warship compensation'

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

France has agreed to pay compensation to Russia for cancelling the sale of two warships, a Russian official says.

France stopped the sale after the outbreak of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Russia is accused of backing separatist rebels.

The Mistral contract was worth €1.2bn (£843m; $1.3bn). Russia made an advance payment of about €840m.
...
"The negotiations are completely finished, everything has already been decided, both the time-frame and the amount," said Vladimir Kozhin, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin.


Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33730700

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Two nice aircraft carriers, as new, going cheap ... anyone?

[mazzarro]

1. Russia Will Probably Build These Themselves Shortly

It is likely that Russia may be able to build similar ships themselves in not too distant future because of the information they have gleaned from the construction. The BBC article states that the back half of the ship was even built in Russia, so there is already technology transfer involved.

Designed for Russia

Two problems complicate a proposed alternative plan to sell the ships instead to Nato, or a friendly government.

First, as half of the ships was built in Russia, Russia actually owns part of them already.

Second, the ships are designed for Arctic ports with ice-breaking reinforcement. There is no demand for that kind of ship outside of Russia.

So Russia may end up ultimately in better position on this issue.

[Adrahil]

2. Russia's ship building capabilities are extremely depleted and antiquated.

Was just looking at a bunch of this. They have a bunch of old facilities that can be refurbished, but they are basically re-building a warship capability.

Interestingly, a guy a worked with for a number of years in the late '90's had been a Soviet naval architect. He had some interesting stories, but he constantly noted, that ALL his colleagues got the fuck out of Russia as soon as they could. Most went to Europe, but a lot came here as well (including him). He has actually worked on the Slava and Kirov cruisers.