LE BOURGET, France, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- France's amphibious helicopter Mistral carrier is emerging as a clear favorite in a Russian navy ship tender.
The contract marks the first time that the Russian navy has purchased a substantive naval vessel built abroad rather than building it in Russian shipyards, Agenstvo Voyennykh Novostei reported Thursday.
Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies head Ruslan Pukhov said: "There is an impression that the French Mistral ship is the tender favorite. The tender should be welcome as a possibility to size up strong and weak points of bidders and to ensure interests of the buyer."
Commenting that an Italian design was still in the running Pukhov added, "Italian shipbuilders presented at the Euronaval 2010 show a vessel, which pretty much resembled the French Mistral. If the Italian company makes a bid, the competition will tighten and that will play into Russia's hands."
Russian Defense Minister Anatoliy Serdiukov said that buying two helicopter amphibious assault ships were included in the state armament program for the next decade, commenting, "The $620 billion that the Defense Ministry hopes to spend in 2011-2020 on buying new armaments include the acquisition of at least two helicopter ships."
