France defends talks on sale of warships to Russia

Times Online ^ | 3/1/2010 | Charles Bremner

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The scene is set for conflict between France and its Nato allies when President Medvedev of Russia arrives in Paris today intent on ordering up to four powerful warships from French shipbuilders.

Washington and the former Soviet bloc members of Nato are alarmed by President Sarkozy’s willingness to sell a 600ft Mistral Class amphibious assault ship, and possibly three more, to the Russian Navy.

Georgia, which was subjected to a Russian invasion in 2008, is leading the charge to stop Moscow acquiring Mistrals, which sell for about £400 million each.

Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, the chief of the Russian Navy, has described the helicopter and troop-carrying vessel as an ideal asset for Black Sea operations in the Caucasus.

No Nato nation has sold military hardware on nearly such a scale to Russia. France is arguing that the Mistral is little more than a freight vessel and that Moscow must be drawn into a partnership. “We cannot on one hand claim to be partners with the new Russia and, on the other hand, treat it like it was the old Soviet Union,” Hervé Morin, the Defence Minister, said.

The contract, which has been approved in principle by President Sarkozy, could create 2,000 jobs.

Russian officials said that no final decision had been taken on the order, but Mr Medvedev indicated in a French media interview last week that he hoped to clinch the warship contract on his Paris visit this week.

[Army Air Corps]

Gallic Ping.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

I have just one thing to say, “Charles De Gaulle.”

[GeronL]

Why can’t Russia build their own ships? Do they have no unemployed??

pics?

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Maybe they intend to make a copy from the original. A little reverse-engineering.

[GeronL]

Maybe, how many are they buying?

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The Russians want three more.

[RC one]

I don’t know about anyone else, but this doesn’t really bother me. It just gives us more leeway to do whatever we want.

[GeronL]

I keep thinking Ukraine.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

No NATO nation has ever sold any hardware to the Russians. This is a gross violation of the treaty.

[katana]

Big boat. Doesn't look like stealth is a priority.

[MinorityRepublican]

Who cares? It’s not like building an aircraft carrier for the RUssians!

[americanophile]

“We cannot on one hand claim to be partners with the new Russia and, on the other hand, treat it like it was the old Soviet Union,”

Neither can the new Russia claim to be a partner with us when it acts like the old Soviet Union.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Mistral class ships can accommodate up to 450 soldiers, although this can be doubled for short-term deployments. The 28,500 sq ft vehicle hangar can carry a 40-strong Leclerc tank battalion

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Better Dead than Red.

[americanophile]

indeed

[GeronL]

or maybe the Republic of Georgia is the target

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

http://georgiandaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16374&Itemid=132

[grey_whiskers]

The 28,500 sq ft vehicle hangar can carry a 40-strong Leclerc tank battalion

Everything I ever needed to know about the Leclerc I learned here. ;-)

(Scroll down to the words "Original Blogspot Posting"...)

Cheers!

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Thank you

:)