Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation dismissed on Tuesday media reports that it had left talks with France on the purchase of four Mistral class amphibious assault ships.
Kommersant business daily reported earlier on Tuesday that Russia would only be represented by state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport in talks with France’s DCNS.
“This information is not true,” USC head Roman Trotsenko said. “We are a consortium member.”
Moscow and Paris signed on January 25 an intergovernmental agreement to jointly build the helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy.
Under the Russian-French agreement the first Mistral-class ship, with a price tag of 720 million euros, is expected to be built in late 2013-early 2014 and the second in late 2014-early 2015.
Russia’s will construct 20% of the first warship, 40% in the second and 80% of the last two, which are to be built on Russian territory.
Talks on the actual contract to build Mistral ships are still underway.
A Mistral-class ship is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 personnel.
A number of Russia’s neighbors have expressed concern over the upcoming deal, in particular Georgia and Lithuania.
