![\"Mistral](\"http:\/\/www.laurentmarot.fr\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/162543412.jpg\" "\\"Mistral")
<\/a>Mistral class amphibious assault ship<\/p><\/div>\n
He also said that the Russian state armaments procurement program until 2020 would be adjusted and would total 23 trillion rubles ($785 billion), or 2 trillion rubles ($68 billion) more than originally planned.<\/p>\n
A consortium comprised of French DCNS and Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) won a tender on the construction of four helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy in December 2010.<\/p>\n
Moscow and Paris signed an intergovernmental agreement to jointly build the four ships on January 25.<\/p>\n
Under the agreement, the first Mistral-class ship, with a price tag of 720 million euros, is expected to be completed in late 2013-early 2014 and the second in late 2014-early 2015.<\/p>\n
Russia will construct 20% of the first warship, 40% of the second and 80% of the last two, which are to be built on Russian territory.<\/p>\n
Talks on the actual contract to build Mistral ships are still underway. A Rosoboronexport delegation is expected to arrive in France in February to continue the negotiations and sign the contract in April this year.<\/p>\n
A Mistral-class ship is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 personnel.<\/p>\n