Russia to Give France Until February to Deliver Carrier: Defense Official

Representative of the Russian Defense Ministry said that Russian authorities will make decision about Mistral deal with France after February, 2015.

MOSCOW, January 14 (Sputnik) – The Russian Defense Ministry will not take any action until February over France’s failure to deliver the first Mistral-class helicopter carrier, a high-ranking Russian military source told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

“We’ll wait until February and then we’ll make a decision depending on the situation,” the source said.

On Tuesday, the official from the Defense Ministry's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation told RIA Novosti that Moscow has sent Paris an official inquiry about its failure to deliver the Mistral.

Mistral Amphibious Assault Helicopter Carrier

© Sputnik

The official said that to proceed with the issue, either by taking the case to court or giving France more time, Moscow requires a written explanation of the current situation.

The $1.5 billion deal for the delivery of two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships was signed in 2011 between Russian state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport and French shipbuilder DCNS. The first carrier, the Vladivostok, was due by November 14, 2014. However, French President Francois Hollande announced the suspension of the delivery, citing Russia’s alleged role in the Ukrainian conflict.

In early December, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called any speculation about the contract's cancellation “premature.”

Russian experts estimate that if France fails to fulfill its contractual obligations, it could face penalties up to $10 billion.