United Instrument Corporation Ready to Outfit Mistral Ships on Delivery:CEO

MOSCOW, December 25 (Sputnik) — The Russian company commissioned to outfit the two French Mistral-class helicopter carriers with radio-electronics systems is ready to proceed with its work, should the currently suspended deliveries of the ships go through, the chief executive officer of United Instrument Corporation (UIC) told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"Our enterprises are tasked with equipping the French helicopter carriers with command, control and communication systems. These systems are designed to suit all the requirements of the Russian Navy for warships of this class," Alexander Yakunin said.

Yakunin added that the company is "ready to continue equipping the helicopter carriers," in the event the handover goes through.

Earlier on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Russian television that France would be unable to resell the two Mistral-class helicopter carriers to other countries due to the "made-for-Russia" design of the ships.

According to the terms of the $1.5 billion contract signed in June 2011, France was due to deliver the first of the two Mistral-class helicopter carriers, the Vladivostok, to the Russian Navy by November 14. However, French President Francois Hollande suspended the delivery, citing Russia's alleged role in the ongoing Ukrainian crisis.

Moscow has repeatedly denied its involvement in the Ukrainian conflict and warned paris that IT would face large penalties should it fail to deliver on its contractual obligations.

United Instrument Corporation (UIC) was established in March 2014. It is part of the Rostec State Corporation, which specializes in radio-electronic research and production.