Mistral-class ship improvements to require time, money - defense sector source
MOSCOW. Feb 3 (Interfax-AVN) - The combat effectiveness of the Mistral-type helicopter carriers Russia has ordered from France is rather low and their improvement by Russian industries will take a lot of time and means, a source in the Russian defense industry told Interfax-AVN on Tuesday.
"In fact, Mistral-type ships are civilian barges. These ships are nothing in terms of their naval characteristics and equipment with radio-electronic systems," the source said.
"It would be much more advantageous to reject these ships than to receive them from France and spend a lot of time and money on their improvement. In fact, these are nothing but targets," the expert said.
In his words, the contract compelled Russian defense plants to provide the Mistral-class helicopter carriers with protective gear and other systems.