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Russia-France Mistral dispute

Second Mistral built for Russia set for new sea trials

The second trials of the Sevastopol helicopter carrier will start tomorrow

© AP Photo/Laetitia Notarianni

PARIS, April 13. /TASS/. The second Mistral-class helicopter carrier built for Russia will go on new sea trials on April 14, a representative of the French shipbuilding company DCNS told TASS on Monday.

"The second trials of the Sevastopol helicopter carrier will start tomorrow," Emmanuel Gaudez said.

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He said the vessel will leave the port of Saint-Nazaire for just three days to test the navigation equipment, floating stability and maneuverability .

The Sevastopol's previous sea trials held in March lasted for a week.

The €1.12 billion contract for the construction of two Mistral-type helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy was signed in June 2011.

Under the contract, Russia was expected to receive the first of the two warships, the Vladivostok, in the autumn of 2014. However, Paris suspended the ship’s handover to Russia at the very last moment over Moscow’s stance on developments in neighboring Ukraine.

It was planned that the second ship, the Sevastopol, would be handed over to Russia in the second half of 2015. But the deal was suspended like in the case with the first Mistral ship.

The Mistral-type helicopter carriers have a displacement of 21 tons, the maximum body length of 210 meters, the speed of 18 knots and the range of up to 20,000 miles.

The helicopter carrier can accommodate 450 people in addition to its crew of 180. It carries 16 helicopters, of which six can be simultaneously stored on the flight-deck.

A compartment in the cargo deck can accommodate more than 40 tanks or 70 motorized vehicles. Mistral landing helicopter carriers are capable of performing four tasks at the same time: receive helicopters, land troops, and act as a command post and a floating hospital.

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