MOSCOW, July 25. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia-France joint project of a Russian-built all-terrain vehicle ASTAIS-VBL has been put on ice on the “known political situation” and sanctions against Russia, executive director of the Russian special and military equipment company ASTAIS Vladimir Babaev.

The vehicle will not be presented at the Oboronexpo-2014 exhibition in the Moscow Region, he told ITAR-TASS.

Localization of production in the Russian city Naberezhnye Chelny was earlier reported to start in 2014. At the first stage, Russia would provide body and dashboard, whereas France planned to supply engines, transmission and some other chassis components.

Five to ten vehicles were planned to be produced in the second and third quarters.

A letter of understanding with France has not become a contract, Babaev said declining to give his evaluation of the market for ASTAIS in Russia but saying the Ministry of Defense and others expressed interest.

Light amphibious wheeled ASTAIS-VBL is not the first Russian-French project suspended this year. In spring, Renault Trucks Defense was reported to have frozen development of the infantry combat vehicle Atom in cooperation with Burevestnik, subsidiary of the now sanctioned Russian company Uralvagonzavod. Atom’s prototype was first presented last autumn.

Vehicles of ASTAIS class are not produced in Russia now. ASTAIS-VBL developed by Renault Trucks Defense subsidiary Panhard is multifunctional, air transportable and can carry up to 300 kilogrammes of weapons, such as machine guns and air defence systems, without loss of buyoancy. The armoured vehicle has STANAG 4569 level 1 ballistic protection.