MOSCOW, November 4. /TASS/. Under the contract, France can delay handover of the Vladivostok Mistral-type helicopter carrier to Russia for three more months, a source in the Russian military-technical cooperation system with foreign countries told TASS.

“As for the contract, France has planned a certain time margin which will permit them to drag feet for some time. So, the contract is drafted. This may last not so long, about three more months,” the source said.

A Mistral-type helicopter carrier which is being built in France cannot be handed over to third countries, as the warship has equipment belonging to Russia, the source added.

“The conclusion that we will allegedly not hand over Mistral to Russians now and will resell it to someone does not work, because property is located inside the warship, is already mounted there and this cannot be used without our permit,” the source told TASS.