MOSCOW. May 19 (Interfax-AVN) - A contract on the purchase of Mistral-type helicopter carriers from France for the Russian Navy will unlikely be signed before the end of the year, a source familiar with the situation told Interfax-AVN on Thursday.
"Given the scope of the deal, which amounts to 1.5 billion euros, as well as bearing in mind the need for the sides to finish formulating a regulatory and legal framework for the implementation of this contract, it could be signed no earlier than 2012," the source said.
"A round of talks with French partners on the delivery of Mistral ships to Russia took place last week. I can say that pre-contract work has been going according to plan," he said.