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French warships for Russia wont operate in cold temperature - Minister
January 26, 2013 - 18:48 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Two amphibious assault ships bought for the Russian
Navy from France in a 1.2 billion euro deal will not be able to
operate in temperatures below seven degrees centigrade, Russia's
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin admitted on Saturday, January 26
in critical comments about the contract, RIA Novosti said.
"It's very odd that ships for offloading a landing force, floating in
our latitudes won't work in temperatures below seven degrees," said
Rogozin, who has special responsibilities for the defense industry, in
a meeting of the Academy of Military Science on Saturday. He did not
elaborate on why the ships would not work in cool temperatures.
Russia signed the 1.2 billion euro deal in June 2011 for two of the
Mistral ships, which will carry helicopters to support landings by
marines. The first of the ships is due for delivery in 2014.
Rogozin was appointed to his current post only in December 2011.
The first Mistral is due to be deployed in Russia's Pacific Fleet,
based in the port of Vladivostok, which is ice-free all year round but
still experiences months of severe winter cold. The second is due to
be deployed with the Northern Fleet, which also has ice-free bases,
due to the Gulf Stream, but also experience very cold temperatures for
several months a year.
It is the second time this week that the Mistral deal has come under
fire from a senior defense official. On Thursday, Military-Industrial
Commission Deputy Head Ivan Kharchenko described the deal to buy the
ships as `absurd,' saying the deal had inflicted harm on the Russian
shipbuilding industry.
January 26, 2013 - 18:48 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Two amphibious assault ships bought for the Russian
Navy from France in a 1.2 billion euro deal will not be able to
operate in temperatures below seven degrees centigrade, Russia's
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin admitted on Saturday, January 26
in critical comments about the contract, RIA Novosti said.
"It's very odd that ships for offloading a landing force, floating in
our latitudes won't work in temperatures below seven degrees," said
Rogozin, who has special responsibilities for the defense industry, in
a meeting of the Academy of Military Science on Saturday. He did not
elaborate on why the ships would not work in cool temperatures.
Russia signed the 1.2 billion euro deal in June 2011 for two of the
Mistral ships, which will carry helicopters to support landings by
marines. The first of the ships is due for delivery in 2014.
Rogozin was appointed to his current post only in December 2011.
The first Mistral is due to be deployed in Russia's Pacific Fleet,
based in the port of Vladivostok, which is ice-free all year round but
still experiences months of severe winter cold. The second is due to
be deployed with the Northern Fleet, which also has ice-free bases,
due to the Gulf Stream, but also experience very cold temperatures for
several months a year.
It is the second time this week that the Mistral deal has come under
fire from a senior defense official. On Thursday, Military-Industrial
Commission Deputy Head Ivan Kharchenko described the deal to buy the
ships as `absurd,' saying the deal had inflicted harm on the Russian
shipbuilding industry.