France suspends delivery of helicopter carriers to Russia because of Ukraine

Wednesday, November 26th 2014 - 10:10 UTC

Full article 18 comments

France suspended indefinitely on Tuesday delivery of the first of two Mistral helicopter carrier warships to Russia, citing conflict in eastern Ukraine where the West accuses Moscow of fomenting separatism. Read full article

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Briton
Well done France,

some wanted the royal navy to buy them, but this would not work, and some wanted NATO or the EU to buy it,

either way, France may well end up with two white elephants.
Nov 26th, 2014 - 11:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Rufus
I sincerely doubt that the shipbuilders didn't include a force majeure clause into the contracts which would be a convenient way out for them.

I'm sure that finding another home for two state-of-the-art amphibious warfare ships / helicopter carriers won't be too hard (assuming the Marine Nationale don't have them first). I believe the South Africans were looking at buying a smaller version, but I'm sure that they'd happily upgrade if the price was right.
Nov 26th, 2014 - 11:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Skip
€1.2 billion isn't that much for an economy the size of France.

But nice to see that Russia just keeps getting slapped down. Poor Pooti!
Nov 26th, 2014 - 12:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Conqueror
@2. France already has three. As though France knows how to assault anything! We've seen British troops assaulting and landing on a beach. We've even seen American troops assaulting and landing on a beach. In 1944, British troops landed on THREE beaches. American troops landed on TWO. The French landed on...........!
Nov 26th, 2014 - 01:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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aussiesunshinee
well silly the Russians for giving the contract to France...but I think they have learnt the lesson....no more contracts to the frenchies.......
Nov 26th, 2014 - 01:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Skip
Always picking the losing side Sunshine. Proves you ain't an Aussie.
Nov 26th, 2014 - 01:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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RICO
#4 I think you will find the Free French spearheaded the attack on Paris - or at least it's cafés, restaurants and boulangeries. There are some things the French just do well.
Nov 26th, 2014 - 02:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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BOTINHO
Ultimately, knowing the French, they will conspire an excuse to give the carriers to Russia. In the meantime, they better get the “keys and operating manuals ” back from the Russian naval team already in position in France. Only 400 stationed near the carrier to worry about.

On another note, perhaps Argentina would be interested.

Of course, even at a bargain price, they would have to abide by a contract, which the CFK government is not very good at.

But they can enjoy a nice, wet dream over the prospect of 2 new carriers they can never afford to buy , let alone maintain.
Nov 26th, 2014 - 02:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Britworker
Something tells me that the fact the Russia are not kicking up a stink about it means that this all for show and pre scripted.
Nov 26th, 2014 - 03:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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CaptainSilver
#8 I agree, it could give our subs some nice new targets to practice on. Problems for the Argies:

Pariah/axis of evil reputation proscribed by US, UK, Europe and NATO to be prevented from obtaining offensive weapons.
Zero credit score
No servicable helicopters or pilots
No escort frigates or destroyers
Nov 26th, 2014 - 04:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Briton
No doubt very soon, we will hear on the news that the ships have mysteriously disappeared from French ports and arrived in Russian territory,

and the French suddenly get amnesia. lol
Nov 26th, 2014 - 09:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Corvus corax
@4 Conqueror

The Free French and those who worked for The Resistance landed on remote places, with just as much threat as to being killed soon after arrival as those who waded ashore on D-Day.

Maybe just book a day with 'the rest of the ''rg'' trolls' and learn something that wasn't written in crayon.
Nov 26th, 2014 - 11:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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ilsen
12# Corvus corax
re# 4
please don't take him seriously! You will just waste your energy.
Nov 27th, 2014 - 04:31 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Briton
The French aint silly, someone will get the ships.
Nov 27th, 2014 - 01:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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ilsen
I like to imagine 'pootie' having a massive sulk and throwing crockery about. ..
:)
Nov 27th, 2014 - 03:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Corvus corax
@13 ilsen.

I stopped taking him seriously years ago.

He does however represent the worst kind of views 99% of the time which only ever lowers the tone of the place.
Nov 27th, 2014 - 07:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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ilsen
Okay
:-)
Nov 27th, 2014 - 07:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Briton
Laughable really when you think abt it,

France has spare ships she don't want
Britain needs spare ships that she don't have,
and I presume Russia has paid for one of the ships, it has not received.
Nov 27th, 2014 - 08:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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