Posted on 06/26/2014 1:09:10 PM PDT by Citizen Zed
Adding to the awkward symbolism, the 22,000-tonne carrier will be named Sevastopol, after the port city in Crimea which Moscow annexed in March.
President Barack Obama urged Paris to "press the pause button" on the project earlier this month. Other NATO allies worry Moscow will use the carriers to threaten its Black Sea neighbours.
But French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius argued France cannot renege on the contract, which was signed in 2011, without incurring penalties of $1.6 billion (1.2 billion euros).
(Excerpt) Read more at expatica.com ...
I am a tad confused here. Why would Russia, which has been building ships for centuries, buy a French made warship? What is it that the Russians can’t do that the French can?
I'm guessing because they're bidding for a ship that'll put to sea and not break down every three days.
This ship is heavily redesigned from the French standard - Autosurrender Systems were deleted.
“This ship is heavily redesigned from the French standard - Autosurrender Systems were deleted. “
Funny! But, seriously, the French have not been successful at sea since...Napoleon? (I don’t think it was due to the ships, though.)
The French have always been, well...French.
Yeah, I don’t know the true state of their naval capabilities myself. Ever since the glory days of Napoleon they sort of seemed content to sit in port and, ah, get blown up by the likes of Churchill’s navy - ooooops!!!
Build quality warships. Meet budgets. Complete ships in less than 12 years. Take your pick.
“I am a tad confused here. Why would Russia, which has been building ships for centuries, buy a French made warship? What is it that the Russians can’t do that the French can?”
The ship in question is a French “Mistral-class” Landing Helicopter Dock that is roughly equivalent to the USN’s LHD Helicopter carriers.
They are designed to operate helicopters and V/Stol jets. They also have a flood-able dock for floating landing craft, hover craft and an embarked landing force equivalent to a re-inforced battalion landing team complete with a dozen LeClerc tanks.
I’m not sure that the Russians have a modern equivalent to this class of vessel. Cheaper to order one from Spain/France or Italy and get it outfitted with your comm gear, radar and air defense systems.
Given their balance of payments picture and employment issues, I’m surprised they could, politically, buy from France instead of locally. Also, all the problems you’ve mentioned should be addressed. (I suspect that corruption is at the bottom of them all, though.) But they’re trying to export their own ships. What does this tell their potential clients?
The French keep referrring to potential financial penalties if they dont deliver on time. penalties to whom? The Ruskies? I’d laugh at them and tell them to sue me as soon as they quit invading neighbors. the fact that they’ve already paid for the carrier makes it double delicious. i’d reneg on the whole deal and tell them to put it on my tab and laugh. do you think Putin wouldnt do the same if the situation was reversed?
That’s a great strategy. I didn’t realize western Europe was energy independent yet.
it’s summer. how much heating gas could they possible need?
Oh totally. And by October the Russians will have totally forgiven a 1.6 billion dollar theft. I say just do it. Oh.. and of course, skip the salad dressing,,, like for the rest of your life.
hehe. but the funny thing about the commodity business is “you no-a ship-a da goods, you no-a gett-a da money” putin needs the cash as much as they need the gas come october.
i hear ya though, its a tough situation to be dependent on them and yet try and influence them at the same time
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