The Russian Navy is continuing discussions...
The chief of the General Staff said on Tuesday that Russia would decide by the end of 2009 whether to purchase a Mistral class amphibious assault ship from France.
"Specialists at different levels are currently studying the Mistral"s specifications, as well as infrastructural and basing requirements for this class of warship," a ministry official told RIA Novosti.
He said training operation, service and maintenance personnel following the ship"s integration into the Russian Navy would demand extra attention.
He also said that a final decision should be based on "a thorough assessment of the effectiveness of [French] technology in the framework of domestic shipbuilding program."
Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin said in late November that Russia could build its own helicopter carrier on a par with the French Mistral-class warship, and that the Defense Ministry could contract the United Shipbuilding Corporation to build it.