In the first major arms deal between Russia and a NATO member, the French government has agreed to sell the controversial Mistral warship to Russia.
The Russian government had expressed interest in buying three more assault ships. A decision on the request would be taken in the coming weeks, Jacques de Lajugie, head of international development at the French arms agency DGA, announced at a press conference Monday.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy approved the sale of one Mistral assault ship after months of discussions with his defense officials.
Last year, France sent one of the helicopter carriers in Mistral series to St. Petersburg indicating its interest in a potential sale.
According to the French government's defense and weapons agency DGA, the country's arms exports increased by 21 per cent in 2009.
France's plan to sell Russia advanced technology that could be used in a confrontation with another country had caused concern among Georgia and other NATO members.
Although Russia crushed with heavy hand a Georgian attack in August 2008, its military hardware was exposed as outdated during the five-day war.
Incidentally, it was Sarkozy who mediated a peace deal to end hostilities between the neighboring nations and avert a showdown between NATO warships and Russian forces at the Black Sea coast.
Lajugie neither disclosed the cost of the ship nor the details of when or where it will be built. The deal has not yet been signed.
The BBC quoted a US official who is part of Defense Secretary Robert Gates' entourage to Paris as saying Monday that "we have questions" for France about the order.
Marketed by French naval concern DCNS, Mistral is estimated by analysts to cost at least $410 million.
The 21,300-ton, 299-meter-long Mistral is an amphibious assault ship able to carry helicopters, troops, armored vehicles and tanks thousands of miles.
Defense analysts say possession of the advanced warship would significantly increase the Russian military's capability to mount quick offensives. The Mistral can anchor in coastal waters and deploy troops on land, a capability the Russian navy now lacks.
Aiming to increase the combat readiness of Russian armed forces, President Dmitry Medvedev had announced last year plans for a comprehensive military rearmament.
Higher oil revenues in recent years have allowed Kremlin to increase the military budget, allowing it to allocate nearly $140 billion on buying arms over the next two years.
Last month, Russian Defense Ministry announced that the navy would strengthen its Baltic fleet with equipment upgrades and streamlining of personnel.
It was followed a week later by the successful testing of "fifth generation" jet Sukhoi T-50, which is invisible to radar and considered as a potential rival to the US F-22 Raptor.
The development and test-flight of Russia's first stealth fighter jet is seen as a significant milestone in efforts to modernize its Soviet-era military hardware.
Senior Russian military officials estimate the warplane will pose a challenge to American military dominance of the skies when it is first pressed into service in 2015.
Many of the aircraft's capabilities remain secret but officials have described the T-50 as the first Russian fighter equipped with radar-evading stealth technology.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.