The first “Mistral” to Russia went on teaching – Russian Newspaper

The first "Mistral" to Russia went on teaching – Russian Newspaper

Russian sailors together with the French instructors on board the helicopter “Vladivostok” early Saturday morning left the port of Saint-Nazaire, that on the Atlantic coast of France.

They ahead of a 10-day training voyage, during which, in practice, will consolidate the skills learned in more than two months of training after the end of June a training ship “Smolny” delivered 400 sailors from St. Petersburg in Saint-Nazaire.

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In the campaign has gone to 200 people – one of the two Russian crew of the” Mistral “. Earlier it was planned that the “Vladivostok” will set sail on Wednesday, but then postponed deadlines. As we learned from informed sources, this delay was due to “technical in nature” and was not dictated by “considerations of” political nature associated with a hypothetical suspension of the Franco-Russian contract, as previously stated the Elysee Palace.

In fact, despite the hype, raised in recent weeks around the “Mistral” in France, and in other NATO countries, the implementation schedule contract all the time should be implemented strictly. This applies both to learning Russian crews, who will control both ships, and the second “Mistral” – its construction is in full swing at STX in Saint-Nazaire, and should be completed by the end of this year – the beginning of the future.

While the first crew being piloted in the vast Atlantic, the second will continue training “on land.” It is expected that their turn will come Sept. 22, when they will be replaced by on-board helicopter of his comrades, to, in turn, try “Mistral” in the case.

It is assumed that “Vladivostok” will be finally handed over to the Russian side at the end of October – the beginning of November, of course, provided that the French leadership will not interfere with this.

For the successful completion of the contract now actively support the people of Saint-Nazaire, which not so long ago created a citizens’ committee “Mistral, win.” A week ago they held a rally, which was attended by shipbuilders, local merchants, artisans, representatives of municipal bodies.

-That “Vladivostok” went to sea with the Russian crew – good news. This means that the contract is not frozen and is executed as planned – said “the Russian newspaper” one of the leaders of the civil committee, Jean-Claude Blanshar.- know, the project “Mistral” for Russia to have acquired symbolic, moreover, of fundamental importance. If the Parisian authorities will slack obey the dictates of external, forces, requiring the French to cross a contract, by and large, you can put an end to the sovereign country’s position in international affairs. This is not to mention the fact that it would be dealt a blow to the reputation of furious national defense industry in foreign markets, and thus to a loss of jobs in the sector, which now Zayat tens of thousands of French people.