Alabino (Moscow region) - Russia has full clarity on Mistral helicopters, but its French partners do not have clarity, Oleg Bochkarev, deputy chairman of the Russian government's commission on military industry, said.
“Russia is ready for any scenario. It’s either we will get the
Mistrals or France will pay us the money back with fines. My subjective
opinion is that it’s better to take the money with fines,” Bochkarev
told Interfax-AVN at the Russian Defense Ministry’s innovations exhibit
that opened in Alabino, Moscow region, on Monday.
France currently confirms that the first Mistral will be supplied to
Russia, he said. “However, you see that they are under some pressure.
The U.S. has made a decision that puts France in an awkward situation,”
Bochkarev said.
