It appears that Russian-French talks on...

President Dmitry Medvedev says Moscow is interested in this deal. Apart from Russia and France, the Mistral contract is being discussed in some other European countries who fear a stronger Russian Navy.

Referred to as "projection and command ships" (French: batiments de projection et de commandement or BPC), Mistral-class ships facilitate the prolonged deployment of marine units and their air cover at remote theaters of war, as well as amphibious landings involving landing craft and helicopters on open beaches.

They can also be used as command and control ships for peacekeeping task forces or as floating bases. Also, their medical facilities can play an important role in disaster areas and war zones.

Ruslan Pukhov, a prominent Russian defense analyst and director of the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, says it would be appropriate to buy a Mistral-class ship along with corvettes and frigates within the context of long-term Russian

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