Mistral-class helicopter carrier to join Russian Black Sea Fleet

Russia's Black Sea Fleet said Tuesday that it would receive a French-made Mistral-class helicopter carrier, without revealing the exact time of deployment.

"In the near future, we are expecting six advanced frigates of Project 11356 and six submarines. Meanwhile, a Mistral-class assault ship will be among them," fleet commander Alexander Vitko told reporters.

The announcement came after Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier this month that Moscow planned to allocate more than 86 billion rubles (2.4 billion U.S. dollars) to strengthen its Black Sea Fleet by 2020.

Russia signed a 1.58-billion-dollar deal with a French shipyard in 2011 for two Mistral-class helicopter carriers. The first one is due for delivery in 2014 and the other in 2015.

Meanwhile, Paris confirmed Monday it would complete the deal in line with the agreement, despite the West's worsening relations with Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.

The Mistral-class ship is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armored vehicles and 450 personnel.