"We have agreed everything with President Medvedev - the price, the timeframe, the transfer of technology, and the construction site," Sarkozy said.
"Contract negotiations are over; it only remains to decide when this contract will be signed: The deadline is June 21 because this is when Prime Minister Putin will come to Paris."
Medvedev and Sarkozy agreed earlier on Thursday that a contract will be signed within 15 days.
"We have reached a final agreement that this contract will be signed in 15 days. Two helicopter carriers will be built in France and two more in Russia," Sarkozy said after talks with Medvedev.
Russia and France in January signed an intergovernmental agreement to build two Mistral-class helicopter carriers at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Another two are planned to be constructed later at Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg.
However, contract talks stumbled over Russia's demand for the transfer of sensitive electronic systems.
Mistral ships are equipped with a NATO-standard SENIT-9 naval tactical data system and SIC-21 fleet command system.
It is not clear yet whether France has agreed to include the technology in the deal.
A Mistral-class ship is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 personnel.
France has two Mistral class amphibious assault ships in service and is building a third one.
This is further indications that all is not well with the Russian arms manufacturing unit. Slowly but surely they are getting more and more reliant on the west to provide them with newer and better weapons.
Unfortunately the Soviet edge on technology and innovation is no longer there, and a hapless Russian army has to deal with obsolete junk.
Hover over the circles to see the specification of that part or click on the specs button for the over view.
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