An aerial view shows the Mistral-class helicopter carrier Vladivostok constructed for Russia at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in the port of Montoir-de-Bretagne near Saint Nazaire, western France, September 22, 2014. REUTERS/Ste
An aerial view shows the Mistral-class helicopter carrier Vladivostok constructed for Russia at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in the port of Montoir-de-Bretagne near Saint Nazaire, western France, September 22, 2014. Reuters/Stephane Mahe

Russia will soon be building its own warships, Russian Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Rear Admiral Victor Bursuk said over the weekend. Admiral made the announcement on Russia's frustrations over France, which is said to be delaying the turnover of its Mistral-class ships.

Russia and France, via French ship builder DCNS, signed in 2011 a contract for the construction Mistral-class ships, a warship that can carry helicopters. The deal was worth 1.2 billion euro. The Vladivostok, the first carried, was expected to be in Russia's hands by the end of 2014, while the second ship, the Sevastopol, is expected in 2015.

Russia's involvement in the ongoing tensions in Ukraine has caused a dent on the deal. Moreover, sanctions imposed by global nations, including France, have added factor to the delays, which ultimately irked Russia. But DCNS told the Western nations their sanctions cannot prohibit the construction and transfer of Mistral ships to the country.

Bursuk told Echo of Moscow radio over the weekend the deal of the Mistral helicopter carriers was executed because "it was one of military-technical cooperation contracts." He went on to say that future construction of ships of this kind will be built at Russian enterprises.

French President Francois Hollande in September had said he will disapprove the transfer of the Vladivostok vessel unless Ukraine situation improves. He explained the conditions surrounding the delivery of the ship is a political statement to the conflict.

Sergei Ivanov, Kremlin chief of staff, said on Thursday Russia will not have second thoughts and will sue France if the latter fails to honor the Mistral contract. "We will file a lawsuit and demand compensation [if the contract is not fulfilled], as it's commonly done in a civilized world," Ivanov told reporters.

The Vladivostok has finished a series of tests in September. It took off from the Saint-Nazaire French port for sea trials.

Russian news agency TASS, quoting an unidentified source from the French Defence Ministry, said that "despite France's hesitations," the first Mistral helicopter carrier will be delivered to Russia "by mid-November." The carrier can carry 16 helicopters. It has a displacement of 21 tonnes, maximum body length of 210 metres, speed of 18 knots and a range of up to 20,000 miles. It can also carry several dozen armoured vehicles.