Russia's Computer Systems Removed After Cancelled Mistral Ship Deal

The two Mistral-class helicopter carriers Sevastopol (L) and Vladivostok are seen at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France, May 25, 2015. REUTERS/STEPHANE MAHE

IBTimes: Mistral Warships: Russian Military To Dismantle Computers, Radar, Specialist Equipment After Canceled Deal

A team of Russian military engineers arrived in France Tuesday to begin the process of taking back specialist computer systems that were installed on the two Mistral warships before the defense deal was formally canceled in early August, according to a Kremlin military source who spoke with Russian news agency Tass. While France looks for a potential buyer for the $1.2 billion helicopter landing ships, it will also need to spend hundreds of millions replacing the unique Russian systems that are being taken away.

Computer systems, specialist radar, sonar and communication devices will also have to be removed from both ships, previously known as the Sevastopol and the Vladivostok.

WNU Editor: This computer system was probably designed to function only in a Mastral ship ... so dismantling it is probably Russia's way to insure that this tech does not find itself on some workbench in some U.S. military/intelligence agency's warehouse. In the meantime .... France is trying to sell these ships to Malaysia .... France to discuss Mistral sale to Malaysia - source (Reuters).