From AFP, via DefenseNews: Russia is throwing open its planned purchase of a helicopter carrier to a tender involving foreign and Russian firms, ending France’s status as the exclusive bidder, a shipbuilding official said Aug. 19.

Russia has been negotiating with France for months to buy the Mistral-class ships, in its first ever purchase of military hardware from a NATO member state. But talks have been mired by disputes over technology transfer.

The ministry of defense had decided to hold the tender, a spokesman for the Russian umbrella holding of state shipbuilders, the United Shipbuilding Corporation (OSK), told AFP.

"The ministry of defense will launch a tender offer. A commission is being created to organize the tender," said OSK spokesman Igor Ryabov. The defense ministry declined to comment. (photo: Aleksey Danichev, RIA Novosti)

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