Putin not getting Mistral anytime soon.

   In 2008, Russian tanks crossed their southern border, invading and crushing the military forces of the tiny Republic of Georgia. Georgia's U.S. and European allies raised feeble objections to Russia's incursion -- but little more.

   In fact, just two years after Russia's "short, victorious war" in Georgia, French defense contractor DCNS happily announced the signing of a $1.7 billion contract to sell the Russian Navy a pair of 16,500-ton Mistral-class amphibious warfare ships. Capable of putting ashore an assault force of up to 40 tanks or 900 assault troops -- and carrying as many as 16 combat helicopters -- these ambidextrous aircraft carriers offered Russia's military an unprecedented ability to threaten nearby littoral nations. But then, Russia invaded a second sovereign country.

Infographic by TASS.

   And this was the straw that broke the Mistral's back.

   So long, Mistral.
   The first of France's Mistrals, tentatively named the "Vladivostok," was scheduled to be delivered to Russia on Nov. 14. Under pressure from allies, however, French President Francois Hollande announced last week that he is "suspending" its delivery.

   As Hollande's office explained in a statement: "The president of the republic considers the present situation in east Ukraine still does not allow the delivery" of the Mistral. Which makes sense -- not giving Russia weapons at the same time when it's using those weapons to attack its neighbours.

   This does, however, pose a problem for DCNS, one of France's biggest defense contractors. Russian state news outlet TASS reports that Russia may sue France for breach of contract if it fails to deliver the warships -- demanding as much as $3.7 billion in damages. And even if the lawyers don't get it, DCNS still stands to lose the $1.7 billion purchase price.

Or not
   One possibility that's been mooted to ease DCNS' pain is that NATO could buy France's Mistrals. After all, Europe hasn't been spending anywhere near the 2%-of-GDP goal that NATO sets for defense spending among its members. They could certainly use the extra armament.

America's mini-aircraft carrier, the USS America (LHA-6),
is twice the size of France's Mistral -- but at $3.4 billion
each, costs almost four times as much. Source: U.S. Navy.

   Others have suggested that the Mistral's size -- about half that of an American America-class warship, or equivalent in size to Japan's fleet of so-called helicopter destroyers -- and its low price -- roughly one-quarter that of these vessels -- might fit well within the U.S. Navy as a sort of mini-aircraft carrier.

   A third option recently surfaced, however, in the pages of Canada's National Post. Canada, which is currently in the midst of a $50 billion project to rebuild and expand its navy, could buy the Mistrals as part of that effort. This naturally would cause defence contractors in Canada and the States to scream bloody murder as they hoped to carve up that cash. Personally this option to me is the best as they would be a great asset to the Canadian Forces giving them a capability they lack at present but sadly Ottawa has never been known for making smart decisions on military procurement.