France Offers Russia a 785 million Euro Buyout Deal for the Mistrals

[CxxTxx]

!!!

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/World/2015/May-15/298083-france-offers-russia-785-mln-euros-to-ditch-warship-deal-report.ashx

 

[Arjen]

Mistrals sold to Egypt:
http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/egypt-buys-two-mistral-class-warships-from-france-according-to-french-government-1.10881118

PARIS - Egypt has agreed to buy two Mistral-class warships from France, the French government said Wednesday, announcing its second military sale to the economically-strapped country this year.

The assault ships, which can each carry 16 helicopter gunships, 700 troops and up to 50 armored vehicles, were originally intended for Russia. France continued building to Russia's specifications -- including stenciling Cyrillic writing throughout the vessels --until the deal finally fell apart because of the Ukrainian crisis. It was originally supposed to be the biggest arms sale ever by a NATO country to Russia.


France agreed to refund 950 million euros ($1 billion) already paid by Russia. France didn't say how much Egypt agreed to pay, but denied losing money.


Egypt also purchased 24 advanced fighter jets from France earlier this year for nearly $6 billion, as it sought international help to bomb Islamic State targets.


The Egyptian government has been battling a long-running insurgency in the northern Sinai region, which escalated after the military ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013 amid massive protests against his rule and cracked down on Islamic groups. A local Islamic State affiliate has been claiming responsibility for militant attacks in the area.

 

[Flyaway]

Meanwhile, Egypt has signed a contract with Russia covering the delivery of 50 Kamov Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters, a Russian military diplomatic source told TASS Agency on 23 September. Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport declined to comment on the claim.

The source did not confirm whether the helicopters would be delivered in the navalised variant that the Russian Navy ordered for the Mistrals before the cancellation, but revealed it was a possibility. "If Egypt deems it necessary, the Ka-52K ship-based version will be supplied," he said.

The source pointed out that the Mistrals built for Russia were designed to operate coaxial-rotor aircraft, such as the Ka-52K and Ka-27-series helicopters. "The hangars to house the machines on the Mistral-class ships Egypt intends to buy are designed for coaxial-rotor machines because they are somewhat higher than helicopters with main and tail rotors," he said.

A report released by Russia's Research and Production Corporation Precision Systems and Instruments (SPC CPR) in August had already revealed that it would supply about 50 OES-52 electro-optical sights from 2016-19 to equip Ka-52 helicopters ordered by Egypt.

http://www.janes.com/article/54780/egypt-to-buy-the-two-ex-russian-mistral

 

[covert_shores]

What will Egypt do with these? Interventions in North Africa etc?

 

[Moose]

What will Egypt do with these? Interventions in North Africa etc?

King Salman is apparently foot part of the bill so I'd imagine regional security/anti-terror/anti-insurgency missions are top of the docket.

 

[TomS]

They were trying to get Egypt to throw in on Yemen; maybe this is part of the deal?

My initial thought was that they wanted them as secure "lilypads" to operate against IS in Sinai. They've had a terrible time securing their ground bases there.

 

[Grey Havoc]

That Ka-52K order has been officially confirmed by Russian Helicopters:
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/egyptian-navy-buys-46-ka-52k-attack-helicopters-420479/

 

[Grey Havoc]

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42319

 

[Sferrin]

I wonder how many months until Egypt turns around and sells them to Russia.

 

[Moose]

I wonder how many months until Egypt turns around and sells them to Russia.

I know the Sputnik/RT crowd's been selling this idea hard, but not a chance. Salman will make Sisi's life a living hell, and Europe won't be riding in on any white horses to save him.

 

[Grey Havoc]

A couple of old but relevant posts from the Vladivostok Amphibious Assault Ship thread:

Egypt Takes Delivery of Second Mistral Warship

NANTES, France, Sept 16 (Reuters) – Egypt took delivery of a second French Mistral helicopter carrier on Friday, part of a $1 billion deal signed last year. Egypt took over...

gcaptain.com

Russian delegation to arrive in Egypt to discuss delivery of equipment

Russian delegation to arrive in Egypt to discuss delivery of equipment for Mistral-class LHDs . A Russian delegation h

www.navyrecognition.com

And a few more recent posts from the Egypt Obtains MiG-35 & Ka-52 thread:

Are they meant for operation on the Gamal Abdul Nassr and Anwar Saadat Mistral-class BPC ships?

I suppose so :

Russian-made Ka-52 and Apache helicopters meet face-to-face in Egypt

Russian-made Kamov Ka-52 and AH-64D Apache attack helicopters of Egyptian Air Force were spotted during Egyptian Naval Forces amphibious landing exercises in the Mediterranean on 11 December 2019. The Scramble Magazine reported that Egyptian Air Force Ka-52 and AH-64D Apache helicopters were...

defence-blog.com

According to the link posted by Galgot, it's not yet done: "negotiations are underway with Egypt on the sale of a batch of ship-borne Ka-52K helicopters to be based on two Egyptian Mistral UDCs".
So these appear to be land-based. Sat photos spotted them at Al Khatamia AB, too.

If I recall correctly, the air force's Ka-52s have done some flying off the Egyptian Mistrals (Gamal Abdel Nasser sub-class).