Putin's Mistrals

[JRT]

(link to higher resolution picture)

Egypt to Buy French Warships Initially Built for Russia


by Eric Haun | MarineLink

Wednesday, September 23, 2015, 12:44 PM


France has agreed to sell two Mistral helicopter carriers to Egypt for 950 million euros ($1.06 billion) after their sale to Russia was canceled in August, French officials said on Wednesday.

Cairo has sought to boost its military power in the face of a two-year insurgency based across the Suez Canal in the Sinai peninsula and fears the conflict in neighbouring Libya could spill over. Egypt's allies are also keen to burnish its image in a region beset by turmoil.

"We unwound the contract we had with Russia, on good terms, respectful of Russia and not suffering any penalty for France," Hollande told reporters on his arrival at an EU summit in Brussels.

"Yesterday, I agreed the price and conditions of this sale with (Egyptian) President (Abdel Fattah al-) Sisi and so France will ensure the delivery of these ships without losing anything, while helping protect Egypt."

A French defence ministry source said the contract was worth about 950 million euros, but unlike the deal with Moscow would not include any technology transfer.

As of yet there had been no talks on the potential armament for the carrier, which can hold up to 16 helicopters and 1,000 troops.

"The ships should be handed over in early March after the training of about 400 Egyptians and some final tests," the source said.

A diplomatic source said Cairo wanted to base one ship in the Mediterranean and another in the Red Sea, making it available for future operations in Yemen, where Egypt is part of a Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels.

The French government agreed to reimburse 950 million euros to Moscow last month after the Mistral sale to Russia was canceled as a result of the Ukraine crisis.

The deal with Egypt comes as France has nurtured new links with Sunni Arab states, which appreciate its tough stance on their Shi'ite rival Iran and similar positions on the region's conflicts.

France has also benefited from what some Gulf countries perceive as disengagement from a traditional ally, the United States.

One source close to the matter told Reuters in August any deal with Egypt would likely be part-financed by Gulf Arab states.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia agreed at the end of July to work together to create a joint Arab military force.

The Mistral is known as the "Swiss army knife" of the French navy for its versatility. The sale will take the number of French naval vessels sold to Egypt to seven in just two years.

Egypt last year bought four small Gowind warships, built by Mistral manufacturer DCNS, which is 64 percent owned by the French state and 35 percent by defence group Thales.

It also acquired a French frigate as part of a 5.2 billion euro contract for 24 Rafale warplanes earlier this year, France's first overseas export of the fighter jet.


($1 = 0.8953 euros)


(By Jean-Baptiste Vey and John Irish; Additional reporting by James Regan; Editing by Tom Heneghan)

[JRT]

"Egypt and Saudi Arabia agreed at the end of July to work together to create a joint Arab military force."

It will be interesting to see if Saudi Arabia might also acquire some FMS Bell AH-1Z/UH-1Y helicopters.
...maybe also some remanufactured/improved/updated CH-46.

[JRT]

The story below mentions that, "...conveniently, Egypt already owns Russian-made helicopters that are of the same kind originally planned for the decks of the two Mistrals..."

Egypt buys 2 warships from France, 2nd big military purchase

By LORI HINNANT and SYLVIE CORBET

PARIS (AP) — Egypt has agreed to buy two assault ships from France, the French government said Wednesday, dramatically increasing its capabilities on- and off-shore as the country tries to assume a more prominent role against Islamic State militants.

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 Ukraine 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 has agreed to pay, but denied losing money. A military official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the deal said Egypt would pay 950 million euros ($1 billion) for both ships, which will be delivered next March.

Russia had traditionally supplied Egypt's military, but the country has turned more recently toward Western arms purchases, with France taking a leading role. Egypt bought 24 advanced fighter jets from France earlier this year for nearly $6 billion, as it sought international help to bomb IS targets.

President Francois Hollande said he and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi closed the deal Tuesday after several weeks of talks.

"France will assure delivery of these boats while losing nothing, and by doing so protecting Egypt," Hollande said. He noted French military cooperation with Egypt and Egypt's "important role" in the Middle East.

He said el-Sissi underscored the role of the Suez Canal and "how important it is for Europe, for the Middle East, for trade that the Suez Canal be protected."

Analysts said it was unlikely that Egypt would re-sell the ships to Russia given the increasing value of its relationship with France. And the military official said it was not permitted for the buyer of a warship to re-sell without permission from the original seller.

But, conveniently, Egypt already owns Russian-made helicopters that are of the same kind originally planned for the decks of the two Mistrals, the official said.

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 IS affiliate has been claiming responsibility for militant attacks in the area.

Peter Roberts, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and a former Royal Navy officer, said Egypt's military is shifting its focus, previously on the Sinai, to a more regional outlook.

"It does provide an interesting window into the decision-making of Egypt's leaders at this moment," he said.

Analysts said the purchase showed Egypt's attempt to take a more muscular role in the region, notably with the disintegration of Yemen and Libya.

"The reality is that Egypt isn't going to try to conquer Libya or Yemen," said Ben Moores, an analyst with IHS Janes. "It's not trying to change those countries. It's just trying to keep a lid on them."

[Stitch]

How far up the Nile can you go with those things? Up to the Aswan High Dam? Is the Nile even navigable that far up, or would they have to keep it in the Med and the Red Sea?

[Skywatcher]

How far up the Nile can you go with those things? Up to the Aswan High Dam? Is the Nile even navigable that far up, or would they have to keep it in the Med and the Red Sea?

Nope.

Wonder if this makes the Egyptian purchase of a second FREMM more likely?

[tbm3fan]

The part missing from this is the Russian reaction. When this was announced the Russians then said they would be building their own and they would be "better" than what the French built for them.

Oook, let's see now would that be in 5 years, 10 years, or 15 years? I remember that the Russians were once big on 5 year plans.

[Stitch]

The part missing from this is the Russian reaction. When this was announced the Russians then said they would be building their own and they would be "better" than what the French built for them.

Oook, let's see now would that be in 5 years, 10 years, or 15 years? I remember that the Russians were once big on 5 year plans.

If the Admiral Gorshkov/INS Vikramaditya fiasco is any indication of the Russians aircraft carrier building capability, it might be next century before they are complete.