Russia Okay With French Mistral Carriers Sale To Egypt

Russia is likely not to interfere with French Mistral helicopter carriers sale to Egypt as it stands to gain helicopter deals.

Egypt has agreed to buy both the French Mistral helicopter carriers that were meant for Russia, the French President’s office confirmed on Wednesday.

"They agreed on the principle and the terms of the acquisition by Egypt of the two [ships]," the French President Francois Hollande’s official spokesman told reporters in a statement.

Russian Sputnik however quoted Egyptian official spokesperson has not yet confirmed the deal.  With regard to what has been announced by the French side on the terms of the transaction [or] handover dates, then I have no official comment on this topic at this moment," Mohamed Samir said.

Russia is unlikely to interfere in the deal between France and Egypt on the acquisition of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers, a Russian source in the sphere of military-technical cooperation said Wednesday.

"Egypt is a friendly state for Russia, so if Paris and Cairo did reach an agreement on the acquisition of these ships, Moscow is unlikely to voice any opposition to this agreement," the source told RIA Novosti.

Russia may stand to bag an order for the Kamov helicopters exclusively built to be operated on the Mistral carrier. If Cairo were to retrofit the electronics and communication systems on board the carrier to suit western-made helicopters, then the cost would escalate to several times it original cost.

Paris refused to deliver the two mistral carriers after after US and allied European countries imposed sanctions against Moscow in regard to Ukraine conflicts. and had to pay US $1.3 billion in compensation for the cancellation.