Egypt May Buy Russian Electronics For Mistral-Class Carrier

A delegation from Egypt is likely to be in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss Russian hardware for the Mistral-class helicopter carriers.

"After the 20th, in about a week, a delegation from Egypt will come to us to discuss possible supplies of certain blocks of radio-electronic equipment for the Mistrals, which Egypt has bought from France," an unnamed source was quoted as saying by Tass last Saturday.

The source said the Russian military equipment export authority, Rosoboronexport, had a meeting, devoted to further use of the equipment.

Egypt signed a contract on two Mistral-class helicopter carriers on October 10. The vessels may be supplied to Egypt in summer, 2016 along with storm boats.

Egypt emerged as France’s replacement customer for Mistrals in September 2015 after Moscow and Paris had terminated the $1.3-billion contract in August as Paris accused Moscow of alleged participation in the internal conflict in Ukraine.

Russia has offered the 5P28 Pobeditel electronic warfare systems and the Kamov helicopters developed for the Mistral warship which France likely to sell to Egypt.

“If Egypt decides to acquire the Mistral helicopter warships, then of course we will offer them the helicopters that we developed just for this ship,” Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec Corporation had said prior to the Egyptian Mistral deal.

Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET), and United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (UIMC) have expressed their readiness to cooperate with the new buyers of French Mistral helicopter carriers.

KRET has offered to equip the Mistral ships with 5P28 Pobeditel electronic defense systems, which are installed on large ships such as aircraft carriers, helicopter carriers, and cruisers, greatly increasing the survivability of the ship.

United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation, another Rostec holding, which has developed communication and control systems for the Mistral, has agreed to adapt the Russian systems for Egypt.