Egypt May Buy Ka-52 Gunships for its French Mistral Ships Formerly Meant for Russia

Russia and Egypt are currently holding talks on the latter’s purchase of additional Ka-52 attack helicopters for Mistral amphibious assault ships, originally built by France for Russia.

"We intend to further outfit Egypt’s Mistral ships with our armament and Ka-52 helicopters," Dmitry Shugayev, Head of the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, was quoted as saying by TASS, in the run-up to the Russia-Africa Summit opening in Sochi city, Russia, on Wednesday.

Russia bought two French Mistrals for Euro 1.2 billion in 2011. In November 2014, France suspended the contract, citing Moscow's alleged participation in the Ukrainian conflict as a reason to terminate the deal. The deal was formally axed in August 2015.

Egypt then emerged as Paris’ replacement customer with Cairo inking a nearly Euro 850 million (around $950 million) contract for the helicopter carriers in September of the same year. Two months later, Egypt agreed to buy communication systems and 46 Ka-52Ks for the Mistrals. Delivery of Egyptian Mistrals were concluded in 2016.

Aside of rotorcraft, Russia has put electronic warfare and air defense systems on the table before Egypt, Shugayev said.

Late 2018, the US approved Cairo’s request of buying ten AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.