Russia Likely to Install Equipment on Egypt's Mistral Warships

Moscow will likely install equipment on Egypt's Mistral helicopter carriers.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — It is highly likely that Russia will provide equipment for Egypt's Mistral-class helicopter carriers delivered from France, Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport Deputy Director General Igor Sevastyanov said Thursday.

"It is likely that since the deal [on the Mistral delivery] between Egypt and France has been signed and the warship delivery is ongoing, with one [warship] already there and the other one arriving a little bit later, the decision [on the supply of Russian equipment] will be made, the equipment must work," Sevastyanov said at the Eurosatory exhibition.

In August 2015, Paris and Moscow formally terminated the 1.2-billion-euro (some $1.3 billion at current exchange rates) deal on the construction and delivery of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers. Shortly after, French President Francois Hollande confirmed that a deal had been reached with Egypt on the delivery of two Mistrals.

The Eurosatory 2016 international land and air-land defense and security exhibition is taking place on June 13-17 in Paris. Russia's largest small arms maker Kalashnikov Concern, optical electronics Shvabe Holding and other manufacturers are presenting the Russian defense industry at the exhibition along with Rosoboronexport.