And the Mistral's are going to....Egypt!!!...wait, what?

[Sakai007]

http://news.yahoo.com/france-says-egypt ... c_src=copy

I can understand the FREMM warships and Rafale 'omni-role' fighters, but two Mistral helo assault ships? Honestly didn't see that one coming.

[Dysta]

To my understanding, it is a middle-eastern arm race, especially the global effect from Yemen war and Syrian chaos. Egypt surely could use her money from canal passing fees for the navy.

[AlGrant]

ORIGINAL: Dysta
Egypt surely could use her money from canal passing fees for the navy.

And the recent find of a 'Supergiant' gas field just off Egypt's coast won't do them any harm when it comes to funding further purchases. Even if they don't become an exporter they won't be paying to import gas from Israel.
http://globalriskinsights.com/2015/09/supergiant-gas-field-could-transform-egypts-energy-industry/

[RoryAndersonCDT]

If Egypt turns around and sells the Mistrals to russia I will laugh [:D]

[Dysta]

ORIGINAL: Baloogan

If Egypt turns around and sells the Mistrals to russia I will laugh [:D]

Or laugh even harder if French-Egypt deal breaks again.

[SSN754planker]

Pretty sure there is a no resale clause in the contract. US does similar terms when we sell ships to other countries.

[ExNusquam]

ORIGINAL: Baloogan

If Egypt turns around and sells the Mistrals to russia I will laugh [:D]

IIRC, the purchase of the Mistrals is being funded in part by the Saudis, who have no love of Russia at the moment.

[thewood1]

Does Egypt have experience running large and complex ships like that...I would have thought the Saudi navy would buy them before Egypt.

[ExNusquam]

ORIGINAL: thewood1

Does Egypt have experience running large and complex ships like that...I would have thought the Saudi navy would buy them before Egypt.

Egypt's navy is larger and more diverse than the Saudi force, which is composed of a couple of frigates and a decent number of patrol vessels. I don't think Egypt has experience operating large ships like a Mistral (Until this year the biggest ship they had was an FFG-7), but Egypt has a significant number of amphibious landing craft. The pre-existing amphibious capability means they can put the Mistral to actual use once in service.

[Casinn]

I'd imagine France would be happy to train with them for future deals or basing rights or similar?

[AlGrant]

ORIGINAL: Casinn

I'd imagine France would be happy to train with them for future deals or basing rights or similar?

I would guess so.
DCNS have just handed over a FREMM frigate to Egypt. Part of the deal includes a 5 year support package. DCNS also built the Mistral's so I suspect it would include something similar.
http://www.janes.com/article/52534/egypt-receives-its-first-fremm-frigate

And it says 'operational training' provided by DCI-NAVFCO ttp://www.groupedci.com/en/activities/navfco/


Obviously operational 'training' is a different matter to actually deploying on real world operations!

[AlanChan]

I think every one would be happy about the deal:
Saudis had Pakis secured its boarders with Yemen, now it has Egyptians doing offensives for them, spared their army which wasted too much Abrams, Apache and AMXs.
Egyptians got new toy and a new way of generating revenues for their nation- army outsourcing.
Americans sell Saudis more Abrams, Apache, probably PAC-3 MSEs.
Frenches get rid of those two Mistrals, plus sold a few Rafale and FREMMs.
Russians sold a few Ka-50/52, probably a few "retired" Russian pilots would operate them on broad Mistrals, they still get the experience of operating Heli on LHAs.
Chinese could keep selling light arms, ATGMs to both sides and could buy debris of Abrams and Apaches from local elders for a few million bucks.

You see, except Yemenis, every body is happy.