LHD Gamal Abdel Nasser at sea. All Pictures: DCNS
Posted on 06/03/2016 1:32:33 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
France has delivered the first of a series of Mistral warships to Egypt, the Egyptian news website Al Ahram reported Thursday.
The helicopter carriers were initially constructed for the Russian Navy, but France pulled out of the deal following Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.
France paid to Russia 950 million euro ($1 billion) as compensation for breaching the deal.
The official ceremony was attended Egyptian Minister of Defence Sedki Sobhi, the commander of the French naval forces and other top military officials from France and Egypt.
The warship was named after the former president of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser.
A second Mistral carrier is expected to be delivered to Egypt in September, Al Ahram reported.
LHD Gamal Abdel Nasser at sea. All Pictures: DCNS
Old infographic of the Mistral when it was being built for Russia
Delivered to Egypt = paid for by US taxpayers
Smooth move.
What does Egypt need an amphibious assault ship for? Are they going to take the Yemeni Islands in the Red Sea now essentially controlled by Iran? Are they going after the Somali Pirates? Are they going after Jihadis in Libya?
Whatever else it is, it's a big up-yours to Zero, Plugs, Lurch, and Hitlery.
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