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Egypt Receives First Mistral Warship Originally Intended For Russia

Stephane Mahe / Reuters

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.

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