MOSCOW -- Egypt and Russia are still in negotiations on outfitting Egypt's two Mistral helicopter carriers with Russian military hardware.
On October 17, 2018, Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation provided an update to TASS Russian News Agency on the status of negotiations with Egypt on equipping that country's Mistral helicopter carriers. Director Dmitry Shugayev stated, "We are negotiating. It is such a serious topic, now we have an active stage of talks.
"We hope to reach an agreement soon," Shugayev added, without offering further specifics.
Egypt has been in talks with Russia for several years over providing the Mistral systems with Russian equipment, such as weapons, communications equipment, and electronic warfare hardware. The Egyptian military may also procure Ka-52K maritime helicopters for use with the Mistrals, but Russian officials have indicated that discussions on the helicopter wing will follow the general equipment negotiations.
The update on the negotiations comes after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's visit to Russia, which began Oct. 15. TASS reported that, as part of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Sisi received a presentation on the Russian defense industry.