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ENS Anwar El Sadat

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Sevastopol fitting out in Saint-Nazaire, December 2014
History
Russia
NameSevastopol
OrderedJune 2011
Builder
Laid down18 June 2013[1]
Launched20 November 2014[2]
StatusContract cancelled
Egypt
NameAnwar El Sadat
NamesakeAnwar Sadat
Acquired16 September 2016[3]
HomeportAlexandria
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and typeMistral-class amphibious assault ship
Displacement
  • 16,500 tonnes (empty)
  • 21,300 tonnes (full load)
  • 32,300 tonnes (with ballasts)
Length199 m (653 ft)
Beam32 m (105 ft)
Draught6.3 m (21 ft)
Installed power3 × Wärtsilä 16V32 (3 × 6,200 kW (8,300 hp))
Speed18.8 knots (34.8 km/h; 21.6 mph)
Range
  • 10,800 km (5,800 nmi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
  • 19,800 kilometres (10,700 nmi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Armament4 × AN/TWQ-1 Avenger mobile SAM (32 FIM-92 Stinger missiles)[4]
Aircraft carried
  • Former Russian aircraft:
Aviation facilitiesHelicopter deck and hangar

ENS Anwar El Sadat (L1020) is an Egyptian Navy amphibious assault ship, a type of helicopter carrier, of the French Mistral class. It was originally built in France for the Russian Navy as part of a contract for two of these warships and underwent sea trials.[6] The contract with Russia was subsequently cancelled by France and an agreement on compensation was reached with the Russian government. Egypt and France eventually concluded a deal to acquire the two warships for roughly 950 million euros.[7] Egypt is considered the first and only country in Africa and the Middle East to possess a helicopter carrier of such type.[8]

History

[edit]
For other ships with the same name, see Russian ship Sevastopol.

The Russian government placed an order for this and another warship in 2011. The construction of these ships would be shared between both countries, with France building about 60 percent and Russia 40 percent. Work started in Saint-Nazaire, France, on 18 June 2013, and in the Russian Baltiysky Zavod shipyard in St. Petersburg on 4 July 2013.[9] Russia would send its parts to France for final assembly.[10] The ship was originally expected to join the Russian Navy in 2015.[11][12] After final assembly of the main structures in France the ship was then scheduled to go to St. Petersburg, Russia, for the outfitting of additional Russian-specific weapons and subsystems.[citation needed]

The Russian acquisition of these two French Mistral-class amphibious assault ships was considered to be the largest defense deal between Russia and the West since World War II.[13]

In 2014, as criticism of Russian intervention in Ukraine grew, France came under increasing pressure to cancel or suspend the delivery of the two Mistral-class hulls, tentatively named Vladivostok and Sevastopol.[14] Some commentators suggested France try to find alternative customers for the two vessels.[15] In August, 2015, the two governments reached agreement on terms for cancelling the contract; France would keep the ships and fully reimburse Russia.[16]

On 7 August 2015, a French diplomatic source confirmed that President Hollande had discussed the matter with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during his visit to Egypt for the inauguration of the New Suez Canal in Ismailia.[17][18] Subsequently, in October 2015, Egypt and France concluded a deal to acquire the two formerly Russian-bound warships for roughly 950 million euros, which included the costs of training Egyptian crews.[19][20][21] Speaking on RMC Radio, Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Defence Minister, said that Egypt had already paid the whole price for the helicopter carriers.[citation needed]

Beginning in February 2016, 180 Egyptian sailors began training in Saint-Nazaire, France, on the newly renamed landing helicopter dock Gamal Abdel Nasser, with the support of the DCNS (Direction des Constructions Navales Services) and STX France instructors and Défense Conseil International.

On 16 September 2016, DCNS delivered the Anwar El Sadat, which participated in a joint exercise with the French Navy before arriving at its home port of Alexandria on 6 October 2016, coinciding with the country's celebrations of the 43rd anniversary of the 1973 October War against Israel.[8][22]

Aircraft

[edit]
Ka-52K Katran, the ship-based attack helicopter is likely to serve on Egypt's Mistral carriers.

Since receiving its two Mistral-class carriers, Egypt had issued an international tender for the procurement of new maritime helicopters. The Egyptian Navy and Air Force studied several offers for helicopters to use on both carriers.[8] European and Russian manufacturers entered the bidding procedure; NHIndustries and Airbus Helicopters were reported to have offered their NH90 and Tiger helicopters, while Russian Helicopters offered its Ka-52K helicopter.[23][24] By May 2017, the tender had reached its final stage, Russian Helicopters stated that it would intermediary enter into pricing negotiations if the company won the tender.[citation needed] In June 2017, Russia announced it had won the tender for providing the Ka-52K. The head of the FSVTS, Dmitry Shugayev, said that pre-contract work was underway, including final agreement on the helicopter's technical concept and other financial conditions.[25] Egypt is likely to buy the same package intended for the Russian Navy, which includes Ka-52K attack helicopters and Ka-29/31 utility helicopters, before the contract was cancelled by France.[26]

Military exercises

[edit]

Cleopatra 2016/2

[edit]

In October 2016, Anwar El Sadat took part in military exercises jointly conducted by the Egyptian and French navies in the Mediterranean Sea. The drills were held under the code name Cleopatra 2016/2, they were the first for the ship after being delivered to Egypt the previous month. The exercises included a number of activities such as both forces planning and managing naval combat missions.[27]

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anwar al-Sadat (L1020).
  1. ^ "Франция закладывает второй корабль типа "Мистраль" для России | РИА Новости". Ria.ru. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  2. ^ Второй вертолетоносец типа "Мистраль" спущен на воду во Франции
  3. ^ "DCNS delivers the second mistral-class helicopter carrier to the Egyptian Navy, the LHD Anwar El Sadat". 16 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Egyptian Mistrals using Avengers for air defence". 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 15 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Russia's Mistrals will be rapid response ships - News - Society - The Voice of Russia: News, Breaking news, Politics, Economics, Business, Russia, International current events, Expert opinion, podcasts, Video". 12 September 2012. Archived from the original on 26 December 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  6. ^ "Mistral : sortie en mer du "Vladivostok" à Saint-Nazaire, des marins russes à bord" (in French). clicanoo.re. 13 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Egypt agrees to buy warships built for Russia from France". BBC News. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  8. ^ a b c "Egypt is only Middle East country to own Mistral helicopter carriers". 8 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Строительство УДК "Севастополь" - Сделано у нас". Sdelanounas.ru. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  10. ^ "First Mistral Laid Down at Baltiysky Zavod Shipyard". Rusnavy.com. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  11. ^ "Vladivostok, Russian Navy future Mistral class LHD, specificities and characteristics(Navy recognition)". 17 March 2013.
  12. ^ "Russia Moves Mistral Stern Construction to France". 21 June 2013.
  13. ^ "France, U.S. Discuss Russian Mistral Carrier Query | Defense News". defensenews.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  14. ^ Jim Dorschner (September 2014). "A Tale of Two Ships: Turning Russia's Loss into a Mistral Bounty for NATO and Canada – 'NATO Naval Ship Alliance' and 'HMCS Resolute'". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. The September 2014 decision by France to withhold delivery of two Mistral class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), being built for Russia, represents a tremendous opportunity for the NATO alliance, for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), and even for a French shipbuilding industry and economy that might otherwise lose out.
  15. ^ Stephen Daly (April 2014). "French Amphibious Warfare Ships for Russia? Economic Sanctions, Coincident Procurement Opportunities, and the Mistral Class LHDs". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014. Then there is the possibility of poking Vladimir Putin in the eye by taking over ownership of the Sevastopol.
  16. ^ "Mistral warships: Russia and France agree compensation deal". BBC News. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  17. ^ Sallon, Hélène (7 August 2015). "Mistral : l'Arabie saoudite et l'Egypte " sont prêtes à tout pour acheter les deux navires "". Le Monde. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  18. ^ "Egypt, Saudi Arabia 'desperate' to purchase Mistral warships". france24. 7 August 2015.
  19. ^ Regan, James (23 September 2015). "Hollande, Sissi agree on sale of Mistral warships to Egypt". Paris: Reuters. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  20. ^ Dalton, Matthew (23 September 2015). "France to Sell Two Mistral Warships to Egypt". Wall Street Journal.
  21. ^ Cullinane, Susannah; Martel, Noisette (23 September 2015). "France to sell Egypt two warships previously contracted to Russia". CNN.
  22. ^ "DCNS Delivers the Second Mistral-Class Helicopter Carrier to the Egyptian Navy, The LHD Anwar El Sadat". 16 September 2016.
  23. ^ "NH90 or KA-52K: What helicopter for the Egyptian Mistral?". 24 September 2015.
  24. ^ "Egypt still looking for helicopters for its PCBs". 29 April 2016.
  25. ^ "Russia wins contest for providing deck helicopters Ka-52K for Egypt". 19 June 2017.
  26. ^ "Egypt wants to buy Russian helicopters for the "Mistral"". 6 September 2016.
  27. ^ "Egypt, France conclude Cleopatra 2016/2 naval exercises". 7 October 2016.
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