Egypt to receive French helicopter carriers

Egypt is to receive French Mistral-class helicopter carriers on Thursday, local media have reported.

Al-Ahram newspaper reported the ship was named after former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, who served as president from June 1956 until 28 September 1970.

The newspaper also revealed that the Egyptian Minister of Defence, Sedki Sobhi, will be in the French city of Toulouse to hoist the Egyptian flag on the carrier, initiating it into service.

The ceremony will be attended by French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Commander of the Egyptian Naval Forces Admiral Osama Rabie, and members of the Egyptian diplomatic delegation in Paris.

This delivery is part of an agreement signed by Egypt and France in October 2015