Summary: In 2014, amid international pressure led by the U.S. and the UK, France canceled a deal to sell two Mistral-class helicopter carriers to Russia due to its annexation of Crimea.

Mistral-Class: What You Need to Know and Key Points 

-The cancellation cost France 409 million Euros.

-The Mistral-class, an amphibious assault ship capable of carrying 16 helicopters, 70 vehicles, and 450 soldiers, was later sold to Egypt.

-While the carriers would have bolstered Russia's naval capabilities, they likely wouldn't have significantly altered the conflict dynamics in Ukraine.

The Mistral-Class Deal: How France's Canceled Helicopter Carrier Sale Affected Russia

More than two years have passed since Russia invaded Ukraine, becoming an international pariah in the process and making it hard to imagine any circumstance in which President Vladimir Putin’s government might enter into an arms deal with a NATO nation. 

But such a deal almost happened less than 10 years ago, when France moved to sell two Mistral-class helicopter carriers to Putin.

France canceled the sale amid international pressure. Then-U.S. President Barack Obama urged France to “press the pause button” on the sale. The UK also pressured France to leave the deal. Ultimately, Paris relented to the pressure from its allies, despite taking a financial hit.

“In total, taking into account the result of negotiations with Russia, cancellation of payments, payments to Naval Group, modifications and the sale of the ships to Egypt, this transaction cost France 409 million Euros,” France’s national audit office said in its report on the canceled sale, according to SLDinfo.com. 

France was pressured to cancel the sale as a result of Putin’s 2014 decision to invade and annex the Crimean peninsula, a move that now seems a harbinger of its later, full-scale invasion. France was forced to reimburse Russia 949.75 million Euros for canceling the order. 

“It is understood the core repayment was based on Russian advance payment for the first ship – Vladivostok – which had been built and was ready for delivery, and partial advance payment on the second vessel – Sevastopol – which had yet to be completed when [then-French President Francois] Hollande called the deal off,” SLDinfo.com reported. 

After the canceled sale to Russia, France sold the Mistrals to Egypt.

What is the Mistral-Class?

France’s Mistral class is known as either an amphibious assault ship or a helicopter carrier, and it can be considered something of the little brother to the aircraft carrier. Like the aircraft carrier, the helicopter carrier was designed to project power abroad, although to a more modest effect. 

The Mistral is designed to transport helicopters in use with the French military, in particular the NH90 and the Tiger. The NH90 is a multirole helicopter renowned as the first helicopter to rely on fly-by-wire controls. The Eurocopter Tiger is an attack helicopter often found in Western European militaries. 

The Mistral is not limited to just the NH90 and the Tiger; the class is flexible and can host foreign helicopters, most notably the American MH-53 Sea Dragon.   

In total, the Mistral has the capacity to hold 16 helicopters. (As a point of reference, a U.S. supercarrier can transport around 100 fighter jets.) 

In addition to the helicopters, the Mistral-class can transport four landing craft and 70 vehicles. It can also carry 450 soldiers to be deployed ashore from the Mistral’s deck, according to Naval Technology – hence the amphibious assault ship moniker. Should the need arise, the Mistral can be configured to accommodate up to 900 personnel. 

To augment the strength of the soldiers, the Mistral is also used to carry French tanks such as the Leclerc, a third-generation main battle tank that has been in use with the French since 1992. 

The Mistral is a capable vessel, and it is understandable that France’s allies objected to the planned sale to Russia. Russian vessels have not been impervious during the Russo-Ukraine War. A number of ships have been successfully targeted and sunk – most famously the Moskva, formerly the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet before its sinking in 2022. 

Would these ships have helped Russia’s efforts in invading their neighbor? Sure, the Mistrals wouldn't have hurt. But it is unlikely that two helicopter carriers would have tilted the conflict very far in Russia’s favor. 

About the Author: Harrison Kass 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,300 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

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