LHD Mistral 3D model

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The French Navy operates a fleet of five state-of-the-art amphibious assault ships, known as helicopter carriers. These versatile vessels are dubbed projection and command ships (BPC) in the French military. A Mistral-class ship boasts impressive capabilities, with room to transport and deploy up to 16 NH90 or Tiger helicopters, four landing barges, 70 vehicles including 13 AMX Leclerc tanks, a 40-strong Leclerc tank battalion, and 450 soldiers on board. The ships also feature a fully-equipped 69-bed hospital. As part of NATO's Response Force or as peace-keeping forces for the United Nations or European Union, these ships can play a critical role in global operations. Currently, three Mistral-class vessels are in service with the French Navy: Mistral, Tonnerre, and Dixmude. In 2010, then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced plans to sell two ships to Russia, signing the deal on January 25, 2011. However, a year later, President François Hollande postponed delivery of Vladivostok due to escalating tensions in Ukraine. By August 5, 2015, French and Russian leaders agreed that France would refund payments for the two ships, and they were eventually sold to Egypt as Gamal_Abdel_Nasser L1010 and Anwar El Sadat L1020.