(VOVworld) - Egypt is about to receive the first of two Mistral-class helicopter landing dock warships from France on Thursday, Egyptian official papers reported.

The Vladivostok warship, the first of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers ordered by Russia, docks on the port of Saint-Nazaire, western France. (Photo by: AP)

When the ship sails from Toulouse, France, it will raise the Egyptian flag. The warship will be named after Egypt’s first president, Gamal Abdel-Nasser. Earlier this month, 170 Egyptian crewmen sailed in a week-long training operation to familiarize themselves with the ship. Another Mistral helicopter carrier, named after the late Egyptian president, Anwar El-Sadat, will be delivered in September, a year after the contract for the two Mistral carriers was finalized, valued at 950 million Euros.‎

France now tops the list of countries who have signed ‎military supply agreements with Egypt, which concluded ‎contracts for 24 Rafale fighters last year.