France is looking for a buyer after the $1.8 billion deal with Russia for two Mistral-class helicopter carriers fell through last week.
The French President, Francois Hollande, had suspended the sale last November due to concerns regarding Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict. The deal had originally been struck by the former French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2011 and it marked a major shift in Russian arms procurement policy.
The two helicopter carriers have been customised for Russian use and there may be extensive costs to remove such characteristics, but the French government has said there are many countries willing to buy the Mistrals.
The 180-metre, 22,000-tonne vessels are capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing craft, 60 armoured vehicles, 13 battle tanks and as many as 700 soldiers for up to six months. They are also fitted out with a command and control centre and a military hospital. Russia had taken out an option on two more Mistral carriers.
It is believed the French were to pay an undisclosed amount to Russia as a result of the agreement between the two leaders, although the French said this was less than the cost of the contract as the two ships had not been fully completed.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia are rumored to be contemplating the purchase of the carriers, with French newspaper Le Monde quoting an unnamed source as saying that King Salman of Saudi Arabia wants to build a strong fleet in Egypt capable of projecting regional power in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.
Other countries, including Brazil, Canada, China, India and the United States are said to be also interested.