PARIS -- Egypt has agreed to buy two Mistral-class warships from France, the French government said Wednesday, announcing its second military sale to that country this year.

The assault ships, which can each carry 16 helicopter gunships, 700 troops and up to 50 armoured vehicles, were originally intended for Russia until the deal finally fell apart because of the Ukrainian crisis.

The Canadian Press reported recently that Canada's defence minister had been "actively engaged" in sounding out the French about a possible purchase of the Mistral helicopter carriers, including a face-to-face exchange at the most recent NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels last June.

Sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Canadian Press that the effort ground to a halt because of Canada's federal election campaign ahead of the Oct. 19 vote.

Russia's deal with France was originally supposed to be its biggest arms purchase ever from a NATO country.

France agreed to refund 950 million euros ($1 billion) already paid by Russia. France didn't say how much Egypt agreed to pay, but denied losing money.

Egypt also purchased 24 advanced fighter jets from France earlier this year for nearly $6 billion, as it sought international help to bomb Islamic State targets.

The Egyptian government has been battling a long-running insurgency in the northern Sinai region, which escalated after the military ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013 amid massive protests against his rule and cracked down on Islamic groups. A local Islamic State affiliate has been claiming responsibility for militant attacks in the area.