Burkina Faso Purchases Two Mi-171Sh helicopters from Russia

Rosoboronexport  has signed a contract for the delivery of Mi-171SH mulit-purpose military helicopters to Burkina Faso at the International Military-Technical Forum Army-2017.

Rosoboronexport had signed two contracts with the West African nation: one for the helicopters and another for air-launched weapons, the Russian Agency announced Friday.

“Our partners will receive 2 rotary-wing aircraft. The contracts will be executed in 2018,” said Sergey Kornev, Rosoboronexport’s Deputy Director General – Director of the Department for export of the air force special equipment and services.   

The special exporter sees a rise in demand for helicopters of the Mi-17 type in the countries of Africa, Asia Pacific Region and CIS. In accordance with the Rosoboronexport forecast, the Russian medium military transports Mi-17V-5 and Mi-171SH currently under production as well as their follow up modifications will remain competitive in the future and will be in demand in the market.

“Burkina Faso already operates Mi-17 and Mi-24P helicopters. Besides, our partners voiced their intention to develop military and technical cooperation. Meanwhile they are considering a possibility to purchase from us military equipment for other services of the armed forces,” Sergey Kornev added.  

Previously,  Rosoboronexport signed a contract at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2017 on the delivery of 4 Mi-171E helicopters and related accessories to the People’s Republic of China.   

Rosoboronexport also received several other helicopter orders during Army 2017, including a contract for four Mi-171E helicopters for China and a contract for three Mi-8AMTSh helicopters for the Russian government.

 The Russian Ministry of Defence said the first few days of Army 2017 saw the signature of 23 contracts. Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yuri Borisov said, the Russian Armed Forces are to receive more than 600 new and 200 modernised items of equipment, including 100 Armata tanks by 2020.