Russia Signs Contract to Supply Four Mi-35M Attack Helicopters to Kazakhstan

Russia and Kazakhstan have signed a new contract for the supply of four Mil Mi-35 transport and attack helicopters.

"A new contract for four Mi-35 helicopters has been signed. This year," Deputy Head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation Vladimir Drozhzhov was quoted as saying by TASS Tuesday.

Drozhzhov did not specify the timeframe for the delivery. Kazakhstan had placed an order of four helicopters with Russian Helicopters as part of a military modernization effort to replace its aging fleet of Mi-24 helicopters in January last year.

Mi-35M attack helicopter is the modernized verison of the Mi-24 and is capable of carrying guided and unguided weapons. It is equipped with the latest Klimov-produced powerful VK-2500 turboshaft engines, fibreglass main rotor blades, main rotor head with elastomeric joints, a new swashplate and X-type tail rotor. The Mi-35M’s fuselage boasts shortened stub wings and fixed landing gear.

In addition to its attack capabilities, the Mi-35M can also be used in other operations: Landing-transporting up to 8 paratroopers, with equipment, in the transport cabin; Transporting military supplies or other cargo weighing up to 1,500 kg internally. The Mi-35M is also fitted with an external sling system, expanding its cargo carrying capacity to 2,400 kg.

Overall, Kazakhstan is to get eight Mi-35 helicopters from Russia, according to the latest data.