Russia To Complete Mi-35M Helicopter Order To Brazil Soon

Russia is planning to deliver the remaining Mi-35M Hind-E attack helicopters to Brazil under the 2008 contract in the next few months.

Russia has so far supplied nine out of 12 Mi-35s to the Latin American country under the deal worth $150 million.

“We are testing the last, fourth, batch of these helicopters,” the head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), Alexander Fomin was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.  

“Depending on the duration of the acceptance trials, the deliveries will be completed either by the end of this year or in the beginning of next year,” Fomin added.

The Mi-35M is an export version of the Mi-24 Hind that was used extensively in the Soviet war in Afghanistan. The Mi-24/35 is considered unique among dedicated attack helicopters as it can carry troops, in addition to performing its attack role.

A Russian military delegation, led by Shoigu, is on a four-day trip to Brazil and Peru to promote the sales of Russian weaponry to Venezuela and Colombia.