BUENOS AIRES, March 31 (RIA Novosti) – Peru’s government will buy 24 Russian Mil Mi-171 (Hip) helicopters worth overall $406.8 million to use them in the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism, local media reported.
La Republica reported that the country’s Defense Ministry has submitted to the Economics Ministry a draft resolution based on a comparative study of Russian helicopters and Eurocopter AS332 Super Pumas and Eurocopter AS532 Cougars.
The Russian side offered buying its products during talks between a Russian government delegation and Peruvian Defense Ministry representatives in the capital Lima in early March.
One chopper is expected to cost over $16.9 million. According to the plan of deliveries, 21 helicopters will be supplied to Peru in 2014, and three more in 2015.
The newspaper said the Peruvian Defense Ministry is also interested in supplies of additional on-board armaments and equipment for Russian-made helicopters. Russia also proposed conducting training courses for pilots both in Russia and in Peru.
If the decisions are made, the contract’s sum would rise to $486 million. If the deal is successful, it would be the first in 30 years for the Peruvian government to buy aircraft directly from the manufacturer.
Updates with details in grafs 5-6.
