MOSCOW (Sputnik) — A contract for the supply of 24 Mi-171Sh helicopters to Peru was sealed in December 2013 and was implemented in full two years later. As part of the deal, a permanent service center is to be built in the Latin American state. Currently, the center is under construction.
"The Peruvian military officials are very satisfied with the high performance of the helicopters and their quality, as they have repeatedly told both the Russian specialists and national and international media at different levels," Isaykin said, as quoted by the company's press service.
He added that the helicopters have been intensely used by the Peruvian army in operations against terrorists and drug cartels.
Russia Proposes Mobile Service Center for Mi-171Sh Helicopters to Peru
Russia has offered Peru the option to purchase a mobile service center to maintain the high operational readiness of its recently received Mi-171Sh military transport helicopters, Anatoly Isaykin said.
"Both sides are interested in the successful operation of these aircraft, so Rosoboronexport has offered to promptly deliver a mobile service center for an interim period before the permanent center becomes fully operational," Isaykin said.
Over 400 Russian helicopters are currently being operated in Latin America and the Caribbean. The most popular models are those of the Mi-8/17 series, amounting to 320 units.
The Mi-171Sh can be used in a wide range of missions, including the airlifting of military forces, the transportation of cargo, air-to-surface attacks, medical evacuations and search and rescue operations.