MOSCOW:
A source in the Russian system of military and technical cooperation revealed that a draft contract has been delivered from Russia to Pakistan for the dispatch of four Mil Mi-35M (NATO reporting name: Hind E) combat helicopters, according to a report published on TASS.
Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, said that talks pertaining to the delivery of helicopters were under way with the Pakistani side. However, declined to disclose the details of these consultations.
“Following the results of the talks held earlier on helicopters, which Pakistan would like to get from Russia, a draft contract on the delivery of four Mi-35M gunships has been sent to the Pakistani side. Pakistan is now studying the document,” the source said.
Just last year, Russia’s Rostec hi-tech corporation CEO Sergey Chemezov announced that Russia had lifted its embargo on the delivery of armaments and military hardware to Pakistan and was holding negotiations on the delivery of helicopters to the countryRussia’s Foreign Ministry later announced that the sides were negotiating the delivery of a batch of Mi-35 helicopters. Pakistan currently has several Mi-17 helicopters transferred by the United States as assistance in the fight against militants.
The Mi-35M is a profoundly modernised version of the Mi-24 (Hind) attack helicopter with new avionics and onboard equipment, a different tail rotor and a more powerful engine.
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