Russia tests last batch of attack helicopters to be shipped to Brazil

Russia's last batch of Mi-35M Hind-E attack helicopters is being prepared for delivery to Brazil in the next few months, Alexander Fomin, head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Co-operation said on Thursday. To date, Russia has supplied nine of 12 ordered by the Latin American country under a contract signed in 2008. “We are currently testing the last, fourth, batch of these helicopters,” Fomin said, adding that delay with delivery of the remaining three helicopters was caused by technical issues. “These are being tackled at the moment and we hope to accomplish the acceptance procedure in the nearest future. Depending on the length of acceptance trials, deliveries will be completed either by the end of this year or in the beginning of next year,” Fomin said. In 2012 Russia's and Brazil's presidents discussed future cooperation, which included the military-industrial complex. Russian aircraft are sough-after in other countries of South America. For instance, at the MAKS-2013 air show, Vertolety Rossii /Helicopters of Russia/ Company, which is a part of Oboronprom /controlled by the Rostech state corporation/ signed agreements on supplying Columbia with five Ka-62 and five Mi-171A1 helicopters.