Russia will deliver seven multi-purpose Mi-171Sh helicopters to Peru's air force by the end of the month, news agency RIA Novosti reported Monday, citing the deputy director of arms export agency Rosoboronexport, Sergei Ladygin.
The new helicopters are the second batch to be delivered under a $400 million deal for 24 of the military aircraft signed in December 2013. Peru purchased the helicopters for use in combating drug trafficking, and to replace eight Soviet-built Mi-17 helicopters bought in 1984.
Russia, the world's largest helicopter exporter, is looking to boost its share of the South American helicopter market, of which it already controls about 20 percent, RIA reported earlier this month.
Moscow in recent years has pumped money into its military-industrial complex, betting that the sector, which was vast in the Soviet Union, can power Russian economic growth.
Russia delivered the first four Mi-171Sh helicopters to Peru in December last year. According to the Vedomosti newspaper, under the terms of the contract Peru will receive all of the helicopters by the end of 2015.
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