Support The Moscow Times!

Iraq Receives Final Mi-28 NE Military Helicopters From Russia

A Mi-28NE helicopter Denis Grishkin / Vedomosti

Iraq has received their final batch of Russian Mi-28 NE Night Hunter military helicopters, the TASS news agency reported Tuesday, citing the Iraqi Defense Ministry.

The country is planning to use the new military assets in anti-terrorist operations.

“These machines have improved maneuverability and striking precision when striking. They are equipped with different kinds of missiles and a mobile gun,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

?€?They have played an important role in recent campaigns to liberate different cities, in particular Fallujah and Ramadi.?€?

The Mi-28 NE Night Hunter is a modern military helicopter designed to attack armored vehicles, as well as low-speed air targets.

The BMPD blog, ran by Russia's independent Center of the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, reported that the latest shipment contained the final four vehicles of 15 helicopters ordered by the Iraqi government.

A $4.2 billion package of arms deals between Russia and Iraq was signed in 2012, becoming the third biggest agreement for Russian arms sales since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, the Reuters news agency reported.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more