Rosoboronexport will deliver 14 multi-role Mi-171 helicopters to Sri Lanka, Lenta.ru reports. The corresponding contract has already been signed. The delivery of helicopters will be carried out on account of export state credit, provided to Sri Lanka by Russia. It has not been specified when the agreement on delivery of Mi-171s was signed and what is the total value of delivered military vehicles. Ulan Ude aviation plant will produce the helicopters.
The agreement on provision of export credit to Sri Lanka has been accepted in February 2010. The credit value was $300 million. Pakistan and China were the main suppliers of military equipment to Sri Lanka before, but the country’s Ministry of Defense has taken a decision to diversify the stock of weaponry in 2009. One of the main reasons for this decision was the end of combat activity against separatist group “Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam”.
At present 13 Mi-17s and 35 Mi-24/Mi-35s are operated in Sri Lanka. It has not been unveiled what modification of Mi-171 will be delivered to Sri Lanka. At present Ulan Ude aviation plant manufactures Мi-171, Мi-171VIP, Мi-171А and Ми-171Sh helicopters.











