The Russian Helicopters Holding will build a simulator center to train pilots for Russian-made Mi-171Sh helicopters for the Ground Forces of Peru by the end of 2017, the holding said.

"The construction of a helicopter simulator center in the Peruvian capital of Lima will begin in the near future after the Peruvian side completed all the necessary formalities. Upon agreement with the Peruvian side the Russian Helicopters plan to complete the center construction in the second half of 2017," it said. The holding specified that a Peruvian contractor had been selected for the joint project with Rosoboronexport.

"The Peruvian market is extremely attractive for us. To enhance our market positions in the country we decided to finance the costly construction of the helicopter simulator center which was not envisaged by the offset project in order to provide in a short time to our partners broad possibilities to train pilots on the territory of Peru," the press service quoted holding's Deputy Director General for post-sale servicing Igor Chechikov as saying.

He also said the holding is ready for additional supplies of Russian aircraft hardware to Peru if a corresponding request arrives.

The Mi-171Sh can be used in a wide range of missions, including the airlifting of military forces, the transportation of cargo, air-to-surface attacks, medical evacuation and search and rescue operations.

Over 400 Russian helicopters are currently being operated in Latin America and the Caribbean. The most popular models are those of the Mi-8/17 helicopter family, which amount to 320 units.