Posted on 04/18/2010 8:45:25 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The Brazilian Air Force has received the first three Mi-35M transport and combat helicopters.
The handing-over ceremony and a military parade in this connection took place at the Brazilian air base of Porto Velho in the southwestern Amazon region on Saturday.
A Russian delegation headed by Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev participated in the ceremony. Rosoboronexport’s director-general Anatoly Isaikin and the Rostvertol Rostov-based helicopter plant’s director-general Boris Slyusar also arrived at the base.
Brazil's representatives were Defence Minister Nelson Jobim and the Air Force commander in chief.
Rosoboronexport concluded the contract in 2008 to supply Russian transport and combat helicopters to Brazil.
Experts say the Mi-35M has proved to be an excellent helicopter that can work under extremely heavy conditions of the hot and humid Amazon rainforest climate. Local pilots very highly appraise the reliability and other operational qualities of the aircraft that has impressive piloting and technical characteristics.
(Excerpt) Read more at itar-tass.com ...
Pair of Indian MI-35s.
40 years old tech. Soviets themself are to phase it out in a few years coming.
The Russians are phasing a lot of the old Soviet Tech.
Age of first design doesn't necessarily translate to obsolete today. The US is still flying it's western counterpart, the AH-1 Cobra, which is a year or two older than the original MI-24.
The US Marine Corps are ordering new ones called the AH-1Z Viper:
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