LIMA, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Russia is establishing a regional maintenance and repair center in Peru for Russian-made helicopters.
The center, which will open in 2016, is part of a procurement deal in which Peru is to acquire 24 MI-171 helicopters for its armed forces.
The MI-171 is a twin-engine helicopter which comes in transport and gunship variants. The sh-P version for Peru will be in a special configuration for operations at high altitudes and rough terrain. Peru will use the aircraft in counter-narcotics and anti-terrorism operations.
In announcing completion of government-to-government negotiations for the helicopters, Peru's Ministry of Defense said there are provisions for technology transfer to Peru from Russia and for Peruvian production of some of the aircrafts' components.
Russia's provision of a flight simulator and other crew training equipment are also part of the deal.
Peru will begin to receive the helicopters this year. Deliveries will be completed in 2015.
