"The assembly of the helicopters
by Russian technicians has already begun," Igor Korotchenko,
the head of Russia's Center for Analysis of World Arms
Trade, said on Tuesday.
"The
helicopters will be tested in the air in the next few
days before the official transfer to the Peruvian Air
Force," he said.
The
Mi-35 is an improved export version of the famed Mi-24
attack helicopter, which combines high fire power with
troop transport capability.
Russia's
state arms exporter Rosoboronexport and the Peruvian Defense
Ministry signed a $108-million contract on the delivery
of six Mi-171 Hip H multirole helicopters and two Mi-35
helicopters in July 2010.The delivery of the first two
Mi-171s to Peru is expected in May.
The
helicopters will be used in anti-drug and anti-terrorism
efforts in the valley of the Apurimac and Ene rivers.
The area was declared a zone of military operations in
August 2009 as fighting between government troops and
the Sendero Luminoso Maoist guerilla group intensified.
Sendero
Luminoso, regarded by Peru as a terrorist organization,
is believed to have strong ties with drug traffickers.
The group is on the U.S. and EU lists of terrorist organizations.
