Russia completes delivery 12 Mi-35 AH-2 Sabre attack helicopters to Brazilian armed forces 1404133.

LAAD 2013
International Defense & Security Exhibition
9 - 12 April 2013
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Russia will complete the delivery to Brazil of 12 Mi-35 (AH-2 Sabre) attack helicopters worth $150 million by this fall, the head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC). “As of today, nine helicopters have been delivered and the remaining three will be shipped in the fall,” FSMTC director Alexander Fomin said at the LAAD 2013 defense exhibition in Rio de Janeiro.

The Mi-35M is an export version of the Mi-24 Hind that was used extensively in the Soviet war in Afghanistan. The Mi-24/35 is unique among dedicated attack helicopters insofar as it can carry troops, in addition to performing its attack role.

The Sao Paulo-based newspaper Valor Economico previously reported that the Mi-35s would be used in the Amazon region, in conjunction with Brazil's Embraer land and ground surveillance jets.

The Amazon region borders both Venezuela and Colombia, and is a prime location for transnational narco-terrorists and drug traffickers.

The Brazilian Air Force ordered a total of 12 Mi-35M helicopters to provide protection in the Amazon region, carrying out air policing, border security and counter-narcotics operations. The contract was signed on November 23, 2008. Air and ground crew began training in Russia in the spring of 2009. The first helicopter destined for Brazil made it maiden flight on August 22, 2009, at Rostvertol's facility in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. The first three AH-2 Sabres (8951, 8952, 8953) were delivered to Porto Velho by one An-124 of Volga-Dnepr on December 16, 2009.

Main armament of AH-2 Sabre consists of a twin-barrel GSh-23V 23mm cannon mounted at the front of the helicopter. The AH-2 Sabre can be also armed with a variety of unguided rockets, Ataka anti-tank missiles, and Igla-V air-to-air missiles for anti-air and self-defence. Other defensive improvements include the heat-suppressing exhaust boxes, countermeasures system and in terms of armour protection and robustness the AH-2 Sabre presents a quantum leap in survivability compared to its predecessor.