Russia agrees to sell Pakistan four MI-35 attack helicopters

blue marlin

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2015
Messages
589
Likes
121
Russia agrees to sell Pakistan four MI-35 attack helicopters

“An agreement was signed between Pakistan and Russian authorities in Rawalpindi for the purchase of four MI-35 helicopters,” said a senior military official on Wednesday.

The official, however, did not provide any further details about the deal, or shed any light on the configuration of the helicopters which Pakistan will receive. No timeline for delivery of the helicopters was revealed.

Read: Russia to supply Mi-35 helicopter to Pakistan

The agreement is believed to have been finalised during Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif’s visit to Russia in June earlier this year.

Russia’s move is a major shift in it’s policy in the wake of strategic partnership between US and India.

Moscow has for long ignored Islamabad in a bit to please its long term ally New Delhi. But as a result of India’s growing tilt towards the US, Russia has now begun to expand its cooperation with Pakistan.

Read: Russia ready to sell four Mi-35M combat helicopters to Pakistan: report

For its part, Islamabad is eager to improve its ties with Moscow to diversify its options in the event of any stalemate in ties with Washington.

Last year, Russia had sent a draft contract to Pakistan for the dispatch of four Mil Mi-35M combat helicopters.

Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, said that talks pertaining to the delivery of helicopters were under way with the Pakistani side. However, it declined to disclose the details of these consultations.

“Following the results of the talks held earlier on helicopters, which Pakistan would like to get from Russia, a draft contract on the delivery of four Mi-35M gunships has been sent to the Pakistani side. Pakistan is now studying the document,” the source said.

Earlier this year, US State Department had approved Pakistan’s request to purchase US-made attack helicopters, missiles and other equipment valued at almost $1 billion.

The Pentagon had said that Pakistan’s request included 15 AH-1Z Viper helicopters made by the Bell arm of Textron Inc alongside 1,000 Hellfire missiles produced by Lockheed Martin Corp and a host of other communications and training equipment with valued at a total of $952 million, according to a notification to Congress, which approves every sale.

Pakistan has been exploring options to replenish and upgrade its fleet of Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters as its operation against militants enters the final phase. Among the options available were the Z-10 by China and the T129 ATAK multirole combat helicopters, manufactured by the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Neo

Neo

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
4,515
Likes
964


It would be a great addition to our fleet.
AH-1Z, Z-10 and now Mi-35. :cool1:
 

blue marlin

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2015
Messages
589
Likes
121


It would be a great addition to our fleet.
AH-1Z, Z-10 and now Mi-35. :cool1:
it would be a good addition to your fleet yes but this order for 4 is just a taster. but if all goes accordingly then a total of 36 will be placed according to defence records
 
  • Like
Reactions: Neo

Neo

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
4,515
Likes
964
According to my own sources talks are on for two sqdn in two different configs, that's a total of 36 indeed.

First birds may arrive as early as next
Year.
 

Blackwater

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2012
Messages
21,157
Likes
12,211
Russia agrees to sell Pakistan four MI-35 attack helicopters

“An agreement was signed between Pakistan and Russian authorities in Rawalpindi for the purchase of four MI-35 helicopters,” said a senior military official on Wednesday.

The official, however, did not provide any further details about the deal, or shed any light on the configuration of the helicopters which Pakistan will receive. No timeline for delivery of the helicopters was revealed.

Read: Russia to supply Mi-35 helicopter to Pakistan

The agreement is believed to have been finalised during Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif’s visit to Russia in June earlier this year.

Russia’s move is a major shift in it’s policy in the wake of strategic partnership between US and India.

Moscow has for long ignored Islamabad in a bit to please its long term ally New Delhi. But as a result of India’s growing tilt towards the US, Russia has now begun to expand its cooperation with Pakistan.

Read: Russia ready to sell four Mi-35M combat helicopters to Pakistan: report

For its part, Islamabad is eager to improve its ties with Moscow to diversify its options in the event of any stalemate in ties with Washington.

Last year, Russia had sent a draft contract to Pakistan for the dispatch of four Mil Mi-35M combat helicopters.

Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, said that talks pertaining to the delivery of helicopters were under way with the Pakistani side. However, it declined to disclose the details of these consultations.

“Following the results of the talks held earlier on helicopters, which Pakistan would like to get from Russia, a draft contract on the delivery of four Mi-35M gunships has been sent to the Pakistani side. Pakistan is now studying the document,” the source said.

Earlier this year, US State Department had approved Pakistan’s request to purchase US-made attack helicopters, missiles and other equipment valued at almost $1 billion.

The Pentagon had said that Pakistan’s request included 15 AH-1Z Viper helicopters made by the Bell arm of Textron Inc alongside 1,000 Hellfire missiles produced by Lockheed Martin Corp and a host of other communications and training equipment with valued at a total of $952 million, according to a notification to Congress, which approves every sale.

Pakistan has been exploring options to replenish and upgrade its fleet of Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters as its operation against militants enters the final phase. Among the options available were the Z-10 by China and the T129 ATAK multirole combat helicopters, manufactured by the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
The official, however, did not provide any further details about the deal,


that says it all
 

Sylex21

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2014
Messages
439
Likes
333
Pakistan really seems interested in helicopters lately, getting new ones from China, Russia and the USA all in a short time span. I suppose that makes sense if they want to use them to attack terrorists in the North West Territories, much like the Soviets dominated Afghanistan with their Hind's before the USA gave them missiles.

I've always wondered why India places attack helicopters as such a low priority, and why it has very few. I assume because they aren't that cost effective when light infantry will do, and Indian forces are unlikely to run into heavily fortified heavy resistance, while making the deployment of helicopters in Kashmir difficult due to heights.
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top