#news: #Peru purchases Russian #helicopters to counter #terrorism, #drug trafficking

LIMA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Peruvian Defense Minister Rafael Rey said his country had purchased eight Russian-made Mi series helicopters for the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, a local newspaper reported on Friday.

The helicopters, worth 250 million U.S. dollars, will be used by the armed forces in the Valley of Apurimac and Ene Rivers (VRAE) in the southeastern Andes, which is difficult to access due to adverse climates, the "La Republica" daily quoted Rey as saying.

The purchase contract was signed in Lima on Thursday. Six of the helicopters are of the Mi-171 SH model equipped with artillery and electronic intelligence, while the other two are of Mi-35P model, which is the improved version of the Mi-19.

The Russian arms trader Rosoboronexport will start deliveries later this year, which will be completed in 2011, Russian news agencies reported on Friday.

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