Two new helicopters for the Serbian Armed Forces arriving from Russia – Purchase of two more aircraft planned

(Photo: Marija Kambić)

The Russian helicopters will become part of the 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron “Pegazi”, following the procedure of reception and testing by the experts at the Technical Test Center. The Air Force Command and the Air Defense say that the new helicopters will be used in combat, transport and humanitarian missions.

Although the purchase and sale agreement with the Russian party is confidential, aircraft technology pundits say that the basic type of the aircraft was bought, which features a lot of analog instruments and mechanical attachments. The helicopters feature cranes with a bearing capacity of 4.5 tons and searchlights.

The inside of the aircraft can carry 25 seated soldiers on two side benches. Since the entire medical kit was also bought, there is a possibility of modifying the aircraft for the purposes of medical evacuation with the capacity of 12 stretchers.

The helicopters, which will receive the Serbian Armed Forces insignia after they land in Batajnica, will contain standard equipment, including a weather radar and cabin lights adjusted to the use of night vision goggles. To extinguish fires, PPV-2000 buckets will be used, already at the disposal of the SAF.

Fortifying the Air Force should be completed by the purchase of an additional two helicopters, planned for the end of this year and the beginning of 2017. Neither the manufacturer nor the type of these aircraft are known at the moment, and there are speculation that the purchase may be made from the western manufacturers.

The intention of the SAF is also to repair the existing helicopters Mi-8 and Mi-17. There are seven such aircraft in the Air Force and the Air Defense, and their airworthiness expires before 2018.