MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. Russian Helicopters completed the first service contract for the Ministry of Defense of Laos and turned over the lot of four Mi-17 helicopters to the customer, press service of the Russian holding told reporters on Thursday.
"Helicopters were repaired by a field team of the 356th aircraft repair plant affiliated with the holding. The transfer ceremony took place at an airbase in Vientiane," the company reports.
A crew of the Lao Air Force made a demo flight on the repaired helicopter during the official event. "We prepared an offer for repair of another lot of Mi-17 type helicopters upon request of the Lao party. I hope the decision will be made shortly," Chief Executive Officer of Russian Helicopters Andrei Boginsky said.
The parties also held talks on supplies of new helicopters and continuation of cooperation in service maintenance of earlier delivered ones.
The aircraft fleet of Laos comprises over 20 civil and military helicopters. Laos operates Ka-32T helicopters in addition to Mi-8/17 type ones.