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South Korea’s police get its third Russia-made helicopter Mi-172

SEOUL, February 12. /ITAR-TASS/. South Korea’s police have received its third Russia-made helicopter Mi-172.

The delivery ceremony took place on Wednesday in Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport and brought together Russian ambassador to South Korea Konstantin Vnukov, South Korea’s National Police agency chief Lee Sung-han, heads of police departments from Seoul and South Korean provinces.

“We hope to use this helicopter for a long time and show your aircraft’s advantages in practice,” Lee Sung-han said. “We have already accumulated good experience of using Russian helicopters that are very reliable and easy to drive. Mi-172 is a very effective helicopter capable of taking many people onboard. It can be also used in anti-terrorist operations.”

Russian helicopters appeared in South Korea soon after the two countries established diplomatic relations in December 1991.

“The National Police Agency, forestry service and other agencies successfully use these helicopters. They make a half of South Korea’s civil helicopters fleet,” Konstantin Vnukov said. “Our helicopters built by Russia’s Kamov and Mil plants have international certificates and can be used abroad.”

Russia’s helicopters, mainly Ka-32, have been put into service by South Korea’s armed forces and coastal guard service.

“Mi-172 helicopters have brilliant flight and technical characteristics. Today’s ceremony is a good opportunity for further enhancement of our cooperation,” a police chief officer from Gyeonggi-do told Itar-Tass.