MOSCOW, December 4. /TASS/. Russia’s arms deliveries to Colombia have reached $500 million over the period of more than 20 years, Head of the Marketing Department of the Russian state arms seller Rosoboronexport Alexander Denisov sad on Monday.
The Rosoboronexport official is heading the Russian delegation at the Expodefensa 2017 arms exhibition in Bogota (Colombia).
"The history of military and technical cooperation between Russia and Colombia is over 20 years long. Over all these years, our countries have been maintaining and strengthening good and mutually beneficial relations while the deliveries of Russian military products and military services have approached the level of $500 million. Today the Colombian army operates more than 20 Mi-17 helicopters while Rosoboronexport provides their timely maintenance and repairs. Besides, we see interest in active cooperation in other types of Russian armament for all the armed branches, and also for special army units and for police," Denisov said.
Rosoboronexport’s exhibition stand features over 250 types of weapon systems and military equipment and specialists consider Russia’s Yak-130 combat training aircraft, Su-35 and Su-30MK supermaneuverable multirole fighter jets and MiG-29M multipurpose frontline fighters as the most promising armament types in the Latin American region, the company’s press office said.
"Foreign customers also display interest in Mi-17, Mi-26T2 and Ansat helicopters. Traditionally, Rosoboronexport’s partners show interest in Russian-made air defense means, especially the Pantsyr-S1 antiaircraft missile/gun complex, the Tor-M2KM and Buk-M2E surface-to-air missile systems and also for the Igla-S man-portable air defense system, Russia’s state arms seller said.
The navies of Latin American countries may also display interest in the Project 20382 Tigr small guard ship (corvette), the Project 14310 Mirazh patrol boat and the Project 636 large diesel-electric submarine demonstrated at Rosoboronexport’s stand, the company said.
Latin American countries also display interest in weapon systems and military equipment for land troops, which are also used by special forces to fight crime, terrorism and drug mafia. In this context, Rosoboronexport expects potential customers to show interest in BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicles, BTR-80A/82A armored personnel carriers, Tigr-M and Taifun-K armored vehicles, small arms and close combat means.