December 21 (SeeNews) - France-based Eurocopter will deliver five helicopters to Albania's military forces under a 78.6 million euro ($112.7 million) deal signed on Friday, Albania's Defence Ministry said.
Eurocopter will deliver five AS 532 AL Cougar helicopters to Albania in the next three-four years, the ministry said in a statement on its website.
"Our armed forces are on the path of modernisation and are marking new progress in meeting NATO standards," Defence Minister Arben Imami was quoted in the statement as saying.
The contract expires in 2013 when Eurocopter, part of EADS, is due to deliver the last helicopter.
Albania, a former Communist state, joined NATO in April 2009.