July 31 (SeeNews) - Serbia expects to receive from Russia three Mi-17 and four Mi-35 helicopters for its military by the beginning of next year, Serbian defence minister Aleksandar Vulin said.
"We will get brand new helicopters of the highest quality in their class. I expect that four Mi-35 helicopters and three Mi-17s will be delivered by the end of the year or by the beginning of next year at the latest," Vulin said in statement on Tuesday.
Serbia received 10 BRDM-2 amphibious reconnaissance and patrol vehicles modernised by Russia and shipped to the Balkan country as a gift, Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday.
Serbia maintains close political ties with Russia and refuses to join the Western economic sanctions against Moscow. The country is holding EU accession talks but unlike other Western Balkan states, it does not aspire to join NATO.