June 20 (SeeNews) - Serbia expects to receive next month the first of nine H145M helicopters under its deal with Airbus Helicopters, prime minister Ana Brnabic has said.
"The official delivery of the first Airbus helicopter will take place at the beginning of July, while the remaining eight will be delivered by the end of the year," Brnabic said in a video file posted on the website of Tanjug news agency on Wednesday.
Serbia is in talks to include local defence products in the catalogue of Airbus, Brnabic added.
In December 2016, Serbia's government signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the supply of nine H145M aircraft. The deal includes the transfer of technology, spare parts, tools and documentation for the maintenance and repair of the helicopters.
Under the terms of the contract, Airbus Helicopters will certify Serbia's Moma Stanojlovic aeronautical plant as a centre for the maintenance of Gazelle helicopters and will include it in its overhaul network. Airbus will also support Serbian manufacturing plants and research and development institutions to obtain relevant qualifications and certificates, the government said back in December 2016.