Iran has signed a contract with Russia for the purchase of 12 Mil Mi-17 helicopters to be used for the services of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (Ircs). The value of the deal would be around 500 million dollars. The Russian Helicopters state group company could deliver the first four aircraft to Tehran by March 2025.

This was reported by the state news agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), according to which the contract has yet to be finalized by the Iranian industry ministry. According to sources close to the matter, the agreement was signed last week. In detail, the new helicopters would be equipped with night vision systems that allow flying in conditions of low or no visibility.

This is a move that comes a few days after the plane crash in which Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died. It was May 19th. The accident was apparently caused by poor weather conditions. Despite sending 40 rescue teams to the mountainous area, the Iranian Red Crescent had only reached the aircraft the following day, confirming the urgency of equipping the IRCS with modern helicopters.

On the same topic, see also the article published by AVIONEWS.