MOSCOW. Dec 3 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia plans to upgrade and re-equip MI- 24 Hind assault helicopters and MI-26 Halo transport helicopters to meet NATO standards, a Russian Defense Ministry official told journalists in Moscow on Tuesday.
"Helicopters are one of the main areas of Russia's military- technical cooperation with NATO. MI-24 helicopters will be equipped with new firing systems," said Vladimir Chernov, head of the Defense Ministry's Department for Military-Technical Cooperation.
He said Russia is prepared to train pilots for the upgraded helicopters. Such helicopters could be exported not only to NATO members, but also to other states, Chernov said.
"NATO is interested in such cooperation. We have reached an agreement on further cooperation and are hoping to score successes in this area," Chernov said.
He added that the director general of the Mil helicopter corporation recently visited NATO headquarters.