Argentina Eyes Another Batch of Russian Mi-171 Helicopters

Argentina is mulling a contract with Russia for another batch of Russian-made Mi-171 helicopters, Argentina’s Deputy Defense Minister Angel Pablo Tello said Wednesday.

The South American country has two types of Russian helicopters from theMi-171 family that are used for Arctic missions.

"Argentina is considering buying new helicopters from Russia," Tello told RIA Novosti on the sidelines of the fifth International Security Conference in Moscow.

Tello said the Argentinian government was keen to continue working with Russia after presidential elections in December, which saw center-right Mauricio Macri replace Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, a long-time supporter of closer ties with Russia.

"Argentina has just got a new president. Our relations will be maintained at the level they reached under the previous one. We will have mutual cooperation between the ministries and it will deepen," the deputy defense minister said.

On Tuesday, Tello met with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov in Moscow where they discussed cooperation between the defense ministries of the two countries and ways to enhance a security dialogue.