An image emerged on websites popular with aircraft spotters revealing that Mali is a customer for Russia’s Mi-35M. The picture showed an Mi-35M sporting a Malian Air Force roundel.
The photo reportedly was taken at Rostvertol’s plant in Rostov-on-Don, meaning it has not yet been delivered.
Mi-35M for #Mali in Rostov-on-Don pic.twitter.com/k5ctz4Kj9Y— Derek Bisaccio (@DerekBisaccio) April 14, 2017
The size of Mali’s order is unclear. At the Africa Aerospace & Defense Expo in South Africa last year, Rosoboronexport’s delegation head, Yuri Demchenko, indicated that Russia would be delivering new helicopters to Mali, among other countries.
Demchenko did not specify the size of the order or the type that Mali would receive. He discussed both the Mi-8/17 and Mi-24/35, saying, “In 2016-2017, we plan to continue exporting these helicopters to Angola, Mali, Sudan, Nigeria.
“Our position in the African helicopter market is solid, so we are optimistic about the prospects of cultivating it further,” he added.
Military markets analyst, covering Eurasia, Middle East, and Africa.
