Russia, Cameroon ink Mi-17 helicopter deal

In a groundbreaking deal, Russia is to deliver Mi-17 military transport helicopters to Cameroon. The deal was signed by Russia’s state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport, which is part of Russian Technologies, and Cameroon’s Defense ministry at the MAKS 2013 international air space show.

“This is the first contract as part of military technology collaboration between Russia and Cameroon,” Rosoboronexport CEO Anatoly Isaikin said in a statement.

Rosoboronexport’s CEO explicitly identified expanding exports to countries in Africa as a priority, and said it is seeking to renew ties with Botswana, Ghana, and Equatorial Guinea. In February a Russian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and including the deputy director of the Russian Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation under Russia’s Defence Ministry travelled to Cameroon and held a series of meetings about bilateral cooperation.