Aircraft acquired for military action in Tetovo region (168 words)

Published: 6/19/2001

In addition to earlier purchases of Mi-24s, Macedonia has acquired four Su-25s and four Mi-24s from Ukraine, to be deployed against Albanian insurgents in the country's Tetovo region. In April, Macedonia bought four Mi-24s from Ukraine that have been deployed in operations together with several Mi-8s inherited by Macedonia from the Yugoslav Army. The Su-25s and Mi-24s, according to a representative of the Macedonian MoD, will arrive on 17th June at Petrovac Air Base in Scopje and will be flown and maintained by personnel trained in Ukraine, although reports have suggested that the previous aircraft were flown by Ukrainian pilots. Financing for the transaction was allocated from the state's budget earlier this year. The amount was not undisclosed. There had been speculation that Macedonia might receive Ka-52s from Russia, although this seemed unlikely, given the small number of aircraft available to the Russian Army and the limited role the aircraft have taken in action in Chechnya.

Article ID: 2593