Ukrainian defense firm Ukroboronprom is close to a final deal for five Eurocopter 145 medium utility helicopters built under license in Kazakhstan, Bolat Smagulov, president of defense holding company Kazakhstan Engineering, said on Friday.
"We will sign a contract [with Ukroboronprom] in the next few months to deliver five helicopters," Smagulov told reporters at the official opening of Eurocopter's plant in the Kazakhstan capital Astana.
Russia, Azerbaijan and various Kazakhstan ministries are also interested in buying Eurocopter 145s. The 11.5 million euro Eurocopter 145 assembly plant will also start making Eurocopter 725 military transport helicopters from 2013, Smagulov said.
