A Russian Air Force Antonov An-124 transport aircraft has delivered Mi-8MT and Mi-24V helicopters to the Central African Republic.
According to Centrafriquenews, the helicopters arrived aboard the An-124 on 21 May. Flight tracking data indicates An-124 registration RA-82035 flew in the helicopters from Russia.
The Mi-24V was wearing tail number 01 ‘yellow’, which matches photos of the helicopter taken nearly ten years ago. Photos indicate the aircraft was stored in a hangar for some time, making it likely that it was transported to Russia for maintenance/overhaul.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s arms transfers database, the Central African Republic received two Mi-24V/Mi-35 helicopters from the Ukraine in 2011.
The arrival of the Mi-8 and Mi-24 comes after an An-124 in December 2020 delivered two Mi-8AMTSh helicopters to the Central African Republic.
