Venezuela has received the first of an expected 35 Russian military transport helicopters purchased by President Hugo Chavez's government.Army commander Raul Baduel said, "The first three MI-17 helicopters will be used by the army. In military terms, they are known as assault helicopters, but are also helicopters with multiple uses and will serve to help in national development."
Venezuela's armed forces will also soon receive the first delivery of 100,000 Russian-made Kalashnikov automatic rifles to replace their FAL rifles.
