DTN News: Russia, Saudi Arabia Concluding Deal On 30 Mi-171B Military Transport Helicopters *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - August 26, 2009: Saudi Arabia is close to signing an agreement to purchase 30 Mi-171B military transport helicopters from Russia, a source familiar with the talks was quoted as saying on Tuesday. In October 2007 defense-aerospace.com reported the government of Saudi Arabia had signed a contract for up to 150 Mi-35 and Mi-17 helicopters worth $2.2billion. On 28 October 2008, the Royal Thai Army announced a deal to buy 6 Mi-17 to meet its requirement of a medium-lift helicopter, marking the first time the Thai military will acquire Russian aircraft instead of American. A licensed production of the Mi-17 will start in China with production being led by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant JSC and the Sichuan Lantian Helicopter Company Limited in Chengdu, Sichuan province. On 15 December 2008, Defense News reported that India will purchase 80 Mi-17IV helicopters which will be delivered to Indian Air Force between 2010 and 2014. These will replace aging Mi-8s.* "We are in the final stage of negotiations on the purchase of a shipment of 30 helicopters and hope to sign an agreement in September," the source told Russia's RIA-Novosti news agency. The Mi-171B is a large multifunctional helicopter capable of carrying up to 37 troops, according to the website of its manufacturer, the Ulan Ude Aviation Plant in eastern Siberia. Saudi Arabia has long bought most of its arms from the United States but in recent years has been engaged in talks on buying military equipment from Russia, which is keen to find new markets for its weapons exports.