The country's eastern military district will receive more than 40 combat helicopters by the end of 2013, a spokesman said Monday.
"More than 40 new Mi-8AMTSh and Ka-52 helicopters will be delivered to air bases in the Eastern Military District by the end of this year," Lt. Col. Alexander Gordeev said.
The new helicopters are expected to replace the existing fleet of aging Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters and significantly boost combat capabilities of army aviation in Russia's Far East, according to the Defense Ministry.
The Eastern Military District is one of the four operational strategic commands of the Russian Armed Forces.
It was formed in 2010 and absorbed the territories of the former Far East Military District and part of the former Siberian Military District and has its headquarters at Khabarovsk.
(RIA Novosti)