According to Ukrinform, the government of North Macedonia will consider the decision to transfer 12 Mi-24 combat helicopters to Ukraine at a meeting on March 29, after the General Staff has completed an analysis of the proposal.
North Macedonia’s Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska said this in an interview with the 360 Degrees TV show on Alsat television, Ukrinform reports with reference to the website of the country’s defense ministry. Petrovska said the decision would not affect the combat capability of North Macedonia’s army: “All the equipment that has been donated so far has to do with the request of the Ukrainians. This is the equipment that the Ukrainian army is skilled at using. According to our modernization plans, this equipment is already at the end of its useful life,” she said. These will be 12 Mi-24s that the country bought from Ukraine in 2001. Some of them have not been in service for some time. They are adapted for interaction with NATO forces and received new avionics that allows the use of night vision goggles and the Aviators night vision system. A modern navigation system, infrared lighting, and “other minor upgrades” have also been added.
Slavjanka Petrovska added that the Ministry of Defense would purchase eight new multipurpose helicopters. So far, the country has received five proposals from different countries and companies.