The Russian website Lenta.RU is reporting that Mexico is gradually shipping the older examples of Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters to Russian Helicopters for unspecified upgrades.  It is assumed that the 19 Mi-17s come from the batches delivered in 1996 and 1998, when they took a total of 24 examples.  Around the same time Mexico acquired 12 used Mi-8T helicopters, most of which have since been replaced by the Eurocopter EC725 Caracal.

Lenta cites sources within Russian Helicopters and notes that at least nine helicopters have been delivered in two Antonov An124 transport aircraft flights in the last four weeks.  Deliveries back to Mexico are not expected until early 2015.

Nikolai Vanesev – Helihub.com Moscow correspondent