The new helicopter of the Belarusian border guards, AS-355NP Ecureuil, will land in Minsk on June 24

June 23, Minsk /BelTA/. A solemn ceremony to welcome a new AS-355NP Ecureuil helicopter from the French company Eurocopter, intended for border protection, will be held on June 24 at Minsk-1 Airport. This was reported to a BelTA correspondent by the State Border Committee of Belarus. The helicopter for the State Border Committee will be delivered from France. It will be stationed at a separate aviation squadron in Postavy. In addition, it is planned to purchase three more similar helicopters. The contract for the supply of helicopters was signed by the State Border Committee of Belarus and Eurocopter in Minsk on June 25, 2008. Currently, the squadron's armament consists mainly of Mi-8 helicopters. However, despite the fact that these helicopters are considered reliable equipment worldwide, they are being replaced by more modern and economical machines. Belarusian border guards actively use aviation in border protection. The use of border aviation in 2008 alone allowed for the detention of over 20 state border violators and about 30 border regime violators, the discovery of over 100 bypass roads and trails, and the seizure of material assets worth over Br150 million. -0-