Russia agreed to supply Lebanon with Mi-24 helicopter gunships instead of the MIG-29 fighter jets originally agreed, the office of Lebanese President Michel Sleiman said Feb. 27.
"The Russian authorities agreed to replace the MIG-29 fighters, initially foreseen in their military aid, with Mi-24 helicopters as the Lebanese army urgently needs this type of aircraft equipped with rockets and sophisticated means of defense," a statement said.
Sleiman held talks Feb. 25 with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, in Moscow, the first visit by a Lebanese Head of State to Russia.
Lebanon's Defense Minister, Elias Murr, told reporters 10 Mi-24s would be delivered instead of 10 MIG-29s.
The statement from Sleiman's office said that while in Moscow the President also signed a "military cooperation agreement providing for the supply of equipment to the Lebanese army and the training of its officers and men."