Macedonia has obtained four Sukhoi Su-25 fighter-bombers and four more Mil Mi-24 helicopters from the Ukraine, Novosti reports.
An initial batch of four Mi-24V ‘Hind-E' attack helicopters entered service with the Macedonian air force in April, soon seeing action against ethnic Albanian rebels. The introduction of the Su-25 will allow Macedonian forces to launch medium level attacks, with less vulnerability to MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defence Systems) but is described by some as marking a quantum escalation in the scale of the conflict.
Source: Flight Daily News
