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Slovakia agrees to buy nine Black Hawk helicopters


    BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Slovakia has agreed to buy nine U.S.-made Black Hawk helicopters for $261 million (170.15 million pounds), to replace its outdated Russian Mi-17 fleet, reducing the NATO country's dependence on Russian parts and servicing, a spokesman said on Thursday.

    "The decision to reduce our dependence on Russia was taken even before the conflict in Ukraine began and considering recent developments it proved to be a good one," defence ministry spokesman Martin Cambalik said.

    Black Hawk helicopters are made by Sikorski Aircraft Corp, a unit of United Technologies.

    (Reporting By Tatiana Jancarikova; Editing by Jan Lopatka and Robin Pomeroy)