Pakistan Minister of Defence Production showed interest in IAR 330 Medium Utility Helicopter are manufactured by Romania-based IAR Brasov.
Pakistan and Romania on Monday decided to enhance defence cooperation. This understanding reached during a meeting ofRomanian delegation and Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister of Defence Production (MoDP). They exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and enhancing cooperation in defence production.
Pakistan also showed interest in IAR 330 Puma helicopters is a license-built variation of the SA 330 Puma helicopter. These helicopters were procured by Pakistan from 1987 to 88.The Pakistan Army has been using Pumas for transportation of army personal, food and equipment. The Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engine medium carriage helicopter. These helicopters played important role in Siachin flare.
Romania acquired the licence from Aérospatiale to produce the SA 330 Puma in July 1974. The first licence-built helicopter designated IAR 330H made its first flight in October 1975. Twenty-four helicopters were upgraded to IAR 330 SOCAT in cooperation with Elbit Systems (Israel). The IAR 330H helicopter was subsequently modernised into the IAR 330L configuration. The IAR 330 helicopters were also exported to Pakistan, Sudan, Lebanon, Kenya and the United Arab Emirates.
