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Saudi Arabia will buy 150 Russian attack and transport helicopters for $2.2 billion, according to Gulf sources. Russia is to supply Mi-8 and Mi-17 transports and Mi-35 attack helicopters — plus spare parts, weapons and related services.

The purchase follows two visits to the Arab Gulf region by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In February, Putin is said to have spoken with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and other senior Saudi officials about potential defense sales to what in the past has been a Western-dominated defense market. Saudi officials are still considering a $1 billion offer by Russia of 150 T-90 tanks plus a number of armored personnel vehicles.

Moscow has long been courting Riyadh on energy and industrial cooperation, as well as offering its arms. Earlier, it looked like the helicopter deal might go to Eurocopter with some buys from Sikorsky.

The Mi-35 helicopter, called the Hind-E by NATO, is built at the Rostvertol plant in Rostov-on-Don and can be purchased in combat, assault, transport and medical evacuation versions. The Mi-17 helicopter, called Hip-H by NATO, is in production at factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude.

The Saudi helicopter bid was the latest of several failed French sales efforts, including ones in Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Singapore. However, officials in Paris played down the loss. France is no longer trying to sell Dassault's Rafale fighter jet to Saudi Arabia. However, the French are said to be attempting to sell a search-and-rescue version of the Cougar helicopter to the Royal Saudi Air Force, along with Fennec light helicopters for training and up to 10 naval NH90s for the Sawari 2 frigate.