Military leaders in Algeria are dramatically escalating their planned buy of Russian-built Mi-28NE attack helicopters, more than quadrupling the number of aircraft in the initial deal.

Algiers is now planning to buy 42 Night Hunter helicopters, up from the eight aircraft military leaders had planned to purchase earlier this year.

Russian media outlets also reported that Iraq had placed an order for 19 attack helicopters, with other foreign forces looking to add the helicopter to their fleets.

"[Countries] in Latin America, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Bahrain, Iran, Egypt, Algeria and also countries in sub-Saharan Africa which are negotiating for the acquisition of the Mi-28NE," an unnamed source at the Russian Defense Ministry's International Cooperation Department reportedly told Russian media outlets.

Built by Russian defense firm Rostvertol, the attack helicopter is designed to take out ground targets such as tanks and patrol boats. The multi-mission helicopter can also engage smaller, low-altitude aircraft.

The Russian military version of the helicopter, the Mil Mi-28N, has seen heavy action in Syria as part of Moscow's air campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Boeing $922M contract for Apache helicopter upgrades
Washington (UPI) Apr 11, 2016 - The U.S. Army has awarded Boeing a $922 million contract for the modification of 117 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.

The contract will cover block upgrades and modifications for the "remanufactured" AH-64E Apache Longbow attack helicopters, according to a Defense Department contract notice.

Officials from the Army Contracting Command based out of Redstone Arsenal in Alabama will manage the details of the new deal.

Boeing has delivered more than 2,100 Apaches to American and foreign militaries to customers around the world since the aircraft entered production in the mid-1980s, according to a Boeing fact sheet.

U.S. Army Apaches have logged more than 3.9 million flight hours total since the first helicopter entered the fleet in 1984, seeing heavy action in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere across the globe.