Japan has sent the first contingent of a military helicopter unit to Pakistan to join international relief efforts in the flood-affected country.

Arrangements for the rest of the unit and six helicopters will be made by Japanese ground troops who have travelled to an army airfield in Multan, Pakistan, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

The helicopters and the unit’s equipment will be transported to Pakistan by a naval transport ship and six air force C-130 transport planes.

Japan will deploy a total of 530 ground, air and naval troops for the relief mission in Pakistan.