Posted on 05/27/2011 6:17:19 PM PDT by Pan_Yan
MOSCOW, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Russian arms export corporation Rosoboronexport signed a contract with the U.S. Army Forces Command on supplying 21 Mi-17V5 multipurpose helicopters to Afghanistan, a spokesman for the Russian Federal Service of Military-Technical Cooperation said on Friday.
The United States and Russia have been in talks for more than a year on the deal to provide the much-needed vehicles for the NATO mission in Afghanistan, RIA Novosti reported.
The cost of one helicopter has been agreed earlier at 17.5 million U.S. dollars. The first helicopters will be sent to Afghanistan in October 2011, said the spokesman.
Besides, Russia will also provide the spare parts, ground support equipment and maintenance service.
The Mi-17 is an export version of the Mi-8 Hip helicopter, which can transport up to 37 passengers.
In May 2010, the United States lifted sanctions against Rosoboronexport. The sanctions were imposed in 2006 after the U.S. government accused Rosoboronexport of violating the nuclear nonproliferation regime.
Despite the ban, dozens of Mi-17s have been bought by the United States for Afghanistan and Iraq over the past four years via intermediaries to avoid direct contacts with Rosoboronexport.
WTF?
So...we need to buy our helicopters from the Russians now? Pretty soon we’ll be buying our a/c from the Chinese.
My sentiments exactly.
The Russian helicopters are designed for high-altitude operations, like in Afghanistan. Our Blackhawks and Chinooks aren’t.
Before I get an ulcer, burst a blood vessel in the brain over this P_Y what is the credibility of this source?
Budget cutbacks. MH-53s ain't cheap.
Name a US-built 37 passenger chopper that has production available and isn’t the expensive-to-fly Chinook. Psst - isn’t one.
Russia, US sign deal to send choppers to Afghanistan
Russia, US sign chopper deal for Afghanistan: report
Russia, U.S. seal Afghan helicopter deal
Pick your source.
They kick our butts when it comes to big helos.
Yup. Russian Helos are actually pretty decent if someone’s been maintaining them. Remember, the Afghans were getting clobbered by their Mi8s and Mi24s before we sold them Stingers.
Their helis are good for what they do and are tough, well designed machines. The big failures have always been in maintenance, with predictable results.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGHHH!!!
The big thing about the U.S. now days is it can't do anything major without a lot of red tape, money, and our split party government ok-ing it. It takes forever for plans on a computer to make it to reality.
Besides, Russia will also provide the spare parts, ground support equipment and maintenance service.
So our military is dependent upon Russian maintenance?
Charlie Wilson’s War......now that was a mistake.
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