Besides, Russia will also provide the spare parts, ground support equipment and maintenance service.
So our military is dependent upon Russian maintenance?
Russian maintenance is as good as any when they are getting paid.
After the last Shuttle flight coming up in July we will have to rely solely on the Ruskies to get to space. Now we have to buy helos from them that we could easily design, build and fly. Next thing you know we’ll be buying our fighter jets from them, too!
http://www.hark.com/clips/tdssxdzmwr-woody-laughing
There is no word in Russian for "Maintenance." However, they have invented a universal, all purpose repair fluid for their maintenance personnel to use on a minute-to-minute basis. It is called "Vodka." Some of those personnel have completed a shift without an accident, but not many. Just check out their scars, teeth, and missing digits.
Parts? No problem, comrade! That is what wrecks are for. Besides, comrades, if you really need spares, buy two helicopters.
The really interesting Russki helos to me are the Kamev Twin rotor jobs. Awesome performance. We got Sikorsky and Piasecki, we could have traded for Kamev.