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. Xinhua
