Pentagon plans to purchase 30 Russian choppers for Afghan army

Kabul: (MEP) – Afghanistan.ru reported that despite objections from American law makers, the Pentagon has decided to purchase another 30 Mi-17 helicopters for the Afghan army from “Rosoboronexport”.

The price of a helicopter is $17 million. Earlier, the US bought 70 Mi-17 helicopters for the Afghan army.

American company Sikorsky has already accused the Defence Department of making an unfair tender in which the only winner could be the Russian company. On March 25, 10 senators sent an open letter to the Pentagon in which they demanded that the US stopped buying helicopters from “Rosoboronexport” because Russia supplies weapons to the Assad regime in Syria and conducted a free and fair tender for American producers.

The Pentagon officials insist that Afghan pilots know how to control Mi-17 helicopters. But they will have to undergo special training course if they have to fly American helicopters. At a time when ISAF is withdrawing its troops this will be quite difficult to do. Moreover, Mi-17 helicopters are reliable and cheap.