ID :
185094
Sun, 05/29/2011 - 09:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/185094
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Russia-US contract on helicopters to Afghanistan exceeds $375 mln
WASHINGTON, May 29 (Itar-Tass) -- The cost of a Russian-US contract on
the supply of Russian Mi-17 helicopters to Afghan security forces stands
at 375.05 million U.S. dollars, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of
Defence told Itar-Tass on Saturday.
She said the contract was signed between Russia's biggest arms trade
Rosoboronexport and the U.S. Army, or the main branch of the United States
Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. Under the
contract, 21 aircraft will be supplied within two years, starting from
this October, to expand the Mi-17 helicopter fleet of the Afghan security
forces. She also noted that the contract provides for possible buying of
12 more such helicopters and for additional Russian logistics support.
Washington sees this contract in the context of wider efforts to
support the U.S. and NATO mission aimed at training and arming Afghan
security forces.
In the mean time, Russian president's aide Sergei Prikhodko said
earlier on Saturday that the contract is appraised very highly in Moscow.
It is the first major contract in the history of Russian-American
cooperation in the military technical area, which was signed directly with
the U.S. Department of Defence. Moreover, its signing is a serious step in
practical cooperation between the two countries to enhance combat
effectiveness of Afghanistan's armed forces, Prikhodko noted. He drew
attention to the fact that the contract was signed when the Russian and
U.S. presidents in Deauville discussed practical aspects of the further
development of anti-terrorism cooperation.
The Russian federal service for military and technical cooperation
told ARMS-TASS that the export of the first batch of helicopters for the
Afghan Air Force was planned for October 2011. The rest will be delivered
during 2012. The helicopters will be manufactures at the Kazan Helicopter
Plant. Apart from helicopters, under the contract, Russia will supply
spare parts, land-based servicing tools and logistics services.
the supply of Russian Mi-17 helicopters to Afghan security forces stands
at 375.05 million U.S. dollars, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of
Defence told Itar-Tass on Saturday.
She said the contract was signed between Russia's biggest arms trade
Rosoboronexport and the U.S. Army, or the main branch of the United States
Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. Under the
contract, 21 aircraft will be supplied within two years, starting from
this October, to expand the Mi-17 helicopter fleet of the Afghan security
forces. She also noted that the contract provides for possible buying of
12 more such helicopters and for additional Russian logistics support.
Washington sees this contract in the context of wider efforts to
support the U.S. and NATO mission aimed at training and arming Afghan
security forces.
In the mean time, Russian president's aide Sergei Prikhodko said
earlier on Saturday that the contract is appraised very highly in Moscow.
It is the first major contract in the history of Russian-American
cooperation in the military technical area, which was signed directly with
the U.S. Department of Defence. Moreover, its signing is a serious step in
practical cooperation between the two countries to enhance combat
effectiveness of Afghanistan's armed forces, Prikhodko noted. He drew
attention to the fact that the contract was signed when the Russian and
U.S. presidents in Deauville discussed practical aspects of the further
development of anti-terrorism cooperation.
The Russian federal service for military and technical cooperation
told ARMS-TASS that the export of the first batch of helicopters for the
Afghan Air Force was planned for October 2011. The rest will be delivered
during 2012. The helicopters will be manufactures at the Kazan Helicopter
Plant. Apart from helicopters, under the contract, Russia will supply
spare parts, land-based servicing tools and logistics services.
