Pentagon to Buy Russian Helicopters Despite Ban

[Purveyor]

Source: RIA Novosti

WASHINGTON, April 4 (By Maria Young for RIA Novosti) – The US Department of Defense said Thursday it plans to sidestep a Congressional ban to purchase 30 helicopters from Russian state-owned defense firm Rosoboronexport, despite objections from US lawmakers who allege that the firm has equipped the Syrian government to commit brutal crimes against civilians.

“The Department of Defense (DOD) has notified Congress of its intent to contract with Rosoboronexport for 30 additional Mi-17 rotary-wing aircraft to support the Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF) Special Mission Wing,” Pentagon spokesman James Gregory told RIA Novosti in emailed comments.

The 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, approved by Congress last year, includes an amendment that prohibits financial contracts between the United States and Rosoboronexport, except when the Secretary of Defense determines that such arrangements are in the interest of national security.

“Given current timelines, the department has determined that Rosoboronexport is the only viable means of meeting ANSF requirements” for the helicopters, Gregory said.

Read more: http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20130405/180451358/Pentagon-to-Buy-Russian-Helicopters-Despite-Ban.html

[jonthebru]

1. I have no problem with this.

In for a penny, in for a pound. A very unusual foreign aid program to say the least.
Just get our soldiers the frick out of there.

[mimi85]

2. Agree! nt

[MADem]

3. Short supply line v. long, interminable supply line for replacement parts.

No contest.

There are times when it makes sense to "buy local." This is one of them.

[malthaussen]

4. What a misleading headline

The Act clearly permits exceptions, but the headline makes it sound as though the Pentagon is defying Congress.

It's a stupid amendment, too, since it provides such a huge loophole. Our Congress wasting time in time-honored fashion.

-- Mal

[premium]

5. Why wouldn't the Pentagon supply the Afghan security forces with local hardware?

The Russians have already agreed to set up a maintenance base to keep Russian equipment supplied to Afghanistan in good working order.

Russia manufactures good helicopters and until the U.S. built and deployed the AH-1 Apache Attack Helicopter, Russia's Mi-24 Hind was considered the cream of the crop of Attack Helicopters.

[davepc]

6. They're buying them so Spec Ops teams can go on raids in non US built helos

Since the Afgan, Iraqi, and Pakistani Army uses the Mi-17 as a regular transport, the whole point of these is plausible deniability for SEAL team raids and the like.