PARIS, October 29 (RIA Novosti) – A delegation from the Pentagon is presently in Moscow discussing the details of post-sale servicing of Russian helicopters for the Afghan military, a deputy director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said Wednesday.
"A US delegation is currently in Moscow holding negotiations. They expressed a strong desire to continue cooperation with Russia. The issues of post-sale servicing and the deliveries of spare parts for the Mi-17V5 helicopters for the Afghan military are being discussed," Anatoly Punchuk said on the sidelines of the Euronaval-2014 exposition in Paris.
Earlier in October, US Army Gen. John F. Campbell told reporters that Russian the Mi-17 helicopters had been a "game changer" in the movement of Afghan forces and supplies in the fight against Taliban insurgents.
Russia will complete its contract with the Pentagon at the end of October on the delivery of 63 Mi-17V5 tactical transport helicopters for the Afghan military. An official ceremony handing over the last four aircraft will be held on October 29 at the Kazan Helicopter Plant.
The United States sanctions, imposed on Russia for its alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis, did not affect the supply of Russian helicopters to Afghanistan. Apart from the helicopter deliveries Russia also ships spare parts for helicopters to the Afghan army and trains specialists on helicopters maintenance at a training center based at the Novosibirsk Aircraft Repair Plant.
