"After efforts by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the Department of Defense (DoD) is seeking to end its reliance on Russian-made helicopters to support the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). DoD plans to transition to Connecticut-made Black Hawk helicopters," the statement issued by his press service on Friday read.
Russia has delivered 63 Mi-17 helicopters to Afghanistan since 2001 when its state arms exporter Rosoboronexport and the US Department of Defense signed the relevant contract.
"Millions of American dollars should never have gone to Russia for Mi-17 helicopters instead of Sikorsky Blackhawks — a travesty that will now be stopped,” Blumenthal said as quoted in the statement.
In 2014, Washington imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia on the pretext of the crisis in Ukraine, but the restrictive measures did not affect the delivery of Russian helicopters to Afghanistan under existing contracts. Russia also supplies spare parts for helicopters to the Afghan army and provides training for specialists on helicopter maintenance.
