Russia supplies Afghanistan and India with new helicopters

Russia began implementing of a new agreement for supplying the Afghan and Indian armed forces with Mi-17V5, transport helicopters , Russian press reports said here on Monday.Russian Ria-Novosti reported that Moscow has aleady delivered Afghanistan three Mi-17V5 multifunctional helicopters, and 19 others to India . Russia’s handover process of the helicopters to the Afghan national security forces came in implementation of a contract the Rosoboronexport organization signed with the Command of the US Land Forces in 2013 according towhich Russia supplies the Afghan national security force with 30 Mi-17V5.Russian specialists are currently in Afghanistan in this connection.The helicopters are supplied for the purposes of enlarging the Afghan national security forces’ already available and operational fleet of Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters.Along with the supply of helicopters, the contract also envisions the deliveries of spare parts, ground service facilities, detachable armament, as well as the rendering of logistical support.Russia handed over 33 helicopters of such a type in 2011 and 2012 whereas the Indian Defence ministry had contracted with Moscow in Dec.2012 to purchase 59 of the same type.