US Struggles to Keep Russian Helos Flying for Afghans
Posted By: Richard Sisk December 6, 2016
The U.S. has stopped buying Russian Mi-17 “Hip” helicopters for Afghanistan but the rugged choppers will continue to be a mainstay of the Afghan Air Force — if the maintenance problem can be solved, according to the U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan.
At the Pentagon last Friday, Army Gen. John Nicholson said the Afghan government had gone to the Russians to ask for help with spare parts and maintenance for the Mi-17 choppers during a transition to UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, but the Russians rejected the request.
“The Afghan government solicited from them help with maintaining these airframes, but the Russians have not agreed to do it,” Nicholson said. The result was that “the maintenance of this fleet is going to be very difficult,” he said.
http://www.defensetech.org/2016/12/06/mi-17-rusisan-flying-afghanistan/
