According to the Wall Street Journal, the US ministry of defense is considering awarding Russian state arms vendor Rosoboronexport a contract on helicopters for the Afghan Army.

This is based on information that became available to the media about plans of the US military. These plans calls for funding purchase of one more batch of the Mil Mi-17 series helicopters. Rotorcraft from the Russian makers have long been in service with the Afghan governmental structures and have proved reliable and sturdy work horses. Previously, Afghanistan either acquired Russian hardware directly or via mediators or sponsors, including governmental and commercial structures in the US and Middle East.

This time the US wants to purchase 21 newly built Mi-17 series helicopters together with spare parts.

The Wall Street Journal, however, writes that the relations between Rosoboronexport and Iran, another long standing customer for Russian military and aviation equipment, made US governmental structures cautions about buying from the Russian state arms vendor. The US department of State put Rosoboronexport on the lists of companies that cooperated with Iran, and supplied this country with equipment that might be used in the interests of the Iranian nuclear program. Rosoboronexport was on the list in the period of October 2008 till May 2010, when Russia imposed a stricter export regime in the relation to Iran.