According to Kommersant, USA and Russia have signed an agreement on delivery of 21 Mi-17V5 military transport helicopters to Afghanistan. The first nine vehicles will be delivered to Kabul by the end of this year and the rest are to follow next year. According to experts’ assessments, the amount of the contract is around $300 million, and the sources from Federal Service of Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) have confirmed that this figure is close to the actual amount. The department says that it is a unique deal, since the delivery of military equipment has been drawn by the governments of two countries.

FSMTC has declared the fact of contract’s signing yesterday. The command of US ground forces and Rosoboronexport have signed a contract on delivery of new military-transport Mi-17V5 helicopter on May 26th. The contract includes the deliveries of helicopters, spare parts, ground support equipment and provision of logistic support. "Export of the first batch of helicopters for Afghanistan air forces is planned on October 2011. The rest of the batches will be delivered in 2012",— the FSMTC noted.

The amount of the contract has not been specified by the department. Meanwhile, the Afghanistan air forces’ Chief of Staff General Abdul Vahab Vardak said that the cost of one Mi-17 with military equipment is $17,5 million. Thus, Moscow may receive $367,5 million. However, FSMTC did not specify which configuration is assumed by the contract. According to the director of Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, Ruslan Puhov, assuming that Russia will not only deliver the vehicles but also spare parts, ground support equipment and provide services for logistic support, the amount of the contract is likely to exceed $300 million.

A source from FSMTC said that this figure is close to reality, but he declined to declare the actual amount of this contract with reference to commercial secrets. At the same time he has reported that Kabul will receive nine vehicles this year.