The United States Department of Defence
has quit its plans to get 15 Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters for the
Afghan army in 2014, Senator John Kornin said on Wednesday.The
United States Congress repeatedly spoke against buying Mi-17
helicopters from Russia's arms trader Rosoboronexport for the reason
that of considerations of promoting interests of domestic manufacturers
of rotorcraft. The US State Department of Defence
repeatedly categorically opposed the Congress on that matter, saying its
decision was both in the national interests and in the interests of the
Afghan army and security forces.
