MOSCOW. May 22 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian state arms trader Rosoboronexport is prepared to provide the maintenance service infrastructure for Mil Mi-17 helicopters, purchased by the U.S. for the Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, said Rosoboronexport's deputy general director Alexander Mikheyev.
"Our contract envisions option deliveries. The U.S. said it would like to have maintenance centers, and service and operational infrastructure. In principle, the Russian side is ready to honor the obligations on instruction from the government and the Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service," he said on Rossiya 24 television. The U.S. Department of Defense decided to buy Russian Mi-17 helicopters for use in Afghanistan in 2011. "It is the first contract in Russian-American relations for the delivery of military products for use in third countries," he said. Rosoboronexport signed a contract for the delivery of 21 Mi-17V5 helicopters with the U.S. Department of Defense in May 2011 in the interests of the Afghan national army. The contract is valued at $900 million.