Russian Helicopter Sales to Syria Complicate US-Russia Arms Deal

As new reports emerge that Russia is providing attack helicopters to Syria, writes Richard Sisk, the US Defense Department is struggling to justify a $375 million deal to buy similar helicopters for the Afghan Air Force from the same Russian agency.
One of the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters purchased by Alabama-based Defense Technology Inc (DTI) is seen in Ulan Ude, Russia in this picture taken January 3, 2011. Defense Technology Inc. (DTI), a privately-held company with annual sales of around $70 million, supplied four of the Russian-built helicopters to the U.S. Navy for $43 million in late 2009, delivering the aircraft in 46 days. It submitted a bid last August to sell the Navy 21 more aircraft. But the Navy abruptly canceled the competition last ye
One of the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters purchased by Alabama-based Defense Technology Inc. Picture taken January 3. - REUTERS/Defense Technology Inc. (DTI)
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Richard Sisk

The Barack Obama administration is facing growing difficulty reconciling its goals for Afghanistan, Syria and Russia as Congress tries to block a controversial US arms deal with Russian military suppliers of the Damascus regime.

With new reports Tuesday (June 12) that Russia is providing attack helicopters to Syria, the US Defense Department is struggling to justify a $375 million deal to buy similar helicopters for the Afghan Air Force from the same Russian agency.

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