Russia Intends to Supply Mi-17 Helicopters to Afghanistan

Russia intends to supply Mi-17 helicopters to Afghanistan and has set no constraints on a potential deal, according to a Kremlin official.

Kremlin aide Sergei Eduardovich Prikhodko said Russia was ready to provide helicopters under a possible Nato contract and to be part of a US-run tender for providing helicopters to the Afghan military.

"The Russian side is definitely interested in this [deal]; there are no impediments on our side," he said.

Nato military committee chairman Giampaolo di Paola said that in July Russia and Nato were considering a possible deal on the supply of 27 Mi-17 helicopters to the Afghan military.

Russian state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport was looking to bid for a US contract to supply Mi-17 helicopters to Afghanistan in July.

In May 2010, the US lifted sanctions against Rosoboronexport, imposed in 2006 over violation of the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

The US purchased dozens of Mi-17s for Afghanistan and Iraq during the ban through intermediaries, according to RIA Novosti.