MOSCOW, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Russia's Rosoboronexport has announced completion of a contract option with the United States for delivery of Mi-17V-5 helicopters for Afghanistan's military.
The Mi-17, which NATO calls the Hip, is a medium-sized twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also be used as a gunship. It can carry 30 troops and more than 8,000 pounds of cargo internally.
Rosoboronexport said the aircraft were delivered under an option to a 2012 agreement with the U.S. government. A new accord has been signed for the delivery of an additional 30 helicopters next year.
Under the prime 2012 agreement, Rosoboronexport had supplied 21 helicopters for Afghanistan, which had been occupied by Soviet troops in the 1980s.
The value of the aircraft delivered and the value of those under the new agreement for additional aircraft were not disclosed.
Rosoboronexport is a subsidiary of the Rostec Corp. and is the sole state-owned arms trade company in the Russian Federation authorized to export a full range of military and dual-purpose products.
