Russia has completed the delivery of Mi-17V-5 military-transport helicopters to the Afghan National Army in October 2014.
Since the contract between Rosoboronexport and the US Department of Defense was signed in 2011, 63 helicopters produced at Kazan Helicopters, part of Russian Helicopters, have been delivered to Afghanistan.
The primary contract to deliver 21 helicopters was signed by Rosobornexport and the US government on 26 May 2011 and fulfilled by mid-2012. In 2013 delivery of 12 Mi-17V-5 helicopters in response to a supplementary agreement was concluded in 2012.
In 2013, a new agreement for delivery in 2014 of an extra batch of 30 helicopters was signed.
The Mi-8/17 helicopters was choosen for their superior performance in Afghanistan, with its challenging climate and mountainous areas. The helicopters supplied assist with the successful formation of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), and are part of Russia-US cooperation in the fight against international terrorism. The Aghans also had previous experience of using the type since the Soviet occupation.
The helicopter deal was criticized by U.S. lawmakers because of Russian supply of weapons to Syria.
