Pentagon spending $572 million for Russian military helicopters Afghans can’t fly, report says
by Leada Gore, All Alabama
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The Pentagon is under increasing pressure to abandon a controversial plan to purchase military helicopters for Afghan special forces following a report that says the undermanned unit cannot fly or maintain the aircraft.
Reuters is reporting the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction is calling on the Pentagon to suspend the $572 million purchase of 30 Mi-17 helicopters made by the Russian company Rosoboronexport. The helicopters are for the Afghan National Security Forces Special Mission Wing for use in counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics and special operations missions.
The contract, handled through Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, had previously drawn fire from lawmakers who said the Pentagon is sidestepping the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act that prohibits the U.S. from entering into contracts with the Russian arms giant and supplier of weapons to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Last month, a bipartisan group of lawmakers that included Rep. Martha Roby, R-Montgomery, sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel asking that the purchase be stopped.
Now, a report from the inspector general says the Afghan forces slated to receive the helicopters cannot fly or maintain them. The report also urges the Pentagon to delay a $218 million contract for 18 planes from U.S. manufacturer Sierra Nevada Corp. until the Afghan special forces are in place and fully trained.
“The Afghans lack the capacity in both personnel numbers and expertise to operate and maintain the existing and planned…fleets,” the report concludes.
The report said the Afghan Special Mission Wing has only 180 members this year, less than a quarter of those slated to be serving in the force by 2015. Investigators also said the Afghan Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior have not determined what agency will command the unit.
“In addition, DOD has not developed a plan for transferring maintenance and logistics management functions to the Afghans,” the report noted. “Currently, DOD contractors perform 50 percent of the maintenance and repairs to the… current fleet of30 Mi17s and 70 percent of critical maintenance and logistics management, as well as procurement of spare parts and material.”
The Pentagon has maintained the Mi-17 is the best choice for the Afghans as the country’s military has flown the helicopters since the 1980s. Moving the Afghans to a more expensive American version would require extensive training and is cost prohibitive, Pentagon officials said.
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has not responded to the inspector general’s report.
