CT pols cheer Pentagon cancellation of Russian copter contract
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Afghan MI-17s
The U.S. Department of Defense said it will cancel its contract with a Russian company that was slated to produce 15 MI-17 helicopters to be used by the Afghan military, according to a statement from Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Chris Murphy and Rep. Rosa DeLauro.
A number of legislators had been critical of the contract because the company, Rosoboronexport, sells arms to the Syrian regime. Connecticut lawmakers also hope Sikorsky Aircraft might win the work instead.
Blumenthal plans to introduce legislation that would require the defense department to purchase helicopters made in the United States.
“The Army’s mishandling of this arms program, as well as the Afghan military’s inability to maintain the helicopters, further underscores why this contract should have been canceled long ago,” Blumenthal said in a statement.
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