Rotorcraft
U.S. Will Buy No More Russian Helos for Afghans
Instead, the U.S. will supply Sikorsky Black Hawks for the Afghan Army.
An Afghan air force Mil Mi-17. The U.S. will replace them with former U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawks. (Photo: Vladimir Karnozov)
An Afghan air force Mil Mi-17. The U.S. will replace them with former U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawks. (Photo: Vladimir Karnozov)

The U.S. will not be buying any more Russian helicopters for the Afghan Army. The controversial program is officially over. The depleted fleet of 50 Russian Mi-17s that the U.S. bought for the Afghans will be replaced by a fleet of refurbished Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks under a budget amendment submitted to Congress. Parts for the Mi-17s have been hard to come by in the wake of U.S. and international sanctions against Russia following that country's annexation of the Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.