Unfortunately, due to the constant over-specification written into EVERY U.S. military equipment contract, the Russians now make a helicopter that can do the job well in Afghanistan, costs less, and is less complicated and costly to maintain and for which U.S. manufacturers have no equal in “bang for the buck” terms.
Since, we are helping the most to supply the Afghans with new military equipment, in the case of these helicopters, we can either supply them with fewer U.S. made helicopters at much greater expense or more of the Russian models for less expense.
Blame the U.S. Congress and our own military equipment industries. Together they often hurt us as much as help us, in terms of the cost of our military preparedness. They provide some of the best military technology in the world as well as some of the most over-engineered, over-priced equipment.
And the record for Russian troops and equipment in Afghanistan is............What?