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U.S.-Russia copter deal faces scrutiny
Associated Press ^ | December 8, 2013 | RICHARD LARDNER

Posted on 12/08/2013 9:21:54 AM PST by DJ Taylor

WASHINGTON — The deal looked sketchy from the start.

To outfit Afghanistan’s security forces with new helicopters, the Pentagon bypassed U.S. companies and turned instead to Moscow for dozens of Russian Mi-17 rotorcraft at a cost of more than $1 billion.

Senior Pentagon officials assured skeptical members of Congress that the Department of Defense had made the right call. They repeatedly cited a top-secret 2010 study they said named the Mi-17 as the superior choice.

Turns out the study told a very different story, according to unclassified excerpts obtained by The Associated Press.

(Excerpt) Read more at hawaiitribune-herald.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: russianmi17
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To: DJ Taylor

That was a great read, thanks.


21 posted on 12/08/2013 11:46:41 AM PST by ansel12 ( Ben Bradley-JFK-- told me that "he was all for people's solving their problems by abortion".)
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To: hondact200

So is New Holland.


22 posted on 12/08/2013 11:50:08 AM PST by BBell (The Blue Dog is Stupid)
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To: Sequoyah101

I agree. We have a 1958 two banger, never had rings, used all the time, starts right up. Also have a 59 Ford F700.

This is not entirely off topic because the durability of this old stuff can be likened to the Russian engineering in that you can beat it to death all day long and at the end of the day it begs for more.

Should the SHTF, this old garbage will still be running.


23 posted on 12/08/2013 12:35:42 PM PST by redfreedom (All it takes for evil to win is for good people to do nothing - that's how the left took over.)
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To: DJ Taylor
The Afghans are already familiar with the Mi-17 Hip. It makes no sense to reequip with a more expensive and sophisticated U.S. helicopter when they're being flown by goat herders. Also, the Mi-17 is much superior to U.S. equipment to fly in the high altitudes of Afghanistan.
24 posted on 12/08/2013 12:39:49 PM PST by MasterGunner01
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To: DJ Taylor

I have also read that the Mi-17 is better in the “hot and high” environment than the Chinook.


25 posted on 12/08/2013 12:58:32 PM PST by Fred Hayek (The Democratic Party is now the operational arm of the CPUSA)
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To: Fred Hayek
"I have also read that the Mi-17 is better in the “hot and high” environment than the Chinook."

After a series of Chinook crashes in Vietnam, we had a negative opinion of the Chinook and referred to it as the $*it-hook. There was also an oft repeated joke that the Chinook was the only aircraft in the world that could have a mid-air collision with its self.

Current Army Aviation spokesmen claim there is little similarity between todays Chinooks and Vietnam era models, but I'm still not convinced.

26 posted on 12/08/2013 1:17:11 PM PST by DJ Taylor (Once again our country is at war, and once again the Democrats have sided with our enemy.)
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To: BBell

Known as Case New Holland (CNH)Global. Came about when Case merged with New holland in Europe. Both John Deere and New Holland have been in Russia since 2010. I did find out that Case was there since 1895.

What the heck it is time I get rid of John Deere Zero Turn and get an Ariens or Gravely. The quality is not in John Deere anymore.


27 posted on 12/08/2013 1:29:10 PM PST by hondact200 (Candor dat viribos alas (sincerity gives wings to strength) and Nil desperandum (never despair))
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To: DJ Taylor

DJ: great analysis!


28 posted on 12/08/2013 2:00:00 PM PST by The_Media_never_lie (Actually, they lie when it suits them! The crooked MS media must be defeated any way it can be done!)
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To: redfreedom

Shhhhh.


29 posted on 12/08/2013 2:32:16 PM PST by Sequoyah101
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To: DJ Taylor

Thanks for the great insights.


30 posted on 12/09/2013 6:20:02 AM PST by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: redfreedom
"Should the SHTF, this old garbage will still be running."

You are absolutely correct. If a multi-megaton nuke is ever detonated over the United States, the EMP released will destroy the electronics in almost every vehicle manufactured since 1990.

31 posted on 12/09/2013 8:31:40 AM PST by DJ Taylor (Once again our country is at war, and once again the Democrats have sided with our enemy.)
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