BANGALORE, February 18. /TASS/. Russia’s Mil Mi-17V-5 helicopters, supplied to Afghanistan, will be serviced by American companies, CEO of Russian Helicopters holding Alexander Mikheyev told TASS on Wednesday at the Aero India 2015 aerospace exhibition.

"The contract [on the Mi-17V-5 supply] has been successfully fulfilled, and we are concerned about the further use, maintenance and combat readiness of the helicopters. Under the US legislation, only American companies are admitted to servicing helicopter equipment, including Russia’s Mi-17 type helicopters. So, tenders will be organized for American companies there," he said.

According to the Russian Helicopters head, the Russian side is ready to provide the whole set of services to the tender’s winner. "The whole program of cooperation within the framework of helicopter equipment maintenance will be implemented by Rosoboronexport arms exporting company according to the one-stop shop principle. The Russian Helicopters holding and manufacturers of helicopter equipment and spare parts are ready to provide full maintenance support, but under Rosoboronexport contracts," Mikheyev said.

Last October, Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation reported that the Russian side fulfilled its contract obligations on the supply of the Mi-17V5 helicopters for the Afghan army. Since the signing of the contract between Rosoboronexport and the US Army, a total of 63 helicopters, manufactured at the Kazan Helicopter Plant, have been supplied to Afghanistan.