Article

2010-07-02 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Russia says ready to send helicopters to help NATO in Afghanistan

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Posted by 3dc 2010-07-02 01:16|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top

#1 Heroin and drug trade that bad in Russia these days?

Posted by Procopius2k 2010-07-02 08:29|| 2010-07-02 08:29|| Front Page Top

#2 If Turkey is moving into the Iran/Syria/Hamas orbit, then it may make sense for Russia to stop viewing the US and Europe as adversaries and start cooperating with us on their southern flank. US-Russian cooperation would bring a host of benefits to both nations:

1) containing a nuclear Iran: joint Russian-US operation of a new missile defense facility on Iran's doorstep, in Azerbaijan

2) taking the war to the islamists who threaten both nations, via US access to FABs in the 'stans and other forms of cooperation in NW or Central Asia

3) containing China: US-Russian cooperation would signal to China that its slow invasion-by-osmosis in Russia's Far East will not be without serious consequences

4) a new source of oil and natural gas for the US

Posted by lex 2010-07-02 09:18|| 2010-07-02 09:18|| Front Page Top

#3 5) They'd love to get a bit of revenge too, blasting talibunnies with their copter gunships.
(A good sales pitch, too!)

Posted by twobyfour 2010-07-02 09:59|| 2010-07-02 09:59|| Front Page Top

#4 'k,'k, it's transport copters. My bad.

Posted by twobyfour 2010-07-02 10:01|| 2010-07-02 10:01|| Front Page Top

#5 6) All of the Hips that the Russians send to be used as support, wind up being purchased by NATO as equipment supplements for the Afghan Army. Keeps the factories open, the workers working, and the sales continuing.

Posted by Shieldwolf 2010-07-02 15:44|| 2010-07-02 15:44|| Front Page Top

#6 The have the hard points to be configured as gunships, and very potent ones at that. The Russian Helicopter company and MIL make 200 MI 171/172 aircraft a year. The 171 is the export name for the MI17 Hip.

Posted by 49 Pan 2010-07-02 21:32|| 2010-07-02 21:32|| Front Page Top

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