Subject:
Why are we buying Russian helicopters?
To:
Sen. Harry Reid
November 1, 2009
Why are we buying Russian helicopters?
It has been reported that Russian helicopters are prefered over U.S. ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am very concerned that Bush crony Robert Gates and the frivilous, out-of-control Pentagon spent $800 million to purchase 22 Russian Mi-17 helicopters and gave the no-bid contract to American defense contractor ARINC.
Thanks to the unaccountable, frivilous Pentagon and the unsuspecting American taxpayer, the skies of Afghanistan will again be filled with the distinctive noise of Russian helicopters. So, too, will the skies of Iraq.
How much of the more than $800 million spent buying 22 Russian made Mi-17s was taxpayer funded? Why was the contract for Iraq awarded without a bid? Why weren't U.S. helicopter makers given a shot at filling these orders?
It has been reported that In December of 2007, a $800 million no-bid contract was given for 22 Mi-17s to a Maryland defense broker ARINC to enable Iraq to buy helicopters. This is very confusing. Thge original contract was for $322 million, and the costs have apparently increased by over 100 percent, but the Russian helicopters have not been delivered as far as anyone knows.
Most defense contracts are announced on a daily basis on many DOD Web sites. Why weren't these contracts listed? This is unacceptable. It is unacceptable that almost two years after the Army awarded this $800 contract, Russian helicopters have still not been delivered to our allies in Iraq and Afghanistan. There should not have been a sole-source solution when competition would have delivered the capability at less an expense.
American helicopter makers, including Bell Textron, Boeing Vertol and Sikorsky Aircraft were excluded from competing for this money. The Iraq contract seems a little odd, because for the most part the U.S. military has been rebuilding their military with U.S. military equipment.
Why doesn't the Pentagon have a point person on these contracts and why does it take two months of requests to get any information on the corrupt projects? The President and Congress need to get involved immediately. So, too, should the U.S. helicopter industry.
Papillion , NE
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