Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

CT lawmakers hope to harness anger at Russia to help Sikorsky

  • Politics
  • by Ana Radelat
  • May 20, 2014
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"
The MI-17

The Mi-17

Washington – Ignored by the Pentagon and State Department, Connecticut lawmakers hope increasing congressional anger towards Moscow will finally force the end of  U.S. purchases of helicopters made by Russian state arms dealer Rosoboronexport destined for the Afghan armed forces.

The DoD has already spent $546.4 million on 33 helicopters and plans to spend $553.8 more to million to purchase 30 Mi-17 transport helicopters from Rosoboronexport for  Afghanistan’s air force.

But Russian moves on Crimea and its role in the Edward Snowden affair has prompted an increasing number of lawmakers – some of whom represent companies like Sikorsky that hope to take over the Rosoboronexport contract – to question the wisdom of the DOD’s relationship with the Russian arms dealer.

“There aren’t very many people in Congress who could support this anymore, it’s just awful,” said Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the Lexington Institute.

A slew of legislation that would end the U.S. purchase of helicopters from Rosoboronexport has been recently introduced—with two amendments to a bill that authorizes defense spending up for  consideration in the House on Wednesday.

Whether those amendments survive, Thompson said there’s a good chance Congress will finally force the Pentagon to scrap its contracts with the Russian firm.

“There is just so much anger about Crimea and Snowden,” he said.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat whose 3rd congressional district is home to Sikorsky, has for years tried to prevent the Pentagon from purchasing helicopters from Rosoboronexport. DeLauro and other Connecticut lawmakers argued Russia’s sale of arms to Syria and Iraq were good reasons to end the contract.

Bowing to congressional and budgetary pressures, the Pentagon announced in November, it would put off a new contract with the Russian firm. Then it changed its mind, notifying Congress in early April it planned to move forward with the purchase of 30 new ‘copters.

The closest DeLauro got to ending the relationship was legislation in he 2013 defense spending bill that prohibited the funding of the Rosoboronexport contract. The Pentagon did an end run around DeLauro’s legislation, however, by using money appropriated in previous years to continue to buy the ‘copters.

“The Defense Department blatantly ignored the intent of Congress when it signed a contract to purchase 30 more Mi-17s,” an angry DeLauro said.

This week, DeLauro hopes to win approval of two amendments to the defense authorization bill the Pentagon would  find hard to ignore.

One would prohibit the DOD from entering into a contract with Rosoboronexport “unless the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State and Director of National Intelligence, certifies that the firm ceased transferring weapons to Syria, Russia pulled out of Crimea, Russian forces have withdrawn from the eastern boarder of Ukraine, and that Russia is not otherwise actively destabilizing Ukraine.”

The second amendment is even more straightforward. It would “prohibit contracts or subcontracts with Russia’s state-arms dealer Rosoboronexport and requires the termination of any current contract with the firm.” The amendment would also bar the Pentagon from entering contracts “with any foreign company that cooperates with Rosoboronexport to design, manufacture, or sell military equipment.”

There’s a similar tactic in play in the Senate that builds on existing sanctions on Russia.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced “The Russian Weapons Embargo Act of 2014,” last year that would forbid the direct or indirect use of U.S. tax dollars to enter contracts or agreements with the company and end all existing contracts.

The bill is sponsored by Sens. Dan Coats, R-Ind., John Cornyn, R-Texas; and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. It would forbid the direct or indirect use of U.S. tax dollars to enter into contracts or agreements with the company and end all existing contracts.

“Given Russia’s hostile actions in Ukraine, business as usual is unacceptable,” Coats said in a statement.

The bill’s sponsor are selling their legislation as a legitimate response to Russia’s aggression, but like Blumenthal, they have parochial interests too.

Texas is home to Bell helicopters, which is likely to compete against Sikorsky for the Afghan helicopter contract if Rosoboronexport is out of the picture. And Raytheon Analysis and Test Laboratory, which helps make sensors and weaponry for helicopters,  located in Indiana.

Thompson said Bell has a chance to beat out Sikorsky if the Rosonboronexport contracts are terminated.

“Bell helicopters are a relatively simple and sturdy alternative to the (Mi-17 transport) helicopters,” he said.

Thompson said the Pentagon chose Rosoboronexport to provide Afghanistan with helicopters because the Afghans are familiar with the Mi-17 and it’s relatively simple to fly, especially over the country’s mountainous and rugged terrain.

The Russian ‘copters are likely to be cheaper than anything Sikorsky or Bell could offer, and it would be easier for Rosoboronexport to supply and maintain the helicopters than a U.S. company that is thousands of miles away.

“These helicopters have been operating a long time in Afghanistan,” said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. “They know how to fly them and they know how to maintain them.”

Having failed to persuade the Pentagon to stop buying Rosoboronexport helicopters, Blumenthal and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., signed a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry that urged him “to strongly encourage our NATO allies and OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) participating states” to end any military contracts with Russian companies.

The Connecticut senators, joined by Cornyn, Coats and others, have also written President Obama asking him to include Rosoboronexport on the list of Russian companies under sanction.

Kerry and Obama have not heeded the requests.

The George W. Bush administration had slapped sanctions on Rosonboronexport in 2006 amid allegations that the company was helping Iran with its nuclear program. Obama lifted the sanctions in 2010 as part of an effort to reach out to Moscow.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ana Radelat Ana has written about politics and policy in Washington, D.C.. for Gannett, Thompson Reuters and UPI. She was a special correspondent for the Miami Herald, and a regular contributor to The New York TImes, Advertising Age and several other publications. She has also worked in broadcast journalism, for CNN and several local NPR stations. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Journalism.

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Equity issues dominate hearing on Lamont’s marijuana bill
by Kelan Lyons and Mark Pazniokas

The administration's testimony took up the hearing's first five hours. More than 130 people are signed up to speak.

Connecticut House joins national civil rights campaign over Black hair styles
by Mark Pazniokas

The Connecticut House voted for a bill intended to protect Black women from discrimination over their hair.

CT legislature poised to make early budget pledge to help cities and towns
by Keith M. Phaneuf

The state House is expected to approve more than $100 million in new, annual PILOT grants to municipalities.

Connecticut GOP picks Susan Hatfield as state chair
by Mark Pazniokas

Susan Hatfield, vice chair of the Connecticut Republican Party, will complete the term of the former chair, J.R. Romano.

Senator alleges voter fraud, but no complaint was filed
by Mark Pazniokas

Rob Sampson said a voter in his district was told an absentee ballot already had been cast in her name.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Lamont’s new vaccination priorities are simple and smart
by Richard Davies

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s new age-eligibility vaccine plan is simple, smart and straightforward. The more complicated the rules are, the greater the chance of screw-ups and of well-connected people getting their shots before they should. The governor is doing a good job.

Opinion Gas pipeline will threaten water quality, wildlife and wetlands
by Susan Eastwood

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has granted tentative approval of the 401 water quality certification for the Pomfret to Killingly natural gas pipeline. I urge DEEP to deny the 401 certification, as the proposed pipeline would violate the Connecticut’s water quality standards, and the conditions in the draft certification fail to protect our streams, wetlands, and wildlife.

Opinion Connecticut and the other Connecticut. Which will endure?
by Ezra Kaprov

What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘Connecticut’? Possibly, you think of a 43-year-old Puerto Rican man who arrived here with his family following Hurricane Maria. He works full-time as a machinist at the Sikorsky plant, and he coaches a prizefighter on the side.

Opinion COVID-19 increases urgency for legislature to pass medical aid-in-dying law
by Dr. Gary Blick

The COVID-19 crisis has exposed the profound tragedy of loved ones dying alone, in a hospital or nursing home, without the care and comfort of loved ones surrounding them. This pandemic also demonstrates the fragility of life, the limits of modern medicine to relieve suffering, and has magnified the systemic racial disparities in our healthcare system, resulting in higher hospitalization and death rates for people in communities of color. We must eradicate these disparities, so everyone has equal access to the full range of end-of-life care options.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO