ZHUKOVSKY (Moscow Region), August 14 (RIA Novosti) – The Pentagon is insisting on the purchase of Russian helicopters for Afghanistan regardless of US Congress protests, the delegation head of Russia's arms exporter Rosoboronexport told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

"Regardless of [US] congressmen's protests, different types of substitution, switching over to US production, the American military in the Pentagon are persistently insisting on purchasing Russian helicopters," Igor Sevastianov said at an international arms exhibition in the Moscow Region.

Russia earlier signed three contracts with the Pentagon on the delivery of more than 70 Mi-17B5 "Hip" transport helicopters for the Afghan Army. More here