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Iraqi Mi-17, armed
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In December 2006, “Up to $750M in Weapons & Support for Iraq” covered the official Iraqi request for 20 Mi-17s. Iraq already operates Mi-17 medium transport and multi-role helicopters, which currently form the high end of the IqAF’s rotary-wing fleet and flew their first night mission [PDF] in December 2008. On the flip side, the country has also had poor experiences trying to source these helicopters abroad, including a contract with Poland that was eventually canceled due to quality problems.

In July 2008, WIRED Danger Room reported a $325 million contract to the Carlyle Group’s ARINC for 22 Mi-17s. That WIRED report raised a number of questions about the deal, which remain outstanding. Meanwhile, ARINC is also receiving related maintenance and training contracts…

Contracts and Key Events

IqAF gunnery training
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Aug 12/09: ARINC Engineering Services Ltd. in Annapolis, MD received an $11.1 million cost-plus-fixed-fee letter contract addition to finalize contract W58RGZ-09-0028, awarded on Oct 27/08 but not announced.

The contract involves contractor logistics support, performing maintenance and training Iraq personal to maintain this type of helicopter. It covers up to 17 MI-17 helicopters, with an option for 12 more months covering up to 27 MI-17 helicopters. Work is to be performed in Iraq, with an estimated completion date of Nov 03/10. One bid was solicited with 1 bid received by U.S. Army Contracting Command’s Aviation and Missile Command Contracting Center in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-09-C-0028).

June 1/09: Sharon Weinberger, who has covered the Iraqi Mi-17 saga for WIRED’s Danger Room (see July 25/08 entry), files a follow-on report for Aviation Week’s Defense Technology International. She notes that ARINC’s actual contract for the modified Mi-17s is with Air Freight Aviation, a Russian company based in the United Arab Emirates, adding:

“This arrangement has led to cost overruns and delays. The helicopters were supposed to be delivered starting in February, but the Defense Dept. concedes that the date for first delivery has slipped to 2010, and the contract is between 5 and 10% over the original $322-million budget. Officials insist, however, that the plan is to catch up with deliveries, completing the full contract on schedule. As of now, however, none of the helicopters has left Ulan Ude.”

March 27/09: Aeronautical Radio Incorporated (ARINC) in Annapolis, MD has received an $80.6 million firm fixed price contract for 22 “Mi-17CT helicopters in support of the Iraqi Government.” Work is to be performed at Warner Robins, GA (15%); Dubai, United Arab Emirates (20%, the routing company); and Ulan Ude, Russia, (65%, the Mil helicopter plant) with an estimated completion date of Aug 31/10. One bid was solicited and one bid received by the US Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation in Orlando, FL, which is managing the purchase (W900KK-08-C-0011).

It is not clear whether this Pentagon DefenseLINK announcement represents part of that $325 million award, or a separate deal. DID subscriber DJ Elliott of the Long War Journal adds:

“The April MNSTC-I Advisor says: “The American advisors have trained five squadrons of 55 pilots and 6 gunners.” This is all in relation to Mi-17s only. 4th Transport Squadron and 15th Special Operations Squadron of the IqAF already have their Mi17s. The type of Mi17s in your article’s report indicate another SpecOps Sq is to be built by Aug 2010; 24 birds per squadron is the standard for rotary-wing in the IqAF.

That leaves just two more Mi-17 Squadrons to buy (48; plus spares?) judging by the crew training program. The IqAF and MNSTC-I have stated before that they have 900 Mi17 pilots and engineers that just need refresher training. That is why the Mi17 is to be the primary transport helo…”

March 16/09: At a DoD roundtable [PDF], Col. Lawrence Avery Jr., the US force deputy director of MNSTC-I’s security assistance office:

”...they are in the process of purchasing Bell—in—Bell 407 armed scout, which’ll be a lightly armed—lightly armed helicopter. The first deliveries will be in a couple of years from now. And they purchased 24 of those, and they have a request in, as they evaluate their budget, for potentially buying 26 more, for a total of 50. So that’s what they’re—that’s what they’re in the process of buying.

They have Mi-17s that they already own. They have Mi-17s—the 22 that were talked about earlier that are (in bounds/inbound ?) that—they’re looking at options for maybe arming some of those.”

July 30/08: A WIRED Danger Room report adds that ARINC and the US Army would “route a Russian helicopter sale through a UAE-based firm in an attempt to avoid dealing with Russia’s [Rosoboronexport arms export agency, which is under American sanctions].” ARINC and Army PEO-STRI both declined to answer further questions, and WIRED has filed a Freedom of Information request.

July 25/08: WIRED’s Danger Room reports a $325 million contract to the Carlyle Group’s ARINC for 22 Mi-17s. That WIRED report raised a number of questions about the deal, beginning with a cost that could be up to 100% more than other Mi-17 orders around the world. The report also questioned the lack of any competitive solicitation, despite the existence of numerous Mi-17 sources, and brokers in North America and abroad.