Colombia is trying to recover budget funds that went to unscrupulous contractors in the United States as part of the work to maintain the airworthiness of Russian Mi-17 helicopters in the republic. This was stated at the Russian Embassy in Bogota.
The diplomatic mission clarified that in 2024, the Colombian Ministry of Defense agreed with an American company to repair the Mi-17 in the republic. However, the contractor in the United States never fulfilled its obligations after receiving the funds.
The Colombian side is conducting legal proceedings with unscrupulous contractors and conducting inspections in the local Ministry of Defense.
Colombia has been operating Mi-17 helicopters since the 1990s. In 2023, the contract with the Russian repair company NASC was blocked due to sanctions and the impossibility of settlements through the SWIFT system. The Republic found contractors in the United States, but they did not fulfill the terms of the contract.
Currently, the Colombian Air Force fleet includes six Mi-17-1B, five Mi-17-MD and seven Mi-17-V5. All rotorcraft were assembled at the Kazan Helicopter Plant from 1997 to 2009.