Washington has imposed a number of economic sanctions on Russia in retaliation for that country's push into Ukraine.

Getting European allies to do the same has not always been easy, since many of those nations trade with Russia and fear getting hurt themselves.

But the Europeans are not the only ones balking: The Pentagon also buys Russian military hardware.

When U.S. military and intelligence satellites are shot into space, all the rocket engines that propel them are made by a state-owned enterprise in Russia. They're sold to a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, which has an exclusive contract with the U.S. government to launch those satellites.

At a Senate hearing this week, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., called it an outrage that one U.S. firm has a monopoly on that business, and that it depends entirely on Russia for its booster engines.

"The motor made by the consortium is made in Russia," McCain said. "That Vladimir Putin is responsible for our rocket motors should be a reason why we should be looking desperately for competition, rather than narrowing it," McCain said.

Facing McCain at the witness table was Frank Kendall, the Pentagon's top official for arms purchases. Kendall said the U.S. simply does not have a rocket engine that compares with the one made by the Russians.

"I've never been entirely comfortable with that dependency, and we have looked at, in the budget process, options a couple of times to try to do something about that, to remove that dependency," Kendall said. "But it just hasn't been affordable. And we've accepted that risk, and now that risk seems to be becoming much more real at this time."

That's the dilemma for the Obama administration: The desire to punish Russia collides with its reliance on Russian technology for national security priorities. For now, a resolution of sorts has emerged. A federal judge has issued an injunction barring any new deals with Russia's rocket engine supplier.

The rocket engines are not the only deal with Russia being challenged. The Pentagon also has 20 Russian military helicopters on order for Afghanistan's air force.

"I find it absolutely abhorrent and incomprehensible that this nation is providing taxpayer dollars to a Russian export agency that not only provides arms to [President] Assad in Syria, but also is in turn bolstering the Russian aggression in Ukraine," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat representing Connecticut, home to United Technologies, a leading helicopter manufacturer.

Blumenthal asked Kendall if the planned purchases of Russian helicopters could be scotched. Kendall did not rule that out.

"If we were statutorily ordered to, or if there was an order in the chain of command that told us to stop, then we would stop," he said. "But we hope that that does not happen ... because we need those helicopters for the Afghan air force."

Blumenthal insisted that American-made helicopters are superior to those made by Russia. Maybe so, said Sen. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. But they would not work for Afghanistan, he said.

"The reason that we buy Russian helicopters for the Afghans is those are the only helicopters that the Afghan pilots know how to fly," Smith. "Those are the only helicopters that they are equipped to maintain. If we take them away, we cannot simply replace them with American-made helicopters that they don't know how to fly. It's that simple."

But complex, too. Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., urged his colleagues not to make any hasty decisions about the Russian helicopters.

"It's important that we look at the entire picture," Levin said. "Sen. Blumenthal raises obviously an important point, but we've got to see why it is that the commanders feel that it's essential that they be delivered in terms of Afghan support."

Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Transcript

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

And the U.S. government has imposed a number of economic sanctions on Russia in retaliation for that country's push into Ukraine. Getting European allies to do the same has been difficult. Many of those nations trade with Russia and fear that it would damage their economies.

But the Europeans are not the only ones who are reluctant to curtail trade with Russia. The Pentagon is buying Russian technology and military hardware. NPR's national security correspondent David Welna has the story.

DAVID WELNA, BYLINE: When U.S. military and intelligence satellites are shot into space, all the rocket engines that propel them are made by a state-owned enterprise in Russia. They're sold to a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, which has an exclusive contract with the U.S. government to launch those satellites.

(SOUNDBITE OF SENATE HEARING)

SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: The motor made by the consortium is made in Russia.

WELNA: That's Arizona Republican John McCain. At a Senate hearing this week, he called it an outrage that one U.S. firm has a monopoly on that business and that it depends entirely on Russia for its booster engines.

(SOUNDBITE OF SENATE HEARING)

MCCAIN: That Vladimir Putin is responsible for our rocket motors should be a reason why we should be looking desperately for competition rather than narrowing it.

WELNA: Facing McCain at the witness table, Frank Kendall, the Pentagon's top official for arms purchases. Kendall said the U.S. simply does not have a rocket engine that compares with the one made by the Russians.

(SOUNDBITE OF SENATE HEARING)

FRANK KENDALL: I've never been entirely comfortable with that dependency. And we have looked at, in the budget process options a couple of times to try to do something about that to remove that dependency, but it just hasn't been affordable. And we've accepted the risk, and now that risk seems to be coming much more real at this time.

WELNA: And that's the dilemma for the Obama administration. The desire to punish Russia collides with its reliance on Russian technology for national security priorities. For now, a resolution of sorts has emerged. A federal judge has issued an injunction barring any new deals with Russia's rocket engine supplier.

The rocket engines are not the only deal with Russia being challenged. There's also helicopters. The Pentagon has 20 Russian military helicopters on order for Afghanistan's Air Force. Democrat Richard Blumenthal represents Connecticut, home to United Technologies, a leading helicopter manufacturer.

(SOUNDBITE OF SENATE HEARING)

SENATOR RICHARD BLUMENTHAL: I find it absolutely abhorrent and incomprehensible that this nation is providing taxpayer dollars to a Russian export agency that not only provides arms to Assad in Syria, but also is in turn bolstering the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

WELNA: Blumenthal asked the Pentagon's Kendall if the planned purchases of Russian helicopters could be scotched. Kendall did not rule that out.

(SOUNDBITE OF SENATE HEARING)

KENDALL: If we were statutorily ordered to or if there was an order in the chain of command that told us to stop, then we would stop. But we hope that that does not happen.

BLUMENTHAL: Why do you hope that doesn't happen?

KENDALL: Because we need those helicopters for the Afghan Air Force.

WELNA: Blumenthal insisted that American-made helicopters are superior to those made by Russia. Maybe so, says Adam Smith, a top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, but they would not work, Smith says, for Afghanistan.

(SOUNDBITE OF SENATE HEARING)

CONGRESSMAN ADAM SMITH: The reason that we buy Russian helicopters for the Afghans is those are the only helicopters that the Afghan pilots know how to fly. Those are the only helicopters that they are equipped to maintain. If we take them away, we cannot simply replace them with American-made helicopters that they don't know how to fly. It's that simple.

WELNA: But complex, too. Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin urged his colleagues this week not to make any hasty decisions about the Russian helicopters.

(SOUNDBITE OF SENATE HEARING)

SENATOR CARL LEVIN: It's important that we look at the entire picture. Senator Blumenthal raises, obviously, an important point, but we've got to see why it is that commanders feel that it's essential that they be delivered in terms of Afghan support.

WELNA: So despite the tensions over Ukraine, the Russian helicopter deal still seems to be flying. David Welna, NPR News, Washington. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

300x250 Ad

300x250 Ad

Support quality journalism, like the story above, with your gift right now.

Donate