Five U.S. defense firms have invited Russia for the first time to become a subcontractor on the delivery of Russian-made ammunition for coalition forces in Afghanistan, Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Friday.
The U.S. Army Contracting Command announced a tender on the purchase of non-standard weaponry and ammunition for UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in April.
“As a result Rosoboronexport received invitations from five U.S. government contractors to act as a subcontractor on the delivery of Russian-made ammunition,” the company said in a statement.
The U.S. firms include Alliant Techsystems Operations LLS, Chemring Ordnance, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Bulova Technologies Group Inc and Arma Global Corporation.
Rosoboronexport has agreed to supply the majority of requested equipment and ammunition and sent price estimates to the contractors.
The company has also sent letters warning the contractors about the danger of buying poor-quality counterfeit ammunition from ex-Soviet countries under expired licenses.
Rosoboronexport has asked the U.S. Army Contracting Command to prevent the access of unlicensed companies to the tenders involving the delivery of Russian weaponry and ammunition.
The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier expressed concern over the presence of counterfeit Russian military equipment and ammunition on the U.S. market.