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Posted on 09/18/2004 10:55:07 AM PDT by klpt
Venezuela plans to acquire 50 of Russia’s most advanced warplanes, the UPI news agency reported citing U.S., European and Latin American military intelligence officials who are concerned about regional ambitions harbored by President Hugo Chavez.
The UPI also reported details of agreements being negotiated with Russian defense contractors for a large number of super jet fighters fitted with state-of-the-art weaponry. In letters addressed last year to the director general of Russian Aeronautic Corp., Nicolai F. Nikitin, the Venezuelan air force requested the “latest version” of the MiG 29 SMT equipped with high-tech weaponry, including radar-guided missiles and 2,000-pound bombs.
“The plane must have the capacity to carry no less than 4 tons of bombs,” says the document signed by the Venezuelan air force commander, Maj. Gen. Regulo Anselini Espin, a copy of which has been obtained by UPI. Venezuelan generals have told European diplomatic officials that they need the MiGs to protect the Panama Canal. When asked against whom, the air chiefs wouldn’t specify.
Venezuelan defense officials have said that they were turning to new defense partners because of deteriorating military relations with the United States. More than half of Venezuela’s 22 F-16s are currently grounded due to a lack of maintenance and spare parts. But Colombia and other neighboring countries fear that the new arms would enable Chavez to impose his geopolitical and ideological agenda.
“The total quantity of airplanes provided is of 40 single-seat planes and 10 twin-seat planes,” Venezuelan air force documents state. Defense analysts point out that two-seat MiGs are normaly used for deep, surgical bombing missions.
Ten aircraft are due to be delivered within 18 months of the contract being signed, which also involves setting up a MiG 29 maintenance center in Venezuela, according to air force officials who outline plans for long-term supply and maintenance. “Future deliveries will be made with the participation of the specialists of the Venezuelan air force in the joint assembly of the planes and their test flights following their assembly on Venezuelan territory,” say letters of intent with Russia.
There are already several MiGs in Venezuela, according to Colombian defense officials who have shown UPI photographs of the planes being prepared for flight testing at the Libertador air base in Maracaibo. A U.S. intelligence source also claims that MiGs have been spotted flying near the Caribbean island of Curcao.
Members of Venezuela’s military say handpicked pilots are undergoing flight training in Cuba, which has six MiG 29s. Cuba is the only country in Latin America, except Peru, to be equipped with the advanced Russian model. Fidel Castro offers various types of security assistance to Venezuela in exchange for oil.
Russian and Cuban military officials enjoy warm relations with the Venezuelan Defense Ministry, according to American and EU diplomatic sources who believe that Russia is prepared to sell the full MiG package. The sources say that Russia’s defense attache, air force Col. Oleg Krayotin, holds regular meetings with Venezuelan Defense Minister Garcia Carneiro.
Venezuelan contracts are also being drawn up for Russian Mi-17 heavy-lift helicopters as well as radar systems from China, according to U.S. intelligence reports.
America will need to take some military action
here in the near future.
It looks like Chavez is planning to extend his communist Bolivarian Republic to his neighbors. Thanks, Jimmy Carter, you commie despot-loving idiot!
With no oil revenues, how are they going to pay for them? I suspect that Russia is going to have another uncollectible account on its hands.
Russia, China, Cuba, Venzuela, NK, the axis of communism. Brazil on the way. While we slept, the rest of the world has been busy.
1.http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/mig-29smt.htm
If Im not mistaken,this is the second order for the Mig-29SMT,after Algeria.As of now,the most advanced Mig-29s fly with the Malaysian & Indian airforces,though they are pure interceptors.
2.http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/MiG-29K.html
The Mig-29K is a modified carrier borne fighter,based on the Mig-29SMT.It is being acquired by the Indian navy to use on it's new carriers.It will differ from the SMT in that it has a strengthened undercarriage & more advanced avionics(in India's case,Israeli or French).
"It looks like Chavez is planning to extend his communist Bolivarian Republic to his neighbors. Thanks, Jimmy Carter, you commie despot-loving idiot!"
No, that can't be. The lefties in this country told us that all Chavez wants to do is take stuff away from the rich and give it to the poor.
But, come to think of it, they never specifically said the rich and poor of Venezuela only...
an update on the long rumored mig purchase for your files
No need to worry. We all know how well high tech weapons work for inept and corrupt third world countries. They would lose all these weapons within hours if they tried to mix it up with us. The US and Britain rule Earths atmosphere, period.
Sorry, headline should read "Venezuela to Buy 50 Russian Mig-29 TARGETS"
Well, if they turn out to be anything like the Peruvian Migs, I wouldn't worry too much!!!
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My Campaign Button Page
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The US yes,Britain,well im not sure-they are taking out a huge chunk of their airforce(Jaguars & Tornadoes) & the Eurofighter will not be what it is touted to be till the Meteor AAM comes online by 2010.Id rate Israel in 2nd place .
Little business south of us.
Sounds like he is buying some Raptor food.
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