Russia is ready to sell aircraft to Venezuela (MiG)

El Universal ^ | 2-9-2006 | El Universal

[Stellar Dendrite]

Venezuela has become an important customer of Russian weapons, a senior government official said when announcing a record sale of armament in 2005, AP reported.

Mikhail Dmitriyev, the head of the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, advised that Russia could sell MiG strike aircraft to Venezuela.

Queried about Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez' remarks on the possibility of buying MiG's, Dmitriyev answered that no concrete deal has been made. However, "if Venezuela desires to procure MiG's, we are ready to cooperate," he noted.

According to the official, Russia is also determined to open a maintenance site for any weapons to be sold to Venezuela.

Venezuela bought recently 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles. The United States strongly rejected the move when President Chávez suggested the possibility of arming one million people.

For his part, Army Commander Raúl Isaías Baduel declared Thursday in La Victoria, a major city of central Aragua state, that by the first quarter of 2006 three Russian-made, MI-17 choppers will arrive in Venezuela. The aircraft is to be used in military defense, keep internal law and order and engage the army in domestic development, official news agency ABN reported.

[Stellar Dendrite]

ping

[RetiredArmy]

Soviets continue, as always have, to sell arms to anyone with cold hard cash.

[Bigh4u2]

If anyone,for a minute, believes the Soviet Union is dead, isn't paying attention!

[jw777]

Russia, again, arming those who hate us.

[PittsburghAfterDark]

MiG's are nothing more than piloted target drones.

If you can't train your pilots, if you can't give them proper flying time and combat skills the most expensive aircraft in the world is nothing more than a radar lock target. Venezuala can purchase all the MiG's they want. It doesn't mean they have a real air force.

[spyone]

When does Putin's term expire?

[diverteach]

Man, I swear! Dealing arms with, china, Iran, Cuba, N.Korea, now venezuala.

It's like Russia figured out "Well, we can't overtake the US the old fashioned way cause we'll go broke trying. BUT, we can sell arms to other US enemies, let them spill thier blood fighting the Americans, and make buttloads of money to boot.

[CJ Wolf]

Cool! Target practice! Maybe we should sell them some gulstreams with guns too.

[Bigh4u2]

Usually, the 'Soviets' provide the training as well.

Of course it will be a while before they're not running into each other in the sky!

[adorno]

If anyone,for a minute, believes the Soviet Union is dead, isn't paying attention!

I never believed they were dead. In fact, I always believed that as long as there were any KGB or former communist leaders in power or making decisions in Russia, that they were still our enemy, Bush's friendliness with Boot-with-Poop notwithstanding.

[Bigh4u2]

"When does Putin's term expire?"

At the rate he's going? Probably never!

[jazusamo]

Russia can sell them the Migs but every plane has to have a pilot. If Chavez is going to confront us, those pilots better be a lot more adept than other third world pilots.

[Bigh4u2]

"Bush's friendliness with Boot-with-Poop notwithstanding."

Yeah. I've always wondered if he was being naive or just adhering to the old policy of 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer'!

[PittsburghAfterDark]

If an F-15C/D doesn't have a prayer against an F-22A a MiG won't come close. I don't care who's training the pilots.

[VaBthang4]

Cool...the more they sell'em the better.

I wanna see how well the F-22A can perform.

[quant5]

"It's like Russia figured out "Well, we can't overtake the US the old fashioned way cause we'll go broke trying. BUT, we can sell arms to other US enemies, let them spill thier blood fighting the Americans, and make buttloads of money to boot."

Meet the old boss, same as the old boss - THE WHO

[taillightchaser]

I love GWB, but I can't for the life of me why the administration sucks up to Putin,
The Russians are NOT allies of ours.

[ozzymandus]

MiG=target drone.

[adorno]

Yeah. I've always wondered if he was being naive or just adhering to the old policy of 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer'!

Our enemies have almost always used our kindness and friendliness and naivete to their advantage. It is our stupidity that keeps the enemy going. We must never make the same mistakes that Europe made prior to WW2. The enemy cannot take advantage of our good-will if we also let them know that we won't stand for their shennanigans and aggressive actions.

[demlosers]

F-22 Raptor targets.

[Steveone]

"100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles" Your basic Standard dirt-bag issue weapon of choice!

[adorno]

F-22 Raptor targets.

If the Venezuelans were smart, they'd bury their Migs underground, like Saddam did, before the U.S. went in. Either way, they lose.

[wjcsux]

BRING EM ON!

[right right]

Ditto!!!

[Thunder90]

Ping

[jeremiah]

The Venezualans will not go up against the US, but will us weapons to bully and build a greater empire in S. America. This should not be allowed to go forward. There is no reason for any country in S. America to feel threatened, any weapon is for offense only.

[Thunder90]

Chavez is trying to procure 1 million Kalashnikovs. And with a factory making Kalashnikovs, they will reach 1 million by the end of 2007. This does not include new Kalashnikovs for Cuba or Bolivia, either.

[Thunder90]

If venezuela gets Nicaragua on board (Ortega), they can take Mexico. With the help of Russia and China, they could try something stupid. (Anyone see Red Dawn?)

[Heyworth]

When does Putin's term expire?

When he does.

[jazusamo]

I think Chavez has his eye on his neighboring countries. He knows he has the oil to finance his ambitions. I don't think we'll stand by and let him do it. That's how we'll eventually be up against them.

[larryav8r]

I love GWB, but I can't for the life of me why the administration sucks up to Putin, The Russians are NOT allies of ours.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

[SquirrelKing]

If the Venezuelans were smart, they'd bury their Migs underground, like Saddam did, before the U.S. went in. Either way, they lose.

"They've got MiGs! Load the bunker-busters."

[strategofr]

"If you can't train your pilots, if you can't give them proper flying time and combat skills the most expensive aircraft in the world is nothing more than a radar lock target. Venezuala can purchase all the MiG's they want. It doesn't mean they have a real air force."

Against the US OK. What about against South Americans?

[Teacher317]

True, but it is one more step towards real problems.

[jeremiah]

By then we will have President Clinton. Did you hear GW's comments about her today? Sounded like a near endorsement. I don't know what the deal is with politicians, they act like enemies, then pal around behind the scenes. Actually I have an idea, but it pigeonholes me as a KOOK by Limbaugh.

[VOA]

Fox One!
Fox Two!

AFAIK, that was the dialog when the US shot down those two Libyan planes...

[FreeAtlanta]

The Russians need to make money somehow, and we can shoot them all down in 10 minutes with a couple of F-22s!

[bill1952]

When the bullet hits the bone.

[Tree of Liberty]

Time to re-apply and extend the Monroe Doctrine.

[El Gato]

MiG's are nothing more than piloted target drones. If you can't train your pilots, if you can't give them proper flying time and combat skills the most expensive aircraft in the world is nothing more than a radar lock target. Venezuala can purchase all the MiG's they want. It doesn't mean they have a real air force.

But there is an "IF" to all that. Migs are not that bad, typically only a generation or half a generation behind the latest US stuff, sometimes they are head in some areas.

But of course all Migs aren't created equal. Would these be Mig-21s, M-23s, Mig-27s, or Migh 29s? Makes a world of difference.

[El Gato]

But there is an "IF" to all that. Migs are not that bad, typically only a generation or half a generation behind the latest US stuff, sometimes they are head in some areas.

Meant to add that one thing Venezuela would have would be plenty of would be fuel for those flying hours. Of course getting good trainers to train their trainers is going to be a problem. The Russians don't have enough to loan them any, and for the most part neither do the Chinese. EuroWienies might manage, if they were of a mind to, but I sort of doubt the ones with the inclination would have the skilled trainers available.

[Michael Barnes]

Please, Please purchase those Russian birds. I'm anxious to really see what our tax dollars can do!

[Oztrich Boy]

Soviets continue, as always have, to sell arms to anyone with cold hard cash.

Ain't capitalism grand?

[Farmer Dean]

I heard their pilots ejected before their planes were hit.

[freedumb2003]

Are Migs worth a damn anymore?

Have they developed anything comparable to the F-22? I know they came close to matching the F-15 (but not quite).

Is anyone in the world even trying to keep up with the US on fighter technology? I saw something recently about a Mirage, but everything suggests it isn't even in the same park as even the F-117 (which we are retiring).

[Oztrich Boy]

[Steve Van Doorn]

This in my opinion is a good thing. The faster he spends the sooner his administration will come to an end. Unfortunately the people in Venezuela will have to suffer for it.

Although Cubans has never been able to change things partly due to JFK

[derllak]

Oh, why did you have to post that image? I was just totally jazzed by the f22 image in post 43, then I have to see that MM creature. Just brings home the fact that the left can and will at every opportunity negate the military advantage we may have over our enemies.

[Thunder90]

Watch out for the new Russian/Chinese knockoff of the F-22. It is the MiG 1.44 and the SU-47