Posted on 09/17/2004 10:21:22 AM PDT by struwwelpeter
15:21 2004-09-17
American military intelligence confirms that the Venezuelan ministry of defense has several new MiG-29 fighters. The MiG-29s for now located on one of the bases in the region of Lake Maracaibo. The fighters periodically perform training flights in the region of Curacao island in the Caribbean sea, where they were detected by the American military. Information about Venezuela's MiG-29s was also confirmed by representatives of the Columbian ministry of defence.
The purchase of Russian fighters, according to the American military, is part of a long-term plan by the Venezuelan ministry of defense to upgrade their air forces. Venezuela plans to buy about 50 Russian MiG-29 fighters in various modifications, with 40 single-seat and 10 dual-seat models. Venezuela plans to spend about 5 billion dollars for the Russian fighters, including missiles and special aviation and airfield equipment.
Until recently the only MiG-29s in Latin America were used by Peru and Cuba. Cuba only has six MiG-29s.
(Excerpt) Read more at lenty.ru ...
You're welcome. :)
Thank you for the ping and the post!
"was" is correct, the Aces-II and new MB egress systems are all zero zero capable (and have been for many years).
BTTT
Anybody wanna bet that Ivan has arms salesmen in the neighboring countries selling state of the art Surface to air Missiles & radar controlled triple A. (anti-aircraft artilery)
Lawn Darts anyone?
These SA countries can't afford to properly train good pilot's, much less keep the aircraft fully operational. Venezuela had a Lockheed Martin C-130 simulator that was inoperable because they destroyed all the software for it. Unless the have full outside maintenance and pilot training, they will have junk in just a matter of a few years. These countries don't have the people with the technical knowledge to keep it operating. They may have money, but they sure won't spend it on parts or training.
They will watch "El Presidente" fly over military parades as a proper "Banana Republic" dictator.
Oil Money....misunderstanding, targets, I mean MIGs are the last thing they need to buy to help their people.
Well Venezuela may not have lots of competent pilots,but countries like India & China sure do,given their recent emphasis on logistics modernisation.India which uses Israeli as well as French subsystems on it's Russian weapons,is not a threat to the US-so no need to worry about them,but China is.When the EU lifts it's arms embargo on China in a year or 2,u will see scores of British,French & Italian companies line up to upgrade Chinese aircraft,ships,missiles etc.
However, if they are in the air I believe we can locate them before they get into range and take them out. It's what we did with Iraq in 91. I am not a even remotely an expert (or even an amateur) in aircraft weapons technology, but since we have had access to the Mig-29 technology for years I have to believe we have countermeasures. I acknowledge they could be used against their neighbors, but I doubt they needed MIGs to do that.
What's she doing going to a foreign country while there is still anyone in THIS country who might benefit from her volunteer work?
Carolyn
ping
these things are Sidewinder bait. If we decide to take on Chavez, those planes will be the first to go. A couple of Tomahawks at 3 AM would make short work of a Mig 29 base.
I don't think the 5 billion is for the fighters itself(u could get 80 F-15Es+ their weaponry for that).The report as u urself might have seen ,is pretty ambigious on the specifics.It says airfield equipment etc,so I think they are improving their logistical capabilities,which is not exactly cheap.
Did you mean the short range of the earlier Mig-29 or it's poor radar system.The Mig-29SMT ,which is the multi-role variant of the Mig-29 has larger internal fuel tanks & besides it can be refuelled in midair.Malaysian & Indian Mig-29s carry new 'Phazatron' radars & have the ability to fire the AA-12 ADDER missile(rated to be analogous to the US AMRAAM)-so that somewhat sorts out the long range capability.Moreover India can integrate it's Mig-29s to the Phalcon AWACS system it is getting from Israel,making it far more potent.About the Mig-29s that Poland is getting, I think the Germans did a lot of modifying themselves.The Poles can team up with the Israelis to enable it to launch the Python-4 or Derby AAMs or integrate the AMRAAM itself.
George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per centNOT A PING LIST, merely posted to:
Mikoyan Mig-29 Fulcrum:
Multi-Role Fighter
by Yefim GordonJane's How to Fly and Fight in
the Mikoyan Mig-29 Fulcrum
by Jon Lake
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