WOLVERINES!!!
Posted on 02/22/2006 6:50:01 PM PST by Thunder90
Venezuela has received the first three of at least 10 military helicopters purchased from Russia.
Military officials say the three MI-17 helicopters arrived Tuesday in Caracas.
Venezuela bought the helicopters as part of a $120 million deal signed last March. Caracas also agreed last year to buy 100,000 Russian-made Kalashnikov assault rifles.
U.S. officials have criticized the deals, saying they could trigger an arms race, destabilizing the region.
MI-17s can be used in an assault role or as a transport craft. Venezuelan military officials say the helicopters will be used to patrol the border with neighboring Colombia.
The remaining helicopters bought from Russia are transport helicopters.
From the article it appears the purchase was the MI-35. Here's the spec.
Mi-35 Combat-Transport Helicopter
mi35_001.jpg (28986 bytes)Mi-35 Combat-Transport Helicopter is intended to perform the following missions:
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engagement of ground targets;
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fire support to ground units;
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battlefield air interdiction;
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engagement of air targets;
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engagement of enemy assault units in landing zone;
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provide fire support to operational tactical and tactical airborne troops during their flight to landing zones and subsequent combat actions.
Mi-35 and Mi-35P versions with different gun armament sets are available.
The helicopter can be reequipped in the following versions: combat version, assault-transport version, ambulance version.
The helicopter is equipped with gun- rocket armament and additional equipment. The assault-transport version can airlift up to eight fully equipped troopers. The ambulance version can airlift four injured troopers (two seated and two on stretches) with one medical attendant. The transport version can airlift cargo weighing up to 2,400 kg on external sling or up to 1,500 kg in cargo cabin.
The helicopter can be refurbished during operation.
The helicopter is powered by two turboshaft TV3-117 engines, developing 2,200 hp each, and AI-9V an auxiliary power plant.
The flight control is performed from two cabines: pilot’s cabin and that of the pilot/operator.The pilot/operator cabin is fitted with override controls and instrument panel with pilot-navigation equipment. It ensures easy flight in IFR weather conditions and provides the pilot/operator with capability to fly and land the helicopter when the pilot can not do it. It also provides training capability.
The helicopter is also fitted with electronic, communications and navigation aids to ensure day/night flights in VFR and IFR weather conditions and enroute flight.
The radio communications system ensures reliable two-way radio communication with ground stations, other helicopter’s radio aids, intercom communication between crew members to navigate the helicopter or land it in poor visible conditions.
The pilot and pilot/operator cabins are reliably protected from 7.62 mm bullets with front armoured glass and side armor plates. The fuel tanks are filled with porous fillers to prevent fuel leaks and explosions when heat.
The helicopter is also fitted with anti-missile means to provide protection against missiles with homing heat seekers. They comprise the ASO-2V shaft dispenser, optronic countermeasures equipment and infrared suppression exhaust mixer boxes over exhaustengine dusts.
The helicopter is fitted with a pilot’s warning radiation station.
Composition of Armament
Helicopter armament comprises:
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“Shturm-V” high- precision guided weapon complex with “Ataka” missile;
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UNM/guns/ mines units;
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30 mm gun Gsh-30 for Mi-35P version;
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Gsh-23L turret-mounted gun for Mi-35 version;
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Sighting system.
The installment on helicopter of “Igla-V” “air-to air” guided missiles is possible. The helicopter can be equipped with:
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4 ... 8 anti-tank missiles;
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2 ... 4 80 mm UNM units (each with 20 p-s);
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2 ... 4 240 mm UNM;
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4 50/100/250-kg bombs or 2,500-kg bombs. Besides, the installment of two universal units, each with three machine guns or grenade launcher, or two universal units each with Gsh-23L gun is possible. The troopers can personal weapons through open blisters. High-precision sighting system and effective amunition set ensure destruction of various ground and sea-surface targets.
Modernization Program
Modernization program is envisaged combat effictiveness by means of:
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new armament;
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enhanced combat survivability;
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round-the-clock low-altitude flying;
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reduced pilot work load;
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improved flight and maintenance characteristics.
To ensure round-the-clock employment of the Mi-35 helicopter the following items can be installed:
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flight-control, navigation and indication system comprising multi-purpose LCDs, computers, GPS system and other up-to date information devices;
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the GOES-331 round-the-clock observation and sighting system to acquire data via thermal vision and low-level TV channels, as well as from a laser range finder.
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the GEO-ONV1 night-vision goggles based on the 3rd generation optronic converters.
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adaptation of cockpit lighting equipment for operation of night-vision goggles.
The modified helicopter fitted with a new main rotor system and cruciform tail rotor, 3,000-m hovering ceiling and high load factor.
The upgrade avionics and armament ensure ground tracking and engagement of ground and air targets, round-the-clock low-altitude flying, high self-containment in performing missions, round-the-clock use of armament including high-penetrability anti-tank missiles in IFR and VFR conditions. On-board computer, navigation system interfaced with GPS, NVS and low-light level infrared camera ensure enhanced operational effectiveness of the crew.
Basic Characteristics
Take-off weight, kg:
normal
maximum
10,800
11,500
Fuel capacity, kg:
standard fuel capacity
auxiliary fuel capacity
1,590
1,780
Dimensions (w/o rotors), m
length
width
height
main rotor diameter
18,57
4,765
4,390
17,2
Flight speed (ISA) at the altitude of 500 m, km/h:
maximum
cruise
310
260
Hovering ceiling out of ISA, m
3,100
Service ceiling (ISA),m
5,750
Flight range(ISA at the altitude of 500 m, 5% fuel emergency reserve), km:
with standard load of fuel tanks
ferry range
500
1,085
Engines (type, number, hp)
TV3-117VMA
2 x 2,200
Crew, persons
2
Assault team, persons
8
Armament Set Options
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4 “Ataka” GM + 2 “Igla-V” GM + 40 C-8 UNM +470 23 mm projectiles;
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16 “Ataka” GM + 40 C-8 UNM +470 23 mm projectiles;
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16 “Ataka” GM + 10 C-13 UNM +470 23 mm projectiles;
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8 “Igla-V” GM + 40 C-8 UNM +470 23 mm projectiles;
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8 “Igla-V” GM + 10 C-13 UNM +470 23 mm projectiles;
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80 C-8 UNM +470 23 mm projectiles;
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20 C-13 UNM +470 23 mm projectiles.
Pretty nasty beast with better missile counter measures and better duct armor on the engines.
Q: What do you call ten Russian helicopters piloted by Venezuelan crews?
A: Target practice.
The other five will sit on the tarmac because the Venis don't have competent pilots.
L
WOLVERINES!!!
The Putinists and Soviets won't answer anymore.
Whatever happened to the Monroe doctrine? There are now only three countries on the South American mainland that don't have Marxist leaning governments playing footsie with the Chinese, Russia, and even the Iranians. Columbia, Paraguay, and Peru are the holdouts, and Peru is very shaky.
MiG-29s
Name of last dictator tried to stare us down with Soviet weaponry.
I believe that would be Cuba's Fidel Castro. He is still there, although the nukes are gone. We'll have to watch out that Venezuela doesn't get nukes with a range to the US.
AFAIK MI-17 is transport hellicoppters not military. So far Venesualla got transport helos.
The Venezuelans bought 5 MI-35 Hind E helos from the Russians. ==
MI-35 is export copies of Mi-24 Hind with decrease capabilities. It is military indeed. Russia sold the lot of them especcially to Africa. Now Venesuella.
If Hugo is planning a "Red Dawn" with the help of the Putin's Russkie horde & the Communist Cubanos,==
BHAHAHAH!! What a wild imagination!:). DO you really beleive to that Amrica got invaded by cubanos and venesuelians?
There are some Venezuelans who are still friendly, you know. Ease up.
I'm jes' funnin'...
And I have several Venezuelan friends, who give me equal ribbing.
What's going to happen when hugo turns those guns on columbia? Will they ask for help? Will we allow hugo to take over the holdouts in the region?
Do you explain the oil markets jolting back & forth when Hugo triggers oil problems as "More Red Dawn insanity!"
If Hugo a hard-core communist, is not considered a threat to America's economics then it's natural you would not consider Putin a threat either.
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