Posted on 05/21/2006 6:49:50 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
PRESIDENT Hugo Chavez confirmed today that Venezuela will buy Russian fighter jets during a planned visit to Moscow, and warned that Caracas could sell its US-made F-16s to Iran.
"We will soon be in Moscow because we will buy Russian fighter jets to defend these skies and land," Mr Chavez said in a speech on state-owned television.
Mr Chavez hailed the Russian Sukhoi fighters as "the best in the world, 100 times better than the F-16s".
The leftist leader did not say when he planned to travel to Russia, but Venezuela's ambassador to Moscow has said the trip could take place in August or September.
Mr Chavez also said he supports Venezuelan General Alberto Muller Rojas's recommendation to sell the F-16s. Caracas says Washington refuses to supply replacement parts for the warplanes.
The United States has ordered an arms sales ban against Venezuela, accusing Caracas of failing to provide assistance in the "war on terror".
"General Muller made an interesting statement - he said that if they do not want to sell us the F-16 parts, we would sell the planes," Mr Chavez said. "Why lose the money? It's millions of dollars, so Muller said we would sell them to Iran, and that is possible."
But the United States has indicated that it would not allow Venezuela to sell the F-16s to Iran.
"Any time you have the sale of US military equipment to a foreign government, there are clauses and there are agreements that are signed," US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said last week.
"And part of those agreements are that, without the written consent of the United States, you can't transfer these defence articles, and in this case F16s, to a third country," he said.
"And I would expect that, even if such a request were made, that it would not be forthcoming from the US government," Mr McCormack said.
Chavez has no clue, the F-22/A Raptor has a performance envelope which far exceeds the F-16. Quite simply there is nothing else in production anywhere else in the world that can compete with it.
..providing he has enough cash to buy enough SU47s to make a difference... then again, with all the rampant oil speculation giving our enemies money hand over fist to purchase the weapons...
another obstruction against the US and China/Russia getting access to that oil.
Like Iran will buy a bunch of hanger queens to add to the ones they already have (old F14's).
it worked for Iraq...har har har..
Incorect. The Iranians have managed to keep about 30 of those F-14s airworthy thanks to the Soviets and the black market not to mention their fleets of F-4s and F-5s.
They fly.
They may even have a gun that works.
In a stretch of imagination and impracticability beyond most reason, let's say they have a radar package shoehorned in from a 1980's version of from Soviet Block fighter (tubes and all!)
What they have are manned targets for any power with reasonably up to date aircraft.
Right on. :-)
LOL, sounds like more of a pseudo real-life training exercise for our air force!
He's looking to get SU27's and SU30's.
Also, the VENAF can't fly worth a crap due to their low aircraft maintenance rating. Less than 50% of the birds can get off the ground - that's why he wants to sell them to Iran.
Oh, to be a used car salesman in Venezuela today....
Hell, Chavez should sell me one cheap, I could do a little crop dustin'! ( LOL)
Not suprised....
Actually, that accuasion was made to keep the US off of Russia's back and to confuse us. Venezuela got new rifles in the end, and are getting permits to produce AK-103's, AK-74M's, and other Russian weaponry on their soil.
Ping
Other sources refuted that as disinformation planted by the Russians and Venezuelans.
Putin, the neo-Soviets, and his Chinese allies are testing the US.
Su-47 uses a plasma stealth capability. Also, Russia has functioning MiG-1.44 aircraft, which are knockoffs of the F-35.
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