Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Monday, April 3, that Venezuela plans to buy 30 more Russian helicopters for its military. Chavez also said that Venezuela was forced to scrap a deal to buy military planes from Brazilia’s Embraer, and would therefore look to Russia to buy combat fighters as well.

Chavez was speaking at the aerial demonstration of three newly bought Russian helicopters. He suggested that new helicopters would help Venezuela if the United States were one day to mount an attack. “The helicopters that have begun flying in Venezuelan skies are like true steel tigers,” Chavez said, quoted by Associated Press. He added that Mi-17 helicopters, mounted with rocket-launchers, will help Venezuelan troops as they train with a new emphasis on “wars of resistance, anti-imperialist war.”

Army commander Gen. Raul Baduel said the military plans to buy a total of 20 Mi-17s, 10 Mi-35s and three Mi-26T helicopters from Russia to be used in defense as well as counter-drug patrols along the border with Colombia. “This year, we should have 15 helicopters of the 33 that are expected in our country,” Baduel told state television. Baduel’s announcement was the first of plans to buy 33 Russian helicopters. Russia agreed to sell 15 to Chavez’s government last year for $201 million.

President Chavez also said Venezuela was forced to scrap a deal to buy military planes from the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA, or Embraer, because the United States had opposed the transfer of US technology used in the Super Tucano planes.

“We wanted to buy some Brazilian training aircraft for our pilots ... the U.S. has stopped that operation,” Chavez, who was quoted by Reuters, told an audience at the helicopter event. “It’s a pity for Brazil because it was a good deal ... we are ready to buy Russian fighters to have them here defending the skies.”


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CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela on Tuesday received the first Russian military transport helicopters purchased by President Hugo Chavez's government in a broad arms program that has caused concern in Washington.

State television showed a huge Russian cargo aircraft landing at a Maracay air force base to the west of Caracas carrying the first three MI-17V-5 helicopters officials say will be used for military, civilian or rescue operations.

"The first three MI-17 helicopters will be used by the army. In military terms, they are known as assault helicopters, but are also helicopters with multiple uses and will serve to help in national development," Army commander Raul Baduel said.

Defense Minister Adm. Orlando Maniglia said the helicopters could be used to help in social programs as well as to beef up troop transportation along the frontier if necessary.

Venezuela expects to take delivery of up to 35 Russian helicopters through three contracts with a total of ten arriving this year, he said. Last year Venezuela signed a $120 million deal for the first ten aircraft.

Venezuela and the United States have sparred this year over Chavez's campaign to revitalize his country's armed forces after the Venezuelan leader blasted Washington for moving to block sales of Spanish and Brazilian military equipment to Caracas.

U.S. officials brand the left-wing former army officer a destabilizing influence in the region and have tried to halt arms purchases containing U.S.-made technology that requires Washington's approval for sales.

Chavez, a self-styled socialist revolutionary allied with Cuba, has become one of U.S. President George W. Bush's fiercest critics. Slamming U.S. foreign and free-trade policies, he has sought out closer commerce and energy ties with South American neighbors and countries such as Iran and China.

Venezuela, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, still supplies around 15 percent of U.S. energy imports though Chavez has warned recently the United States will get no more Venezuelan crude if Washington "crosses the line" as ties fray.

Venezuela's armed forces will soon receive the first delivery of 100,000 Russian-made Kalashnikov automatic rifles to replace aging FAL rifles. Officials also hope to get Spanish military transport planes and patrol boats and Brazilian aircraft despite U.S. opposition to the deals

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Venezuela shows interest to Russian multifunctional airplanes of Su-30MK and Su-35 series, deputy director general of Sukhoi aircraft holding company (AHC) Alexander Klementev states. As he says, this interest “has been confirmed during negotiations at various management levels". “I think, that in the foreseeable future, as it seems to me before current year expires, we shall have some intermediate results achieved in this matter,” A. Klementev stated.
Answering a question on tentative dates when Su-35s may be delivered to Venezuela, he said: “It is difficult to comment on this issue, as Rosoboronexport company is directly responsible for promoting military equipment items ".”Everything, that depends on us, we do in full scope,” Sukhoi AHC deputy director general specified. He announced, that a model of a super-maneuverable multifunctional fighter of Su-35 series would be exhibited on Sukhoi AHC exposition site at 14th International Air & Space Fair FIDAE-2006 to be held in Santyago (Chile) 27.03-02.04 2006. “Su-35 is a machine, which we put a stake on, while entering new markets and promoting our advanced products there,” A. Klementev noted. According to experts, Su-35 fighter is a profoundly modified design of Su-27/27SM prototypes. Su-35 is featured by a new air engine to be installed, having thrust as much as 14 tons (rather than 12.5 ton), and a new airborne equipment, including Irbis onboard radar. The fighter is also to be armed with new missiles of different class.

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Sometime ago it was announced that Venezuela intended to buy 50 Mig-29 figters, now some rumours about a more agressive fighter the SU-35.

It have some logic because, Russia tried to sell the SU-35 to Brazil. My opinion is that Brazil wanted the aircraft but the pressure for not buying was too much. Brazil was already annoucing that it would start enrich urannium and is investing seriously in space. buying the most modern russian fighter with ofensive capabilities would attract US attention and much more pressure.




Since Russia is trying to sell their more advanced aircraft and wants to enter more serioulsy in South America, Venezuela after Brazil is the best candidate to receive such weapon.

For Venezuela would mean a strike plataform with a range superior to 4000 Km. with this plane they could even defend Cuba and i'm wondering if have sufficient fuel to reach Miami...





Now if we look to these maps, and put the circles above Venezuela we have an interesting range/interception capabilitie

Meaning that a squadron of SU-35 with anti-ship missiles, would be by far the most potent lethal weapon that a South American countrie possess with capabilitie to engage/threat US navy fleets.

Related articles:

Venezuela plans to acquire 50 Mig-29 fighters
South American emerging power: Brazil and Venezuela making strategic alliance - a lot of articles inside
Russian SU-30 beats US F-15

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