Venezuela's purchase of Russian arms to exceed USD 9.4 billion

in times of hard crisis...

During his visit to Venezuela last week, Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin did not mention Venezuela's interest in purchasing weapons, but as soon as he arrived in Moscow, the top Russian official said that Hugo Chávez's government intends to buy military hardware worth USD 5 billion.

"A Russian delegation has just returned from Venezuela, a country that intends to buy Russian arms worth more than USD 5 billion," Putin said at a meeting devoted to the development of the military-industrial sector, reported Russian news agency Ria Novosti.

With the amount disclosed by Prime Minister Putin, Venezuela will have spent about USD 9.4 billion in Russian military equipment.

Since 2001, under an agreement signed between Hugo Chávez and then President Vladimir Putin, Venezuela has purchased USD 4.4 billion in arms exported by Russia.

Purchases include 24 Sukhoi jet fighters, 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles, 53 multi-functional and combat helicopters and portable rocket launchers.

According to Russian military sources consulted by Interfax news agency, the Venezuelan government has also plans to buy three diesel-electric Varshavianka-class submarines, 92 T-72 tanks, several dozens of BMP-3 armored vehicles, 10 Mi-28N combat helicopters, an undisclosed number of Il-114 patrol airplanes, an unspecified number of Smerch multiple rocket launchers, and S-300PMU-2 Favorit, Antey-2500 and Tor-M2E air defense systems.

Military sources further mentioned Venezuela's interest in Mirazh patrol boats, Murena-E marine landing craft and coastal artillery mobile systems, capable to destroy vessels at distances of up to 130 kilometers.

Among other deals, Moscow is negotiating with Caracas the sale of several dozens of An-148 cargo/passenger and cargo transportation airplanes. Chávez has already announced the purchase of at least one Be-200 amphibious aircraft to fight forest fires.

Putin confirmed that Moscow granted Caracas a USD 2.2 billion loan to purchase arms, out of the USD 5 billion the government of President Hugo Chávez is willing to expend to buy Russian arms.

"The weapons contracts will be placed with leading Russian defense-industry enterprises, including IzhMash," said on Monday the Russian head of government.

Link:
http://english.eluniversal.com/2010/04/06/en_pol_esp_venezuelas-purchase_06A3697531.shtml

We need our own aircraft carrier, the Indians bought one!

"The Russian carrier Admiral Gorshkov is slated for delivery in 2012 with a complement of 45 MiG-29 fighter jets. Having the ship also will allow India to send adversary Pakistan a message when it sees fit."

Read more: http://dailyme.com/story/2010031200004980/russia-sell-aircraft-carrier-fighter-jets.html#ixzz0kQ7yAQHO"