Venezuela Allocates $480 Million to Import 12 Su-30MK2 from Russia

Venezuela is to set aside $480 million to buy 12 Sukhoi Su-30MK2 in order to beef up its air force, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said in Caracas on Friday.
According to the Venezuelan defense minister, the nation’s authorities deem important "the continuous strengthening of the republic’s defensive capability along with redoubled efforts to improve public health and education".
"Despite a global oil price slump and the economic war being waged on this country, the president realizes the necessity for the armed forces to have what they need to have to accomplish the mission assigned by the constitution," the defense minister stressed. Padrino said a new Sukhoi jet batch would beef up the 23-aircraft fleet in service with Venezuela now.
President Maduro had voiced his intention to acquire Su-30 fighters from Russia in September 2015 - right after an aircraft of the type crashed in the state of Apure for an unknown reason while on patrol along the Venezuelan-Colombian border.
Venezuela and Russia signed a contract for 24 Su-30MK2 aircraft in 2006. The delivery was fulfilled in 2008.
Venezuela is the Latin American leader in terms of Russian armament imports..
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the country in 2013-2014 took delivery of 12 S-125 Pechora-2M (SA-3 Goa) surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems with 550 V600 (SA-3B) SAMs, 48 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled artillery systems, 123 upgraded BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, including armored recovery vehicles, 1,000 9M117 (AT-10) Bastion antitank missiles (delivered in 2011-2013), three S-300VM (SA-23) SAM systems with 75 9M82M (SA-23A) and 150 9M83M (SA-23B) SAMs, 12 Buk-M2 (SA-17) with 250 9M317 SAMs, 12 9A52 Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems (in 2013), 114 BTR-80A armored personnel carriers (in 2011-2014) and 92 T-72M1M main battle tanks (in 2011-2013).
defense-aerospace