December 1, 200619 yr From DefenseNews Posted 12/01/06 10:39 Russia Delivers First Sukhoi Fighters to Venezuela By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, MOSCOW The first two Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets destined for Venezuela under a deal slammed by Washington have been dispatched from Russia, officials said Nov. 30. “Two Su-30MK2 have been sent on board an An-124 transport plane to the Venezuelan Air Force” from Komsomolsk-on-Amur, a city in far eastern Russia where the planes are made, said an official from Russia’s arms export agency. Two other fighter jets destined for Venezuela according to a deal that has riled the United States will be delivered by the end of the year, the official told RIA-Novosti news agency. In July, Venezuela’s firebrand President Hugo Chavez contracted more than $3.5 billion dollars (2.6 billion euros) in arms supplies from Russia, including 24 Sukhoi jets to replace aging F-16s from the United States. [Merry Christmas, Hugo. Love, Uncle Ivan]
Create an account or sign in to comment