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- Sep 14, 2004
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Chavez, in an effort to reward the poor of Venezuela for tolerating his socialist regime, has decided to purchase Russian submarines. Of course submarines are just what Venezuela needs to improve the lot of Caracas slum dwellers.
Chavez visited Russia from June 30 to July 2 a trip during which some expected an agreement to be announced but speaking on Venezuelan national television on July 4, he said only that he intends to buy submarines, helicopters and cargo aircraft from Russia.
The submarines are only for defense, Chavez said. Defense from what? The Columbian Navy? American nuclear attack subs?
In Moscow, Sergei Chemezov, head of the Russian state military export monopoly Rosoboronexport, confirmed July 5 that negotiations are under way to sell submarines to Venezuela.
Chemezovs aide, Innokenty Naletov, told a press conference in St. Petersburg that Venezuela seeks to buy five Project 636 Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines for about $200 million apiece. The submarines, similar to those in service in the Russian navy and exported to China, India and Iran, would be built in Russia.
Venezuela operates two German-built Type 209 submarines dating from the mid-1970s. Plans to replace the subs and expand the submarine fleet were announced in September 2005, and Chavez has said he would like to buy nine new submarines along with more than a hundred surface ships.
Although Venezuela owns a relatively sizeable fleet of frigates, fast missile craft and amphibious ships, all of its combatant ships are more than 20 years old.
Russia and Venezuela last year signed military export contracts for $3.5 billion, which made the Latin American country Moscows fifth-biggest arms client, according to Rosoboronexport. Chemezov speaking with journalists July 2 while showing Chavez the Rostvertol helicopter plant in Rostov-on-Don said that 10 of 24 Su-30MK2 fighters and 15 of 53 Mi-17V5, Mi-35 and Mi-26 helicopters contracted by Venezuela last July already have been delivered.
Also, 100,000 Kalashnikov AK47 assault rifles have been shipped to Venezuela and a plant for licensed manufacture of the Kalashnikovs is being built by Russian specialists in Venezuela.
http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=2899007&C=america