Venezuela to Buy 50 Russian Mig-29 Fighters

Sept. 17, 2004

Venezuela plans to acquire 50 of Russia�s most advanced warplanes, the UPI news agency reported citing U.S., European and Latin American military intelligence officials who are concerned about regional ambitions harbored by President Hugo Chavez.

The UPI also reported details of agreements being negotiated with Russian defense contractors for a large number of super jet fighters fitted with state-of-the-art weaponry. In letters addressed last year to the director general of Russian Aeronautic Corp., Nicolai F. Nikitin, the Venezuelan air force requested the �latest version� of the MiG 29 SMT equipped with high-tech weaponry, including radar-guided missiles and 2,000-pound bombs.

link
www.mosnews.com...

the next step for US after the not succesfull Coups could be an invasion?
theres a lot of oil in that country...its not a blessing these days

Not that the Us plans to invade but if they think a couple of migs would defeat the Us they are dumb as a brick. Although they would be good against their regional countries just not against the US.

IMO The Mig-29SMT would be able to outperform a F-15 Eagle Westpoint. Don't underestimate that bird, she can fly and kick some serious a$$. It's just a pity we've never seen the Mig-29 verse the US in a top-notch airforce.

IMO i think some SU-30 MK's would go down nice as well for the Venezualans.

What's this talks of regional ambitions? they are trying to make the man sound like some crazy warmongering dictator?! all he's done has help the poor and trying to stop the capitalists exploiting the poor by stealing their oil and not sharing the riches. The poor people in Latin America need all the help they can get. All I see is a move to bolster Venezualan defence capabilities to protect its sovereignty.

Need I remind you the current recall vote in Venezuala was more legitimate than the Florida 2000 debacle.

However the US has the best airforce and some of the best pilots in the world and there's a hell of a lot of other aircraft supporting the Eagle up there so the Venezualans would get their arses kicked easy.


thanks,
drfunk

One thing I have read is that the -29SMT has the advantage at close-medium ranges, as the optical (or is it laser?) tracking on the helmet gives a huge advantage. The F15 has the advantage at medium-long range with its powerfull radar and missiles.

Well the US will be getting their f-22's soon what are they concerned about?

Originally posted by WestPoint23
Not that the Us plans to invade but if they think a couple of migs would defeat the Us they are dumb as a brick. Although they would be good against their regional countries just not against the US.

Westpoint you have a lot to learn. I ask you what do we have thats so much better than the Mig-29. The F-22 you'll probably say, well we don't currently have any F-22s in service. Plus those aren't completly stealthed. Lets see the F-15 is good but specs show that the F-15 isn't that much better. Our F-16s and F-18s are good but not spectacular. As for the F-14 well sadly thats being retired. The Mig-29's specs show it as an awesome fighter, but sadly inferior pilots have given it an un impressive record. It all dpends on the pilots. Of course I don't see Venezula bringing out its best. But I wonder what does Venezula want with Mig-29s. Besides the US is going to be to busy with Iran and North Korea probably.

Does anybody know the relative price differences between a Mig-29 SMT and SU-30MMK? Its intersting to see that they opted for the Mig over the Sukohi. Unless it was a better budget fit etc.

Originally posted by drfunk
IMO The Mig-29SMT would be able to outperform a F-15 Eagle Westpoint. Don't underestimate that bird, she can fly and kick some serious a$$. It's just a pity we've never seen the Mig-29 verse the US in a top-notch airforce.

IMO i think some SU-30 MK's would go down nice as well for the Venezualans.

What's this talks of regional ambitions? they are trying to make the man sound like some crazy warmongering dictator?! all he's done has help the poor and trying to stop the capitalists exploiting the poor by stealing their oil and not sharing the riches. The poor people in Latin America need all the help they can get. All I see is a move to bolster Venezualan defence capabilities to protect its sovereignty.

Need I remind you the current recall vote in Venezuala was more legitimate than the Florida 2000 debacle.

However the US has the best airforce and some of the best pilots in the world and there's a hell of a lot of other aircraft supporting the Eagle up there so the Venezualans would get their arses kicked easy.


thanks,
drfunk

MiG-29 can outperform F-15? No kidding? Let's take a look at the combat record of MiG-29


Air victories: 12 + 1 UAV

1987 MiG-29 (Russia) - 4 x Su-22 (Afghanistan / Mujahedin)
19.01.1991 MiG-29 (Irak) - 1 x Tornado GR Mk1 (UK / RAF)
24.02.1996 MiG-29UB (Cuba) - 2 x Cessna 337 (USA / civilian)
25.02.1999 MiG-29 (Eritreea) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Ethiopia)
26.02.1999 MiG-29 (Eritreea) - 2 x MiG-21 (Ethiopia)
15.05.2000 MiG-29 (Eritreea) - 1 x Su-25 (Ethiopia)
18.05.2000 MiG-29 (Eritreea) - 1 x MiG-21 (Ethiopia)
28.04.2008 MiG-29 (Russia) - 1 x UAV (Georgia)


Losses in air to air combat: 20

2.06.1989 F-15C (Israel) - 2 x MiG-29 (Syria)
17.01.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 3 x MiG-29 (Irak)
19.01.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x MiG-29 (Irak)
25.02.1999 Su-27 (Ethiopia) - 2 x MiG-29 (Eritreea)
18.03.1999 Su-27 (Ethiopia) - 2 x MiG-29 (Eritreea)
24.03.1999 F-16AM (Holland) - 1 x MiG-29 (Serbia)
24.04.1999 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x MiG-29 (Serbia)
26.04.1999 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x MiG-29 (Serbia)
4.05.1999 F-16CJ (USAF) - 1 x MiG-29 (Serbia)
18.05.2000 Su-27 (Ethiopia) - 1 x MiG-29 (Eritreea)
14.09.2001 F-15C (Israel) - 2 x MiG-29 (Syria)

so the result F-15 vs MiG-29 is 13:0

reply to post by kondor


Training matters a lot more than the plane. If you sit a monkey into a F-22, they F-22 will suffer losses against a ME262 messerschmidt. Comparison of war losses dont really mean anything unless the losing party had a much much more advanced system, which could signal a fundamental flaw design.

reply to post by THE_PROFESSIONAL


Training matters, but even a novice pilot can take out an WWII jet with an F-22. Your comparison is exaggerated.
Put a novice pilot in an F-16 against a veteran crew in an F-4; the Falcon can outturn and outclimb the Phantom, it has no chance.
How do you explain than the score Su-27 vs MiG-29 5:0? Ethiopia and Eritreea are 3rd world countries!

reply to post by kondor


Yes technology matters a lot, but if a high tech plane goes down, it is a fundamental design flaw. Just like how the ah-64 that was shot down by small arms fire. Small arms fire is not designed to take out an apache, yet it still was able to do so, signaling a fundamental design flaw. If small arms can take it out, a system designed for the express purpose of defeating said aircraft will then most certainly take it out.