Venezuela army gets first batch of Russia helicopters

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Venezuela army gets first batch of Russia helicopters

04.04.2006, 14.16

CARACAS, April 4 (Itar-Tass) - A ceremony of handing in of the first batch of Russia’s helicopters to the armed forces of Venezuela was held at the San Felipe military base 350 kilometres southwest of Caracas on Monday. Demonstration flights of three Mi-17V-5 helicopters steered by Venezuelan pilots preceded the ceremony. The pilots had undergone a five-month training at the Russian Combat Training Centre (CTC) of the Army Aviation based in Torzhok.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who attended the ceremony expressed deep gratitude to Russia for solidarity with the Venezuelan people. Chavez said that under the contract signed in March 2005 the Venezuelan armed forces will get 15 Mi-17V-5, Mi-35M and Mi-26T helicopters. The republic is planning to purchase a total of 33 Russian helicopters.

The Venezuelan president said the combat and piloting performance demonstrated by the helicopters in the sky was excellent. Russia is expected to supply to Venezuela Mi-26T helicopters that are most advanced and capable of transporting up to 280 people. Chavez called this helicopter an air fortress. He noted with pride that Venezuela will become the first country in the world to receive this helicopter.

According to the president, in attempts to undermine the republic’s military potential the United States stopped the supplies of spare parts for the F-16 aircraft to Venezuela. In this connection Chavez expressed readiness to replace the outdated American aircraft with modern combat helicopters of Russian make. “Russia has answered with all seriousness to our proposals on this issue and we are ready to purchase planes in the country,” stressed the Venezuelan president.