VENEZUELAN AIR FORCE ANNOUNCES RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT

S E C R E T CARACAS 002319

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017
TAGS: MARR MCAP PGOV VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELAN AIR FORCE ANNOUNCES RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT
PURCHASE / ROSOBORONEXPORT SEES A LONG RELATIONSHIP

Classified By: Robert Downes, Political Counselor,
for Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Venezuelan Air Force announced on
December 5 the purchase of 12 Russian cargo aircraft to
upgrade their heavy lift and in-flight refueling capability.
In late October 2007, Rosoboronexport announced that it
planned to double or triple its defense industry contracts
with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) currently
estimated at USD 4 billion. A Rosoboronexport spokesman
added that patrol boats, landing craft, surveillance
helicopters and coastal missile batteries could be future
purchases. While many of these purchases reflect needed
upgrades to Venezuela's aging defense forces, some weapons
systems are in excess of Venezuela's needs.


2. (U) Venezuelan Air Force (FAV) Col. Oswaldo Hernandez
Sanchez reported that Venezuela would be buying 10 Ilyshin 76
(NATO Designation IL-76 Candid) cargo planes and two Ilyshin
78 (NATO Designation IL-78 Midas) refueling aircraft. Local
media reported that some aircraft would arrive in mid-2008
and the balance in 2009. The swept wing, heavy lift jet is
in the same category as the American C-141 Starlifter and
requires a crew of seven.


3. (S/NF) DAO asseses the FAV of currently having only two
operational C-130 cargo aircraft in Venezuela. The Russian
Antonov-12 Cub would be the Russian equivalent to the C-130.
Although President Chavez mentioned replacing his C-130 fleet
with Antonovs in a September 2006 speech, no further action
has been announced. The acquisition of the Il-76 represents
an order of magnitude improvement in Venezuela transport
capability. The IL-78 refueling variant is capable of
in-flight refueling of three aircraft, such as Venezuela's
new SU-30 fighters, simultaneously using the probe and drogue
method.


4. (C) Rosoboronexport representative Sergei Ladiguin told
the media in October that his company expected to double or
triple their estimated USD four billion Venezuelan arms
contracts in the coming years. Ladiguin envisioned contracts
for ships, fighter aircraft and attack helicopters as well as
Army ground systems. Although Venezuela has started contract
talks with Spain for patrol boats and the UK for hovercraft,
Ladiguin specifically mentioned Kamov surveillance
helicopters (possibly the KA-27 Helix),Murena landing craft
(Note: A hovercraft capable of landing a main battle tank,
similar to the U.S. Navy LCAC. End Note) and the Mirazh short
endurance patrol boat


5. (C) Comment: Venezuela has a relatively poor road and
rail network so an airlift capability, for humanitarian
crises or to move materials for government building projects
would be useful. The AN-12, however, might have been a
better solution for Venezuela since it is designed for short
take-offs and landings from crude runways, rather than the
heavy IL-76. The IL-78 is clearly intended to refuel Chavez'
fighter aircraft. The patrol boats and helicopters might be
a serious move to establish effective anti-narcotics patrols
but might just as easily be used to muscle in on foreign
fishing boats and exert territorial claims. Similarly, the
Murena hovercraft is excellent for traversing floodplains to
rescue victims, but several of them could also land a sizable
garrison on a disputed island. While Venezuela's new airlift
capabilities would be very useful to UN missions as well,
Venezuela has traditionally eschewed participating in
international humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts. End
Comment.


FRENCH