MOSCOW, March 29. /TASS/. Chile’s capital Santiago on March 29 – April 3 is hosting the 19th international aerospace show FIDAE-2016, one of the largest in Latin America.

Russia is represented by fifteen organizations and weapons makers, including Rosoboronexport, Almaz-Antey, MiG, Helicopters of Russia and Bazalt. A total of 365 selections from Russia’s arms manufacturers are on display.

Latin America these days is one of the main markets for Russian defense industry products.

Details of the largest contracts for the supply of Russian weapons and military technologies to the countries of the region - in this special info bulletin from TASS.

Venezuela

Venezuela is the largest buyer of Russian weapons in Latin America. In 2005-2013 the Russian exporter of military hardware Rosoboronexport concluded about 30 contracts $11 billion worth with the Venezuelan Defense Ministry.

Venezuela purchased:

• 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles AK-103,
• 24 Sukhoi Su-30MK2 multirole fighters,
• 34 Mi-17V-5 helicopters,
• 10 Mi-35M and three Mi-26T helicopters,
• 92 Т-72B1 main battle tanks.

Also, Russia provided several hundred portable shoulder-launched Igla-S anti-aircraft missile systems, BMP-3 mechanized infantry combat vehicle, armored personnel carriers and other equipment.

Some of the weapons were purchased on credit. In 2009 an agreement was concluded with Venezuela to extend a $2.2 billion loan, and in 2011, another one on a $4 billion loan.

In the autumn of 2015 the Venezuelan Defense Ministry said the government had allocated $480 million for purchasing 12 Sukhoi Su-30 multi-role fighters with the aim to build up the strength of the national Air Force. Nothing has been said since if the contract has been concluded, though.

TASS military analyst Viktor Litovkin believes Russia owes most of its contracts with Venezuela to the late President Hugo Chavez. It was after Chavez’s election that the United States froze all military-technical cooperation with Caracas, in particular, the supplies of spare parts for the F-16 fighters of the Venezuelan Air Force.

Peru

In 2008, the Russian aircraft-building corporation MiG and Peru’s Defense Ministry concluded a $106.7 million contract for upgrading 19 MiG-29 fighters (the project was completed in 2012).

The same year, Peru purchased from Russia a large batch of Kornet-E anti-tank systems worth $23 million.

In 2011, Russia supplied to Peru six Mi-171Sh combat-transport helicopters and two Mi-35P attack helicopters. The contracts’ aggregate value, technical support included, totaled $107.9 million.

In 2011-2012, Russian industries upgraded seven Mi-25 helicopters (export configuration Mi-24D – TASS) under a $20-million contract.

In December 2013, Peru concluded a deal with Rosoboronexport for purchasing 24 military-transport helicopters Mi-171Sh. The contract was unofficially estimated at $400-500 million. The helicopters were provided in 2014-2015. The contracting parties also agreed to open a helicopter maintenance and repair center in Peru in 2016.

Brazil

In 2008-2012, Brazil purchased from Russia $306 million worth of weapons, including Mi-35 attack helicopters (for an estimated $150 million).

In accordance with the terms of the 2008 contract Brazil was to have all twelve helicopters by 2013, but due to financial and technical problems the last three of them were delivered in November 2014. The agreement also envisaged the supply of a training simulator and logistics support.

In 2010-2012, Brazil purchased 300 missiles and 64 launchers of the portable Igla-S anti-aircraft system and a small batch of Russia’s Tigr armored vehicles.

In December 2012, the holding company Helicopters of Russia and Brazil’s Atlas Taxi Aereo S. A. signed a contract for the supply of seven multi-role Ka-62 helicopters. The value of the contract was not disclosed. Delivery date – 2015-2016.

The Spanish language portal www.infodefensa.com says that Brazil in January 2016 received a batch of 60 missiles and 26 portable anti-aircraft launchers Igla-S. The contract was apparently signed in 2014. Its value is unknown.

Argentina and Colombia

In 2011, two helicopters Mi-171 €20 million (about $27 million) worth were handed over to Argentina.

In 2013, at the MAKS-2013 air show the holding company Helicopters of Russia and Colombia’s Vertical de Aviacion concluded a contract for the supply of five Mi-171A1 helicopters and five Ka-62 helicopters. The contracts’ value was not disclosed. Earlier, Colombia purchased four Mi-8/17 helicopters in 2006 and five in 2008.

Copters in great demand

According to the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade Russian attack helicopters are in stable demand on foreign markets: in 2010-2013 Russia exported 65 such aircraft $1.799 billion worth.

In 2014-2017 the expected deliveries may reach 92 new helicopters $4.078 billion worth, including Mi-28N attack helicopters, Mi-35M multirole combat-transport and heavy Mi-26 transport helicopters.

TASS military analyst explains why helicopters and other air technologies are in the greatest demand in Latin American countries.

Based on TASS-DOSSIER archive (research by Anna Rylova)