South American Arms Race

[tigershark]

Does anybody feel that Venezuela will buy a second batch of Flankers?  I think if Russia can begin working oil and gas deals into the mix then purchasing more advance arms will follow. 

Does anybody know if Peru will upgrade their Fulcrums in 2009?   

[SAS73]

Sources said there is a chance that last visit to Russia of Chavez was the intention to buy some Su-34, does this is true?

[tigershark]

Is this enough to jump start Peru's armed forces?  To me it only it's only the tip the iceberg and could triple this total in a two year period.   I think Peru's air force has many needs that run well over that $514 million dollars.   I know before cutting a type a replacement should be worked in but the Su-22 would be the first I'll cut.   If more Su-25T or Su-25SM could be bought I think more this would be a slightly more modern and efficient choice.  The need for a fast 'cold war' short range striker isn't needed anymore and this type didn't fare well in the 1995 war against Kfir and Mirage F1's fighter, that Ecuador fielded.  If the situation was different and it was Chile in a short shooting war I think Peru would have fared much worse overall.   

Another tough choice would be which fighter to keep or keep operational, the Mirage 2000-P or the Mig-29.  Both are low in numbers and because of there age most likely costly to maintain.  If money could be found deep overhauls could be carried out and maybe even upgrades but is it worth it? Trying to keep even in limited numbers of both types seems the wrong route when money is tight.

Quote
The Peruvian government will devote at least 514 million dollars this year to modernising and upgrading its military equipment, a figure surpassed only by the Alberto Fujimori regime in the 1990s, when arms buying was the main wellspring of corruption.

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43432

[SAS73]

Well I dont know too much about peru, I know they have a strong navy and a very tide air force. for how many years the Mig-29 have been in service?

[SAS73]

The Spike missile will be deploy under the AH-60 Arpia III wings for anti-tank missions

The Spike-ER (NTD) is an advanced, multi purpose, electro-optic missile system especially suited for combat helicopters and highly effective at extended ranges of up to 8km. The system consists of the Spike-ER (NTD) Missiles and Heli-Launcher.

The Spike-ER's Fire & Forget mode of operation allows the pilot to easily launch the missile, which flies autonomously towards the target. The Fire, Observe & Update mode enables the pilot to lock-on target (LOBL), launch the missile, mask-down and follow its flight via a video image using a fiber-optic communication link. During the flight the pilot can update aim-point or change targets. The Fire & Steer mode enables the pilot to fire the missile without pre-locking on target then steer the missile towards the target or lock-on after launch (LOAL) and proceed with the Fire, Observe & Update or Fire & Forget mode.

The Spike-ER Heli-launcher, equipped with full helicopter interface, hosts up to 4 missiles within their canisters. It implements all aspects of missile operation including missile selection and activation, down and up links and firing sequence. The launcher is connected to the helicopter pylon via standard 14" interface using lugs and sway braces.



The Spike-ER helicopter-launcher, equipped with full helicopter interface, hosts up to four missiles within their canisters. It implements all aspects of missile operation including missile selection and activation, down and uplinks and firing sequence. The launcher is connected to the fixed helicopter pylon via 14" standard lugs on each side on each side of the helicopter and requires no helicopter modifications, other than software integration.

Supports up to four Rounds in readiness on a helicopter pylon
Provides electrical interface between the Rounds and the helicopter
Provides gas coolant to missile seekers
upports CCD (Day), and IIR (Night) and Training Missiles
The Launcher contains the following subsystem assemblies:

Main Structure

Supports and restrains up to four rounds
Provides rapid rounds loading and unloading
Houses the electronics and the coolant subsystems
Provides mechanical interface between the main structure and a helicopter pylon.
Launcher Electronics Unit (LEU)

Electrical interface between the round and the HELICOPTER systems
Supplies/distributes coolant gas from the bottles to the desired Round.
High Pressure Gas bottles

Provide coolant gas to round seekers via the LEU.

[tigershark]

The Spike-ER sounds like a very good weapon platform with good capabilities.  Have any updated info on the Kfir upgrades?  I know it's basically a 3rd generation fighter but the Israeli's do well with what they produce. 

SAS73 do you know what anti-tank weapons Colombia uses on their homemade BTR-80s? 

Thanks

[SAS73]

Well Colombia bought around 12 new KFRIS 12 more will be upgraded and we are waitng all this new aircraft. Plus colombia bought a B-767 tanker. The new KFIRS will be the C10 version, same version that is beign used by the Ecuatorian Air Force (FAE).

Quote
SAS73 do you know what anti-tank weapons Colombia uses on their homemade BTR-80s?  Will be coming for that answer soon?

[SAS73]

Well nonpilot the BTR-80 produced in Colombia is just propaganda their full production was false, so not even anti-tank missiles will deploy in that armored car

[tigershark]

What do you mean "propaganda their full production was false" you sent me the link a while back.  Are say say it wasn't true and Colombia doesn't produce BTR-80?  I'm confused? 

I know what Colombia bought Kfir wise just want to know how it's coming along?  Any deliveries, advance training, weapons package, etc, anything along those lines would be interesting.

Thanks

[tigershark]

Chavez isn't playing nice

Venezuelans protest Chavez's new socialist push
By IAN JAMES, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 24 minutes ago

CARACAS, Venezuela - Riot police used tear gas Wednesday to block hundreds of Venezuelans protesting the latest moves by President Hugo Chavez to concentrate his power. The demonstrators said a blacklist of opposition candidates and a series of socialist decrees are destroying what's left of their democracy.   Though the protest of about 1,000 people chanting "freedom!" was small compared to past marches, there is a growing public outcry over the sidelining of key government opponents ahead of state and local elections in November.

Chavez opponents also are outraged by 26 laws the president just decreed, some of them mirroring the socialist measures voters rejected in a December referendum.

"We said in the referendum that we didn't want that, and now he's put it in the decrees," said protester Josefina Bravo, a 59-year-old who wore a sticker reading "No means no" on her baseball cap. "That's the problem we have: All the powers are concentrated in the president."

Full story
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080806/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_chavez_power

I knew things weren't peachy there and in time he'll have to keep in military happy which means expanding.  If Colombia wasn't such a good American allied I'd be worried if I live there with this guy in charge.  I wonder if north is the direction Chavez might expand maybe five years from now Nicaragua will be a bigger player in this region.  Chavez is already building refineries there now who knows what the future holds.  I still feel major Chinese arms purchases will take place between Venezuela and China. 

[tigershark]

I think the joint venture between South Africa and Brazil my help the Gripen overall in Brazil's fighter selection. 

Link to Venture
http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=139408

[valkyrian]

Hi to you all.

Here in Greece there are rumors that if we exchange M2000 for Rafale, after Sarkozy's offer, it is very possible that Dassault will offer the 2000s to Brazil.
Brazil is a big country, and i think that Grippen doesn't fit the role since it has small radius. That's why i think Rafale is more suitable.