South American Arms Race

[SAS73]

The Goverment of Bolivia bought six (6) L-159 fighters jets for a total of USD$57,8 millions

http://www.la-razon.com/versiones/20090116_006609/nota_256_747356.htm

[SAS73]

Colombian Military Budget

The Colombian Ministry of Defense has declare the "Shoping" of around 4 billions of Dollars recauded last year.
 

First of all this February will arrive the first 15 H-60 Blackhawks for the Army and the Police.
At the same time also will arrive 5 new Mi-17 for the army air brigade.
In march in the first week will arrive from Israel the first 4 package of the new Kfirs C-10 for a total of 11for the Air Force. Colombia also is waiting for the arrival of 12 attack helos, 8 Grand Caravan planes, one inteligence Super King aircraft and one C-235 patroller for the Navy.

[SAS73]

The Brazilian Army recived the first 10 combat Tanks Krauss Maffei Wegmann Leopard 1A5, from a total of 250 units

In Spanish

"Los 1A5 se integrarán en los 1º, 3º y 4º RCC (Regimento de Carros de Combate) y en el recientemente formado 5º RCC, sustituyento a los Leopard 1BE adquiridos en el pasado en Bélgica y los M-60A3 TTS (Thermal Tank System) procedentes de los Estados Unidos. Los 1BE serán progresivamente distribuidos entre tres RCB (Regimiento de Caballería Blindada) y los M-60A3 TTS se integrarán en el 20º RCB, permitiendo retirar los antiguos M-41C. La compra incluye el suministro de un sistema de simulación colectivo y cuatro individuales, cuatro torres de instrucción y herramientas de mantenimiento.

Por otro lado, el Ejército debió cancelar la modernización prevista de 350 de sus 584 vehículos blindados de transporte de personas M-113B, que iban a ser transformados a M-113BR, informando que en el futuro se tomarán nuevas decisiones al respecto, ya que se ve como un proyecto fundamental para operaciones conjuntas con los Leopard 1A5."

Source:Defensa.com

[tigershark]

Medvedev says Russia ready to supply helicopters to Bolivia
MOSCOW, February 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday that Moscow was planning to supply a large number of helicopters to Bolivia.

"We are hoping to start the implementation of a first large contract on the delivery of helicopters to Bolivia in the near future," Medvedev said at a news conference after talks with Bolivian President Evo Morales in Moscow.

Medvedev added that in the future Russia would be willing to expand the list of armaments supplied to the Latin American country.

"We are ready to continue talks [on arms exports to Bolivia] in the future," the Russian president said.

Some sources earlier reported that Bolivia expressed interest in buying a number of Russian-made Mi-17 multipurpose helicopters to combat terrorism and drug trafficking.

During the talks in Moscow, Russia and Bolivia signed a bilateral agreement on military-technical cooperation.

Mikhail Dmitriyev, head of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, said on Monday that Moscow could offer La Paz a loan for the purchase of Russian-made weaponry, without specifying the amount.

"We are working on this issue, and if the deal is approved it will cover not only helicopters, but all military equipment supplied to Bolivia in the future," Dmitriyev said.

Source
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090216/120161169.html

[SAS73]

Medvedev says Russia ready to supply helicopters to Bolivia
MOSCOW, February 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday that Moscow was planning to supply a large number of helicopters to Bolivia.

"We are hoping to start the implementation of a first large contract on the delivery of helicopters to Bolivia in the near future," Medvedev said at a news conference after talks with Bolivian President Evo Morales in Moscow.

Medvedev added that in the future Russia would be willing to expand the list of armaments supplied to the Latin American country.

"We are ready to continue talks [on arms exports to Bolivia] in the future," the Russian president said.

Some sources earlier reported that Bolivia expressed interest in buying a number of Russian-made Mi-17 multipurpose helicopters to combat terrorism and drug trafficking.

During the talks in Moscow, Russia and Bolivia signed a bilateral agreement on military-technical cooperation.

Mikhail Dmitriyev, head of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, said on Monday that Moscow could offer La Paz a loan for the purchase of Russian-made weaponry, without specifying the amount.

"We are working on this issue, and if the deal is approved it will cover not only helicopters, but all military equipment supplied to Bolivia in the future," Dmitriyev said.

Source
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090216/120161169.html

Yep all this chopper is supposed to be for the war against the drug lords and the narcotraffic

[tigershark]

Five dead as military plane crashes in Colombia
 Bogota - Five members of the Colombian Air Force (FAC) died Wednesday as the training plane they were travelling in crashed.

The machine had taken off from a FAC base in the municipality of Puerto Salgar and fell to the ground shortly afterwards near La Dorada, in the central Colombian province of Caldas. The causes of the accident were not immediately known.

FAC commander Jorge Ballesteros said the dead included a major, two second lieutenants and two technicians. He said the cause of the crash was being investigated but ruled out sabotage or a rebel attack.

The plane, a Douglas AC-47, was carrying bombs and machine-guns of the type that are commonly used in combat against leftist rebels.

Source
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/americas/news/article_1460311.php/Five_dead_as_military_plane_crashes_in_Colombia_

[SAS73]

Yep I know but this happened on wenesday? it still on investigation. they were in training flights.

[SAS73]

30 leopard Tanks from Chile to Ecuador

Last year Chile received 136 second hand Leopard II tanks from Germany. Most (93) of them were used to form three tank battalions. Chile already has six battalions of older Leopard I tanks, and one battalion (30) of these are being sold to Ecuador. Price was not disclosed, but is believed to be about half a million dollars per tank.
Until the 1980s, the Leopard I was considered one of the best tanks available. First built in the late 1960s, it was the first post-World War II German tank design. Although a contemporary of the American M-60A3, the German tank was considered superior. For this reason, Germany was able to export Leopards to many nations, including Australia. Most of the 4,744 produced (plus 1,741 Leopard chassis adapted to other uses, like recovery and anti-aircraft) have been retired (in storage) or scrapped. Many owners of may have to melt it's Leopard Is down, for there's not much of a market left for 44 ton tanks, even those equipped with a lot of nifty upgrades. The original buyers of Leopard I have already flooded the market.

The export market is further clouded by legal restrictions, as Germany still retains the right to reject any buyer for the tanks. Thus prospective buyers must pass muster with German public opinion. No nations suffering from bad PR need apply.

The second hand Leopard I market is made worse by the availability of the Leopard II. This is basically a contemporary of the U.S. M-1, and often considered superior to the M-1. But the M-1 has an impressive combat record, and no Leopard II has ever seen action. Still, on paper, and in training exercises, the Leopard II has been impressive. Some 3,000 Leopard IIs are out there, and Germany is still marketing them. Many surplus M-1s are available, and a few Leopard IIs. Add to this the thousands of late model Russian tanks available, and it's no wonder why second hand tanks like the Leopard I go for such low prices.


http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/Aging-Leopards-Prowl-The-Andes-2-10-2009.asp

[tigershark]

Thanks SAS73
I didn't know that Leo I went for such a low price but like aircraft there are supporting cost and operational cost that go along with the tank.  Didn't know 30 Leo's were going to Ecuador now I know why Peru ordered or way trying to order anti-tank missiles from two sources, Russian and Israeli.

Peru now has Leo's on their northern and southern border interesting. 

[SAS73]

Thanks SAS73
I didn't know that Leo I went for such a low price but like aircraft there are supporting cost and operational cost that go along with the tank.  Didn't know 30 Leo's were going to Ecuador now I know why Peru ordered or way trying to order anti-tank missiles from two sources, Russian and Israeli.

Peru now has Leo's on their northern and southern border interesting. 

But there are sourcers that Peru is waiting a lot of T-72 or T-80 Tanks, to deploy them in the southern border, in front of Chile. Interesting that the peruvians also want anti-tank missiles from Russian and Israel. Chile and Peru still mantaining  cold relations.

[tigershark]

Both main types too "Russian power smash through" type and the "Israeli Spike" kill from the top  type, both nasty.

[SAS73]

Both main types too "Russian power smash through" type and the "Israeli Spike" kill from the top  type, both nasty.

Yeah, the Spike is a magnificent missile. Colombian Army has it, and now the Colombian Air Force (FAC) wants to put them in the posible new version of the Arpia IV AH-60 blackhawk chopper