From March 29 to April 3, 2016, the XIX International Aerospace Exhibition FIDAE-2016 will be held in Santiago (Chile) - one of the largest in Latin America.
Russia will be represented by 15 organizations, including Rosoboronexport, Almaz-Antey, Mig, Russian Helicopters and Basalt. In total, 365 samples of military products from Russia will be demonstrated at the exhibition.
Currently, Latin America is one of the main markets for the sale of Russian military products.
The largest contracts for the supply of Russian arms and military equipment to the countries of the region since 2005 are in a special material from TASS.
Fighter Su-30MK2 at the joint Russian-Venezuelan exercise "VENRUS-2008"
© TASS
Venezuela
Venezuela is the largest buyer of Russian weapons in Latin America. In 2005-2013 Rosoboronexport signed about 30 contracts with the Ministry of Defense of this country for a total of $ 11 billion.
Delivered to Venezuela:
100 thousand AK-103 Kalashnikov assault rifles, 24 multipurpose fighters Su-30MK2, 34 Mi-17V-5 helicopters, 10 Mi-35M helicopters and three Mi-26T helicopters, 92 battle tanks T-72B1.
Several hundred Igla-S portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS), BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers and other equipment were also delivered.
At the same time, part of the weapons was purchased at the expense of Russian loans. In 2009, an agreement was reached to provide Venezuela with a loan of $ 2.2 billion, in 2011 - $ 4 billion.
In the fall of 2015, the Venezuelan Ministry of Defense announced that the government had allocated $ 480 million to purchase 12 Su-30 multirole fighters to strengthen the country's air force. The conclusion of the relevant contract was not reported.
According to TASS military observer Viktor Litovkin, arms contracts with Venezuela are primarily associated with the arrival of Hugo Chavez as president. It was after his election, according to the expert, that the United States refused to provide Caracas with military-technical cooperation, including the supply of spare parts for the F-16 fighters in service with Venezuela.
Chavez asked Russia to supply the country with multifunctional Su-30MKV fighters. What we did: we supplied them with 24 such machines. Then the turn came to T-90S tanks, self-propelled 155-mm Msta-S howitzers, about 150 thousand Kalashnikov assault rifles. In Venezuela, the construction of a plant for the production of these machines (not yet completed) and cartridges for them has begun. Also, air defense systems - SAM "Tor-M1" (14 sets), "Igla-S" (200 pieces), a variety of missiles and bombs for "Sukikh", Mi-17 helicopters. All this was demonstrated at the parade in Caracas
Victor Litovkin
Military observer for TASS
Transport and combat helicopter Mi-171SH
© JSC "Russian Helicopters"
Peru
In 2008, the Russian aircraft manufacturing corporation MiG and the Peruvian Ministry of Defense signed a contract worth $ 106.7 million to modernize 19 MiG-29 fighters (this work was completed in 2012).
In the same year, Peru purchased from Russia a large consignment of Kornet-E anti-tank missile systems worth $ 23 million.
In 2011, Russia delivered six Mi-171Sh transport and combat helicopters and two Mi-35P attack helicopters to Peru, the total amount of these contracts, together with technical support, amounted to $ 107.9 million.
In 2011-2012. Russian enterprises have modernized seven Mi-25 helicopters (export version of the Mi-24D - approx. TASS) under a $ 20 million contract.
In December 2013, Peru signed a contract with Rosoboronexport for the purchase of 24 Mi-171Sh military transport helicopters. The cost of the transaction, according to unofficial sources, is estimated at $ 400-500 million. Deliveries were made in 2014-2015. The parties also agreed to open a helicopter maintenance and repair center in Peru in 2016.
The Mi-171 is a modernized version of one of the most popular Mi-8 helicopters in the world, of which more than 12 thousand have been produced. But with more powerful engines - 1900 hp. with. against 1500. And the statistical ceiling is slightly higher. And so they are very similar: both are universal - transport and combat. Unpretentious, easily hold tropical moisture, repairable - which is important for Latin America, reliable, like a Kalashnikov assault rifle, and inexpensive compared to the American AH-64 "Apache" or S-61 / SH-3 Sea King
Victor Litovkin
Military observer for TASS
Helicopter Mi-35 during flight to the exhibition HeliRussia-2013
© Marina Lystseva / TASS
Brazil
In 2008-2012. Brazil purchased weapons from Russia for $ 306 million. Part of these purchases fell on Mi-35 attack helicopters (their cost was estimated at $ 150 million).
According to the contract signed in 2008, Brazil was supposed to receive all 12 of these combat vehicles by 2013, but due to financial and technical problems, the last three of them were delivered in November 2014. The agreement also provided for the supply of a training simulator and logistics support …
In 2010-2012. Brazil purchased 300 missiles and 64 launchers (PU) Igla-S MANPADS, as well as a small batch of Russian armored vehicles "Tiger".
In December 2012, the Russian Helicopters holding and the Brazilian company Atlas Taxi Aereo S. A. signed a contract for the supply of seven Ka-62 multipurpose helicopters, but the amount was not disclosed. Delivery time - 2015-2016
According to the Spanish-language portal www.infodefensa.com, in January 2016, Brazil received a batch of 60 missiles and 26 Igla-S MANPADS launchers, a contract for the acquisition of which, apparently, was concluded in 2014. The amount of the transaction unknown.
Helicopter Ka-62 at the international air show MAKS-2013
© Sergey Bobylev / TASS
Argentina and Colombia
In 2011, Argentina received two Mi-171 helicopters worth 20 million euros (about $ 27 million).
In 2013, during the MAKS-2013 air show, the Russian Helicopters holding and the Colombian company Vertical de Aviación signed an agreement on the supply of five Mi-171A1 helicopters and five Ka-62 helicopters. The amount of the contracts was not disclosed. Colombia previously acquired four Mi8 / 17 helicopters in 2006 and five in 2008.
The popularity of "turntables"
According to the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade, Russian attack helicopters are in stable demand in foreign markets: in 2010-2013. 65 cars were exported for about $ 1.799 billion.
For the period 2014-2017 the expected volume of deliveries may amount to 92 new helicopters worth $ 4.078 billion. Among them are the Mi-28N attack helicopters, the Mi-35M multipurpose combat transport helicopter, and the Mi-26 heavy transport helicopter.
A military observer for TASS explained why helicopters and aircraft are in the greatest demand in Latin America.
Firstly, our "turntables" are the most unpretentious and convenient to use and repair; they are in no way inferior in terms of their tactical and technical qualities to American and European ones, and in terms of "price-quality" they greatly surpass them. Fighters and bombers - even more so. Secondly, we have a well-established production of both helicopters and combat aircraft. No contractual delays. And what is very important - we never associate our supplies with changes in the political situation. We do not demand any political concessions for them. We work honestly
