Venezuela is considering selling its fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to another country, perhaps Iran, in response to a U.S. ban on arms sales to President Hugo Chavez's government, a military official said Tuesday.
Gen. Alberto Muller, a senior adviser to Chavez, told The Associated Press he had recommended to the defense minister that Venezuela consider selling the 21 jets to another country.
Muller said he thought it was worthwhile to consider "the feasibility of a negotiation with Iran for the sale of those planes."
Even before the U.S. announced the ban on arms sales Monday, Washington had stopped selling Venezuela sensitive upgrades for the F- 16s.
Chavez has previously warned he could share the U.S. jets with Cuba if Washington does not supply parts for the planes. He also has said he may look into buying fighter jets from Russia or China instead.So long Hugo, and thanks for all the fish
UPDATE: The Iranian AF today ..As of 2000 it was estimated that only 40 of the 132 F-4Ds, 177 F-4Es and 16 RF-4E (designed in the 1950's). Phantoms delivered before 1979 remained in service. At that time, approximately 45 of the 169 F-5E/Fs delivered are still flying (trainers in the USA), while perhaps 20 F-14A Tomcats of the 79 initially delivered were airworthy. Another 30 F-4s, 30 F-5s and 35 F-14s have been cannibalized for spare parts. One report suggested that the IRIAF can get no more than seven F-14s airborne at any one time. Iran claims to have fitted F-14s with I-Hawk missiles adapted to the air-to-air role.
An unknown number of "new" Su-25s (ground attack) were delivered to the Iranian Revolution Guards Corps Air Force (IRGCAF) in 2003. Where these Frogfoots originate from is unclear.
In July 2003 Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Corporation (CAIC) unveiled the new ‘Super-7’ or Chao Qi fighter plane to the public. The new Super-7 is “an all-purpose light fighter, required to have all-weather operation capabilities, be capable of performing the dual tasks of dogfight and air-to-ground attack, and have the ability to launch medium-range missiles. Mass production of the fighter will not begin until two and a half years of research are completed. The plane is being produced to be sold abroad to developing nations. China already has received orders from Iran and some African countries.
There have been reports of some 10 F-8Ms "Finback", 7 Tu-22Ms, 19 MIG-27s, and several MIG-31s (Russia's most modern fighter aircraft, US$40 million ) being present in Iran, but these are not confirmed.
9 comments:
Iran currently has 1970's vintage trainers ... the F-14's they had have no spare parts.
F-16's I would remind you are flown by the IAF, all of NATO as first line combat craft, and work real well.
Iran: the longer we wait the harder it will be. Who desires that? China, Russia, France, Cuba, etc.
I have to admit that when we went into Iraq in 2003 part of the reason, I thought, was strategic and logistic. I expected a quick installation of a puppet/dictator and on to Tehran. If that was the case, obviously it couldn’t be stated. But it wasn't the case ... I was obviously wrong. The momentum after 9/11 was dissipated by international “diplomacy” even after the claim that we wouldn’t need anyone’s approval to defend ourselves. Obviously, that was just rhetoric. We need new leadership.
i wonder if the usa stay in iraq "permanently?"
NO ! But like in Japan, Germany, Korea ...temporary might be along time (over the horizon)
And Jason u r right.But who? Who is out there to lead TODAY that 'understands' the real problem? Who is prepared to intelligently lay out the pressures for the 'long' war of weapons, and ideals? Who is ready to talk frankly about the REAL underlyig issues?
Epa,
Forrest Shalom is relating all these events to Biblical Prophecy. His point is, apparently, that the United States is the home of the Beast; the anti-Christ.
Oops,
before Forrest Shalom corrects me, he isn't saying we're the anti-Christ, he's saying we are the whore of Babylon.
My bad.
I'm from science.
Imagine what I am compelled to think of biblical prophecies, even if I wanted to think otherwise!
I'd say more but I have to go worship Mammon now
Our boys and Girls hit moving targets all the time.
The F-16 is an excellent airplane. A contender for the best airplane ever in sub-sonic dogfights and up to mach 1.2.
I am ex-airforce and love that plane.
(for plane aficionados: About the F-16)
But maintaining and piloting planes takes skill, which is in rare supply in the Muslim world. So I would not worry much.
If he can't get spares for them, they break down and can't fly, of course he is going to sell them and the only possible customers available are those not friendly to the USA - Iran has more money than N.Korea or Cuba. This is a direct result of the ban - USA must have known this was going to happen.
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