Venezuelan Marine Corps has planned to purchase artillery howitzers and armoured from China 2912124

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Defence News - Venezuela
 
 
Saturday, December 29, 2012, 12:40 PM
 
Venezuelan Marine Corps has planned to purchase artillery howitzers and armoured from China.
The Government of Venezuela has planned to purchase armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery howitzer and military equipment from China, but the specific type and quantity are not yet clear. The expected purchase appears to correspond, however, with the Venezuelan Marine Corps’ plan to procure $500 million in new weapons and military equipment.
     

LVTP-7 amphibious armoured vehicle of Venezuelan Marine Corps
(Credit photo www.FAV-club.com)
     

An order for BMP-3 tracked armoured infantry fighting vehicles and BTR-80 8x8 armored personnel carriers from Russia was cancelled prior to reports of a planned purchase from China. Currently, the Venezuelan Marine Corps 1st Brigade combat formation consists of one amphibious armored battalion, equipped with 11 LVTP-7 (AAVT-7) tracked armored personnel carriers and 38 EE-11 wheeled armored personnel carriers.

In the framework of its reorganization, the Venezuelan Marine Corps will include nine brigades, including fou amphibious brigades, three river brigades and one command brigade. This new Chinese artillery systems and armoured vehicles are not to replace existsing military equipment but to increase the power of new organizational structure including 12 Mechanized Infantry Battalion.

In July 2012, the Government of Venezuela signed a contract with state-owned China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), to equip the Marine Corps. The total amount of this purchase is around $500 million, including tanks and amphibious armoured, armoured command post, self-propelled howitzers, mortars, communications systems, and logistics equipment.