Analysis of Russian defense industry a major player on arms market to Latin America in 2016 - 2021 11202161
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Military Defense Industry Technology - Russian Industry
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| Analysis of Russian defense industry a major player on arms market to Latin America in 2016 - 2021 | |||
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Russia is supposed to be a major player on the arms market of Latin America in 2016-2021, according to a Russian defense industry source. Russian defense companies are increasing their activity in Latin America.
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 Military equipment of Russian Defense industry at Army 2015, defense exhibition in Moscow, Russia. |
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"Yes, the region of Latin America is supposed to be one of the most perspective for Russian defense industry. There are a lot of obsolete units of military equipment in the armed forces of the Latin American countries and they are supposed to replaced in the near future: from assault rifles to combat aircraft and main battle tanks (MBT).
For instance, Paraguay is still keeping a limited numbers of M3 Stuarts and M4 Shermans in service! Of course, these WWII-era tanks must be replaced in a short time, their obsolence is obvious. Brazil needs modern man-portable air defense (MANPAD) and self-propelled anti-air gun-missiles (SPAAGM) systems. This country has already launched the program to acquire armoured recovery vehicles (ARV). Colombia and Mexico feel a desperate need in medium military-transport helicopters, namely, Russian Mi-8/17 (NATO reporting name: Hip) family. Both countries are actively using helicopters in fighting against militants and drug trafficking. Peru seems to be a perspective customer for Russian aircraft and armoured vehicles. So, the arms market of the Latin America region is supposed to be a promising one", the source said. On February 8, Rosoboronexport announce the supply of mobile maintenance, repair and overhaul center for rotor-wing aircraft to Peru. Previously, the Latin American country received several batches of Russian Mi-171Sh-P medium utility helicopters. In January 2016, 9K333 Igla-S (SA-24 Grinch) MANPADs was supplied to Brazil. So, Russia is beefing up its positions on the arms market of Latin America. According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), Russian arms deliveries to the Latin American countries were valued at USD9.1 billion (the second position after the United States with USD15 billion). The supplies included 140 main battle tanks (MBT) and self-propelled guns (SPG), 140 pieces of artillery, 400 armoured personnel carriers (APC) and armoured cars (AC), 2 minor surface combatants, 20 supersonic combat aircraft, 90 helicopters, 5260 surface-to-air missiles. The arms transfer agreements signed between Russia and the Latin American countries in 2007-2014 were valued at USD10.4 billion. |
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 Russian-made T-72S main battle tank at military parade in Venezuela. |
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Venezuela
Venezuela is the largest customer for the Russian weapons in the Latin America region. Russian arms export to Venezuela in 2014 was valued at USD1.1 billion. It should be pointed out, the this Latin American country has acquired a wide range of weapons: from AK-103 assault rifles (chambered for 7.62x39mm cartridge) to T-72M1 MBTs, BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), Su-30MK2V (Flanker-G) fighters and Mi-35M (Hind-E) attack helicopters. According to the data provided by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russian arms supplies to Venezuela in 1991-2014 were valued at USD4.71 billion. Nevertheless, now Venezuela is suffering from the low oil prices. That fact might have a negative influence on the military-technical cooperation between Russia and Venezuela. |
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 Brazilian army soldiers using Russian-made SA-24 MANPADS Man Portable Air Defense System |
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Brazil
Brazil has acquired two types of Russian MANPADS, namely, 9K33 Igla (SA-18 Grouse) and 9K333 Igla-S MANPADs. Also, a squadron of Mi-35M attack helicopters (12 rotor-wing aircraft) has been bought. It is a noteworthy, that Brazil has introduced a new national designation for Russian helicopters - AH-2 Sabre In spite of the upcoming 2016 Olympic games in Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil intends to buy approximately 18 Pantsyr-S1 (SA-22 Greyhound) SPAAGMs developed by Russian Tula-based Instrument Design Bureau (Russian acronym: KBP, a subsidiary of the High Precision Systems holding). The systems are supposed to be the best option for air defense during the upcoming Olympic games. They are equipped with combined combat station, which includes 9M311 SAMs and 2A38M anti-air (AA) guns. So both small and relatively huge aerial targets can be easily destroyed. Pantsyr-S1 can effectively eliminate even a swarm of small unmanned aerial vehicles, using only AA guns loaded with relatively inexpensive munition. So, the Russian SPAAGM is supposed to be the most cost-effective in its class. Neverthless, financial difficulties may shift the terms and time schedules of the proposed contract, which has yet to be sighed. Brazil has also revealed its intention to be a supplier for international arms market. Taking into account the Russia`s policy of licensed manufacturing (or joint development & production), the related Russian offers may be supposed as the attractive ones by Brazil. Russian arms supplies to Brazil in 1991-2014 were valued at USD174 million. |
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 Russian-made Mi-17 of Colombian army |
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Colombia
Colombia is an operator of approximately 25 Russian Mi-8/17 transport helicopers. They are being actively exploited during the "war on drugs" campaign against drug trafficking in the country. The military officials of the Colombian Army Aviation Corps (CAAC) have emphasized the worthiness of Russian rotor-wing aircraft in fighting against drug terrorism. "Mi-17 can transport up to 23 armed special forces servicemen, while his US counterpart, UH-60 Blackhawk, - only ten. Mi-17 is more suitable for special operations, let alone medical evacuation", a CAAC officer told TASS-DEFENSE. At the press-conference in April 2016, the Colombian Defense Minister, Juan Bueno revealed the national armed forces` intention to acquire new utility helicopters. So, the Mi-17 option seems to be a favorable one for Colombia. Russian arms supplies to Colombia in 1991-2014 were valued at USD172 million. |
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 Russian-made T-90 main battle tank in Peru during trial tests. |
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Peru
Previously, Peru received Soviet/Russian arms in huge quantitites. Russian arms supplies to Peru in 1991-2014 were valued at USD313 million. Peru needs new MBTs (for instance, the Peruvian armed forces have obsolete Soviet T-55s in service). As a source from Russian UralVagonZavod (UVZ) company said, a T-90MS MBT had been transferred to Peru for trials. This Latin American country recently has received 24 Mi-171Sh-P helicopters. Peru also needs close support aircraft, new IFVs and APCs. The state is fighting against Sendero Luminoso militant group, so Peru needs a lot of counter-insurgency weapons. Therefore, Russian weapons still remain eagerly sought by international customers. Russia seems to hold the second position on the Latin American arms market in the foreseeable future.- |
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