Su-30 Flankers for Venezuela, part Deux

[HeyJoe]

Two Su-30MK Flankers recently arrived in Venezuela to take part in flyover scheduled for July 5th. Venezuela is reportedly taking delivery of 24 Su-30MK Flankers to replace their aging F-16A aircraft that are suffering availability issues due to embargo on parts from the U.S.

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr?doit=done&url=http://www.basemilitar.com.br/&lp=pt_en

 

[MarineAir]

Very Interesting. Any Chance that the Venezuelan gov't would give the Russians their F-16's so they can reverse engineer them and make the parts needed? I'm thinking of what the Russians with captured B-29's after the second world war to create their bear bombers

 

[HeyJoe]

Very Interesting. Any Chance that the Venezuelan gov't would give the Russians their F-16's so they can reverse engineer them and make the parts needed? I'm thinking of what the Russians with captured B-29's after the second world war to create their bear bombers

There was an "end-use" clause in the original sale that would prohibit that, but Chavez has been saying the contract provision is null and void because of refusal to provide parts. Russians would rather sell them Su-30s than supply parts anway.

 

[Brett327]

It's all just a game.

Too true. As for the Russians reverse engineering anything, a couple thoughts. First, the Ruskies are in the hurt locker in so many ways, they aren't about to reverse engineer anything, especially if it would interfere with the sale of their own neat-o jets. Second, the F-16 is so yesterday (especially the A model) - nobody is interested in expending much money or brain power on early 1970s technology.

Brett

 

[Flash]

Too true. As for the Russians reverse engineering anything, a couple thoughts. First, the Ruskies are in the hurt locker in so many ways, they aren't about to reverse engineer anything, especially if it would interfere with the sale of their own neat-o jets. Second, the F-16 is so yesterday (especially the A model) - nobody is interested in expending much money or brain power on early 1970s technology.

Brett

Totally agree, the only value would be good propaganda for Chavez....