Venezuela is considering replacing its contingent of U.S.-built F-16 multi-role fighters with Russian Su-35s, a high-ranking Venezuelan general was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying.

“We are considering procurement of Russian Su-35 fighter aircraft to replace the F-16s, after the United States banned weapons exports to Venezuela,” Venezuelan General Staff official General Alberto Muller Rojas said. “At the moment the Su-35 is world’s best multi-role fighter.”

The United States announced a ban on arms sales to Venezuela May 15. The U.S. State Department accuses the South American country of having an intelligence-sharing relationship with Iran and Cuba, both of which the U.S. says are state sponsors of terrorism.

The sanctions against Venezuela, a major U.S. oil supplier, come after years of antagonism between the leftist Venezuelan president and the White House, on issues ranging from trade to oil prices, which have dragged ties to their worst state in decades, Pravda.ru website reports.

President Hugo Chavez has accused the United States of breaching an agreement to supply parts for Venezuela’s F-16s.

Rojas, a military advisor close to Chavez, said the possibility of procurement of Russian fighter Su-35 had previously been discussed with Moscow, but that the White House’s decision to stop supplying spare parts for U.S. aircraft had given fresh impetus to the talks.

General Alberto Muller Rojas, said earlier he had recommended to the defense ministry that Venezuela consider selling its F-16s after the U.S. announced a ban on arms sales to the country. Muller said he thought it worthwhile to consider “the feasibility of a negotiation with Iran for the sale of those planes.”

But the Defense Minister’s spokesperson said that this was Muller’s personal opinion only and that he “is not a spokesman of the armed forces,” Chicago Tribune daily newspaper reports.

The Iranian Embassy in Caracas said no deal involving warplanes had been proposed.

A U.S. State Department spokesman said Monday that the United States would not allow Venezuela to sell the planes to Iran.

Under U.S. arms-sales contracts, “you can’t transfer these defense articles, in this case, F-16s, to a third country,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. “And I would expect that even if such a request were made that [permission] would not be forthcoming from the U.S. Government.”

The U.S. and Venezuela signed a contract on the F-16s in 1982, and Venezuela does not have the right to re-sell its F-16s under the terms of that contract. However, Rojas said the U.S. had broken the agreement unilaterally, so Venezuela considered itself free not to comply with its obligations.
Mosnews

Yeah, that's no surprise. This guy (Chavez) is scraping the bottom of the barrel these days to find anti-American things to do and say. I'm glad he won't have American planes anymore. He seems to love to hear himself rant and rave. Most Americans (if they think of him at all) just consider him a little Castro wannabe.

He isn't loved even in Europe, apart from Zapatero, of course.

still the SU-35 is a good plane....thankefully we will never have to fight it

Originally Posted by gigabrain

still the SU-35 is a good plane....thankefully we will never have to fight it

I wouldn't say never. I just don't think there will be Venezuelan pilots at the stick.

Say, do you realize gigabrain is brain raised to the 9th power?

Originally Posted by Italian Guy

He isn't loved even in Europe, apart from Zapatero, of course.

And Red Ken of London.

***awful evils***

A SU-35 is about the same as an F-15 so i think they're missing out on the F-16, but they're getting a cheaper deal anyway. I know the F-16 is relatively inexpensive, but how much does an SU-35 usually cost?

Originally Posted by WarMachine

A SU-35 is about the same as an F-15 so i think they're missing out on the F-16, but they're getting a cheaper deal anyway. I know the F-16 is relatively inexpensive, but how much does an SU-35 usually cost?

Well, since all this armament that will never be used by a two bit dictator is being squandered instead of helping improve the people's lives that he swore to help, it's all too expensive. What's he planning to do, invade the US? In his distorted dreams.

They should've gone for Su-37 Terminators with thrust-vectoring, the only thing better is the Raptor.

Originally Posted by WarMachine

A SU-35 is about the same as an F-15 so i think they're missing out on the F-16, but they're getting a cheaper deal anyway. I know the F-16 is relatively inexpensive, but how much does an SU-35 usually cost?

SU 35 Less than~$35 million a Piece