Article Posted on : - Apr 10, 2017

Venezuela's Su-30Mk2 fighter aircraft.

RIO DE JANEIRO (BNS): Venezuela is interested in acquiring an extra batch of Russian-made Sukhoi-30 fighter jets but a new contract is unlikely to be signed soon, a Russian military official has said.

"Venezuela is interested but we should understand that it (the country) is in a difficult situation now and has to resolve internal problems.

"Therefore, it is too early and untimely to speak about the purchase of new planes," Deputy Head of Russia's Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation Anatoly Punchuk, who was heading the Russian delegation at the LAAD 2017 arms exhibition in Brazil held from April 4 to 7, was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass news agency.

According to earlier reports, Venezuela is interested in buying additional 12 Su-30 planes from Russia. The Venezuelan defence minister had said that the country had allocated $480 million for this purpose in 2015.

In 2006, Russia and Venezuela had signed a contract for the delivery of 24 Su-30MK2 planes. The delivery was completed in 2008.

The Su-30MK2 fourth-generation multi-role fighter performed its first flight test in 2002. The fighter is armed with unguided and precision guided weapons.

Powered by two AL-31F engines, the warplane has an in-flight refueling system, advanced navigation and radio communications systems and a defensive aids suite.