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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Venezuela Weighs Selling U.S. Jets to Iran |
| 2006-05-16 |
| Venezuela is considering selling its fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to another country, perhaps Iran, in response to a U.S. ban on arms sales to President Hugo Chavez's government, a military official said Tuesday. Gen. Alberto Muller, a senior adviser to Chavez, told The Associated Press he had recommended to the defense minister that Venezuela consider selling the 21 jets to another country. Muller said he thought it was worthwhile to consider "the feasibility of a negotiation with Iran for the sale of those planes." Even before the U.S. announced the ban on arms sales Monday, Washington had stopped selling Venezuela sensitive upgrades for the F-16s. Chavez has previously warned he could share the U.S. jets with Cuba if Washington does not supply parts for the planes. He also has said he may look into buying fighter jets from Russia or China instead. |
| Posted by:TMH |
| #25 If they are flyable, they are invaluable as manned supersonic cruise missiles (jihadi kamakazi). Question is: Are allied recipients of export F16's provided with IFF tech? and Were these? Yes, Virginia...ships sometimes 'sink for no reason'... |
| Posted by: JR869 2006-05-16 20:34 |
| #24 could Iran want them for evaluation purposes? I don't think they'd be worth much as spare parts since Iran doesn't have any F-16s in its inventory. Al |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2006-05-16 19:02 |
| #23 Chavez is being silly. Uncle Sam will sell him all the parts he wants if he makes nice again. Just what is it with this guy's ego trip? |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2006-05-16 18:57 |
| #22 chevez must be really hurting for funds these F-16s were a prestige purchase... I wouldn't be surprized if chevez wants Iran to take care of delivering oil to countries that chevez made big promises to wonder if the mullahs will take the deal or whether they realize they have an 'friend' who is worse than useless |
| Posted by: mhw 2006-05-16 18:36 |
| #21 Here is an idea: The day they are be delivered, we circumvent with 21 F-16's of our own. We should have clear sailing straight into Tehran. Don't forget to put the "Venezuela" tail stickers on! |
| Posted by: airandee 2006-05-16 18:21 |
| #20 Pakistan is the only logical recipient of these precisely for the spare parts. But they would basically destroy their official relationship with the US if they were to buy them. Either way only a percentage of the parts would likely be compatible, but I'm not sure about the versions each country received. Iran would have absolutely no use at all for these planes without the spares and logistic support. Of course the press does not know any of these things so they report this crap breathlessly. Idiots. |
| Posted by: remoteman 2006-05-16 18:14 |
| #19 Chavez can also afford the French Rafale or the Eurofighter |
| Posted by: john 2006-05-16 18:09 |
| #18 Chavez is a total idiot. Yeah, lets sell the jets we have because we can't buy anymore...Huh???...This is great for 3 reasons. One, Venezuala will be sans jets. Two, they will go to a new home where it's very likely they will soon be destroyed. And Three, thats a few more jets off the world market for us to have to replace in future years when we're all friends again. Good for the economy. |
| Posted by: Intrinsicpilot 2006-05-16 18:03 |
| #17 Don't we deliberately "detune" armaments sold to foreign countries so that, for instance, an F-16 sold to Venezuela isn't quite as good as an F-16 you'd find at your friendly neighborhood Air Force base? Both the US and Russia export equipment that is less capable then the versions in their arsenals. |
| Posted by: john 2006-05-16 17:42 |
| #16 IIRC, when he was deposed in the attempted coup, the personnel at the F-16 base backed him, applying strong pressure for his return. Wonder how they feel now? He can afford new toys for them though.. like the Sukhoi-30 MK. Pakistan will probably be quite interested in these planes, if only to cannabalise for spares. |
| Posted by: john 2006-05-16 17:41 |
| #15 De-fanging the only local force that might take a crack at his ass. Airforces are notorious coupe starters. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-05-16 17:36 |
| #14 Don't we deliberately "detune" armaments sold to foreign countries so that, for instance, an F-16 sold to Venezuela isn't quite as good as an F-16 you'd find at your friendly neighborhood Air Force base? |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-05-16 17:25 |
| #13 We have was of preventing transfers Hugo hasn't even started to imagine. All those whom might purchase them have however. These planes are destined to rot where they sit. |
| Posted by: SPoD 2006-05-16 16:43 |
| #12 BFD. Go ahead and sell them to Iran, you moron. They're useless as is and hardly represent a threat in the hands of Ahmadinejad (sp?). Chavez is such a joke. Too bad he's starting to lose his funny by virture of sheer stupidity. |
| Posted by: eltoroverde 2006-05-16 16:23 |
| #11 Like Mr. Chavez was going to be buying anything American anyway Ima thinking a good can of American Whoopass© might be purchased by teh tinpot someday |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-05-16 16:21 |
| #10 He also has said he may look into buying fighter jets from Russia or China instead. Like Mr. Chavez was going to be buying anything American anyway. |
| Posted by: DoDo 2006-05-16 15:51 |
| #9 Being a fly by wire jet, the computer will be the long pole in the logistics tent. also they have problem flying in thunderstorms. I had about 13 or 14 divert to PAX RIVER from Andrews AFB back in ~92 due to Thunderbumpers in the area. A bit of radiation from a Prowler or JSTARS might be fun to watch..... |
| Posted by: USN, ret. 2006-05-16 15:41 |
| #8 F-16s are maintenance intensive airplanes. Many of the countries that bought them have trouble keeping them flying even with US logistics support. Since Venezuela is unlikely to be able to get spares and tech support from the US with Chavez in charge, they are just scrap iron to Venezuela. He might as well sell them to someone else who can't get parts either. This is just another childish attention-grabbing stunt from someone who has been punching above his weight for a long time. |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-05-16 15:26 |
| #7 better to destroy them on the ground in Venezuela to humiliate the little jefe. Cruise missile attack? Seals? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-05-16 15:07 |
| #6 Iran has no F-16s. |
| Posted by: Thresing Uleregum2529 2006-05-16 15:05 |
| #5 Was there a "no onsale" agreement when Venezuela bought them? |
| Posted by: Grunter 2006-05-16 15:00 |
| #4 For a while. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2006-05-16 14:47 |
| #3 Could Iran use the Venezuelan jets for the spare parts they need for theirs? |
| Posted by: TMH 2006-05-16 14:34 |
| #2 Go ahead. Without parts, they won't be good for very long and they will take their place next to the F-14s that Iran has, rusting in the desert. Oh, and go ahead and by the Russian and Chinese pieces of crap. They are easier to shoot down anyway. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-05-16 14:22 |
| #1 The jets would have to be sent on a SHIP wouldnt they? Ships sometimes sink. |
| Posted by: Ebbavising Anganter2423 2006-05-16 14:18 |