• MarmiteLover123 [comrade/them, any]@hexbear.net
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    22
    ·
    4 months ago

    About zero. Venezuela already has the most expensive long range air defence system Russia offers for export, the S-300VM/SA-23 Gladiator/Giant. However Venezuela only has one battalion of the system, and it’s usually located further inland, protecting a major military base. It likely played no part in defending Venezuela, too far away from the action to detect stealth aircraft and low flying helicopters. As for the air defence that was engaged, a command post and several TELAR (Transporter Erector Launcher And Radar) vehicles part of the Buk M2/SA-17 Grizzly air defence system were destroyed. This is quite a new and advanced medium range air defence system, first integrated into the Russian military in 2008. Ukrainian pilots say it’s a big threat for them. Russia does have a newer version of the Buk, the Buk M3/SA-27 Gollum, first available for export in 2018. But I doubt that Venezuela can get any, Russia is the sole operator, it’s too expensive for most export customers, and Russia is also focused on Ukraine.

    Venezuela could try get Chinese systems or even Iranian ones, but I doubt that would happen.