Russian Su-30 Fighter Planes Arrive In Venezuela

August 5, 2008 12:08 a.m. EST

Caracas, Venezuela (AHN) - At least 24 Russian-made Sukhoi-30 fighter jets were delivered to Venezuela on Sunday as part of the country's defense capability build-up. The purchase came after the Bush administration refused to sell parts for Venezuela's aging F-16 jet fleet.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said of the delivery, "We received the Sukhoi aircraft as well as pilots, crew and missiles, and the aircraft will begin military practice with missiles soon."

He said the purchase of the aircraft from Russia was intended for defense capabilities only.

Chavez in 2006 announced his plan to buy the jets from Russia after the U.S. refused to sell Venezuela spare part for the F-16 fleet of the Venezuelan Air Force.

The Su-30, a multi-role strike fighter that can perform both air superiority and ground attacks, was dubbed by a German defense review magazine as the best combat fighter bomber plane ever built in the world.

Chavez said the purchase of 24 Su-30 is only the beginning as he hopes to buy the more advanced Su-35s from Russia.