Peru Cannot Get Enough Mi-17s

Peru is pleased with its Russian helicopters and recently ordered more. This time they bought 24 Mi-171s. Most of them will be delivered by next year. Each will cost $17 million, which includes training, spares, and technical support. Three years ago Peru ordered six Mi-17s and two Mi-35s from Russia for $250 million. This is at the high end of what these helicopters usually go for (even when including support and spares), indicating provision may have been made for bribes.

 

The Mi-171 is based on the 1970s era Mi-17, which is the export version of the similar Mi-8. Weighing about 12 tons, and carrying a four ton load, the Mi-171 has a range of 590 kilometers at a cruising speed of 250 kilometers per hour. There is a crew of three and as many passengers as can be squeezed in (up to 40 people but usually 20-30). A sling underneath can also carry up to four tons.

Several hundred Mi-171s have been exported from Russia. The helicopter is rugged, inexpensive, and better suited for less affluent nations. Development of this model was completed in 1998, and Russia has been pushing sales hard.

 

The original Mi-8 was a twin-engine helicopter, roughly equivalent to the U.S. UH-1. But the Mi-8/17 is still in production and is the most widely exported (2,800 out of 12,000 made) helicopter on the planet. The Mi-8 is about twice the size and weight of the UH-1 but only hauls about 50 percent more cargo. However, the Mi-8 had a larger interior and can carry more than twice as many troops, compared to the dozen that fit into the UH-1. The UH-1 was replaced by the UH-60 in the 1980s, while the Mi-8 just kept adding better engines and electronics to the basic Mi-8 frame. The UH-60, while weighing ten tons (compared to UH-1s' 4.8 tons), could carry as much as the 12 ton Mi-8. But the Mi-8 costs less than half as much as a UH-60, and the larger interior is popular with many users. Russia also charges less for training pilots and mechanics. Venezuela has set up a school for Mi-17 and Mi-35 crews and maintainers, which is where the Peruvians may go for training.

 

The Mi-35 is the export version of the most recent version of the Mi-24 helicopter gunship. This is a twelve ton helicopter gunship that also has a cargo area that can hold up to eight people or four stretchers. The Mi-24 can carry rockets, missiles bombs, and automatic cannon. It is used by over thirty countries and has a pretty good reputation for reliability. The design is based on the earlier Mi-8 transport helicopter.

Do Not Mess With Mother Russia

Peru recently received four of their Mi-25 helicopter gunships that had been sent to Russia for refurbishment. These are the first of seven Mi-25s being rebuilt and upgraded, as part of a $20 million deal that will extend the service life of these helicopters seven years. The Mi-25 is the export version of the Mi-24.

   

Eight years ago Russia offered Peru a $250 million loan for use in refurbishing their Russian-made transports, helicopters and warplanes. This got negotiations going on several deals to get more of Peru’s military aircraft operational. Four years ago a deal was agreed on to refurbish the 18 Peruvian Mig-29 fighters for about $110 million. This put an end to an embarrassing bit of military procurement.

This all began after Peru’s war with Ecuador in 1995. Unhappy with the outcome of that conflict Peru, in 1996 bought second-hand Mig-29 fighters and Su-25 ground-attack planes from Belarus for $350 million. Russia, angered that the sale went to Belarus and not to them, refused to support the aircraft (with spares, technical assistance and upgrades). After two years of negotiations the Russians were persuaded to provide maintenance, as well as sell Peru three more MiG-29s.

Over time, it became clear the MiGs weren't much use. The deficiencies became embarrassingly evident in 2001, when a MiG-29 crashed in front of an anti-corruption panel checking the airworthiness of the fighters. The cause of the crash was traced to a generator the pilot failed to turn on before flight. Another MiG-29 had been lost in 1997. Russia pointed out that all the Belarus MiG-29s were older models and that this problem could be fixed. As a result all the older MiG-29s have been refurbished and are more reliable and safer to operate. Russia has also made a point about how important it is to get manufacturer support for military aircraft.

Peru Gets Upgraded Mi-25 Gunships to Boost Drug Fight

Mi-25 is an export version of Russia’s Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter, called by Soviet and Russian pilots ‘the flying tank’ due to its heavy armor and formidable firepower.

Four Mil Mi-25 Hind D attack helicopters, modernized in Russia, have joined the Peruvian Air Force to boost its combat capability in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking.

The choppers have been assembled in Peru by Russian specialists after their transfer from Russia. They are part of a $20-mln upgrade deal involving seven Mi-25s, whose service life has been extended by seven years.

Peruvian Defense Minister Pedro Cateriano, who inspected the overhauled helicopters at the La Joya air base in the southern region of Arequipa, stressed that these were attack helicopters, although they retained troop transport capability.

The Mi-25s will be deployed in November in the area of Valle de los Rios Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro (Vraem) where the fight against militant groups and drug-trafficking is hampered by rugged terrain, the jungles, and high elevation.

Mi-25s proved to be very effective in combat engagements in the Andes.

Mi-25 is an export version of Russia’s Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter, called by Soviet and Russian pilots ‘the flying tank’ due to its heavy armor and formidable firepower.

Peru has a total of 16 Mi-25 and Mi-35P helicopters in service with the country’s air force.

Brazil (The Voice of Reason) says it is “impossible” to force the Paraguayan congress to review the removal of Lugo

Brazil will wait for the Paraguayan situation caused by the removal of Fernando Lugo “to decant” before assessing the most appropriate measures to address the “rupture of democratic order” in the country, according to Planalto sources.

“We are going to let the crisis in Paraguay to decant and see how things finally rest”, said Marco Aurelio García, international affairs advisor of the Executive. On Saturday Brazil recalled its ambassador in Asuncion for consultations.

“The first step was to recall ambassadors, the second is to share information and see how Mercosur moves on from here and what are the options” added Marco Aurelio quoted by the official Agencia Brazil.

Foreign Minister Antonio Patrota had advanced on Saturday that Mercosur presidents would take advantage of the summit next Thursday/Friday in Mendoza, Argentina, to assess the situation and adopt a joint position.

“Brazil will tune in with what is decided by Mercosur”, underlined García who immediately added that nor Brazil or Mercosur pretend to interfere in the internal affairs of Paraguay, but they can’t stop from condemning what happened in the neighbouring country and express their strongest rejection to the “institutional rupture”.

“Having called our ambassador from Asuncion is a clear signal of our deep disappointment”, indicated Garcia.

The international affairs advisor also said it was “impossible” to adopt actions to force the Paraguayan congress to review its decision to remove Lugo although admitted that some “internal actions” are possible to overcome the institutional situation which Brazil condemns.

Garcia reiterated the Brazilian government condemnation to the removal of Lugo considering he was exposed to a “summary ritual” in which his ample right to defence “was not properly guaranteed”.

“Brazil considers that the procedure adopted by the Paraguayan congress compromises the fundamental pillar of democracy, an essential condition for regional integration”, said the Brazilian Foreign Affairs ministry.

The release finally states that Brazil together with its associates from Mercosur and Unasur is considering measures to be implemented “as a consequence of the rupture of the democratic order” in the framework of the region’s commitments with democracy.

CFK sends Timerman to UNASUR meeting

Joke Argentine & Bitch President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner sent Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to take part in an “urgent” Unasur meeting summoned by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to discuss the tense political situation in Paraguay.

After the meeting it was reported that the members of the Union of South American Nations decided yesterday afternoon to send a delegation of foreign ministers to Paraguay to ensure that the “democratic order is respected,” after the Paraguayan Congress said it will begin impeachment of President Fernando Lugo for his alleged role in a deadly clash involving landless farmers.

Amid a mounting crisis in Argentina involving a strike called by teamster leader Hugo Moyano, Fernández de Kirchner first decided to cut short her visit to Brazil for the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development and then opted to send Timerman to deal with Paraguay’s crisis. Nonetheless, the President stayed most of the day at the Olivos presidential residence where she met with “aids” and she did not address the teamsters union conflict publicly.

According to an official press release, Rousseff “contacted the head of state yesterday morning to request Argentina’s presence in the meeting to be held in Rio de Janeiro, in order to analyze the steps to be followed, given that an impeachment has been decided against Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo.”

Fernández de Kirchner spent six days abroad this week. On June 14 she delivered a speech to urge Argentina’s sovereignty claims over the Malvinas Islands before the UN’s Special Committee on Decolonization in New York and then she attended the G20 summit held at Los Cabos, Mexico. The President was supposed to address the political leaders gathered at the Rio+20 meeting but she returned to Argentina a day ahead of schedule to deal with the teamsters’ strike.

UK, Spain 'join forces' to defend their companies in Latin America

Spain and the UK will join forces against attacks on their companies in Latin America, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo said, following the seizure of YPF.

“We have agreed on defending and mutually protecting each other in Latin America,” García-Margallo assured following a meeting with his British counterpart, William Hague.

“We have agreed to join forces and keep talks over our policies in Latin America, defending judiciary security and protecting the interests of Spanish and British companies whenever they are under attack.”

The Spanish Foreign Minister’s comments took place two months after the Government announced it was taking over YPF from Spanish oil giant Repsol.

The seizure caused a strong rejection in Europe and in international financial organizations including the IMF and the World Bank although no sanctions were implemented-

The UK also blasted several Argentine attempts of blocking British imports, the ban of several ships to Argentine ports and the threat of civil and penal lawsuits against UK companies linked with oil exploitation in Malvinas islands. As a matter of fact, Industry Minister Débora Giorgi urged local businessmen not to buy English products.

In a non related-measure, the World Trade Organization filed a complaint against Argentine restrictions to European imports, assuring they cause a real damage to European economy.

Boudou thanks Bolivia for support in Malvinas sovereignty claim

While in an official visit to Bolivia, Vice-President Amado Boudou thanked the neighbouring country for the support it gave Argentina in its sovereignty claim of the Malvinas Islands. Present during the ceremony were ten former veterans of the 1982 war.

“I would very much like to thank the Bolivian government and people for their support in our sovereignty claim,” said Boudou in a ceremony held in Cochabamba, some 400 kilometres east of La Paz.

Also present in the ceremony were Bolivian president Evo Morales, his vice-president Álvaro García and high ranking political and military officials.

Boudou was invited on behalf of the Argentine people to attend a ceremony that celebrates the 200th anniversary of a war led by a group of women who fought against the Spanish crown.

Peru to upgrade fast aging air force jets

Peru is going ahead with a $266 million upgrade of its fast aging combat aircraft while it considers how to keep its air force up to speed with changing technologies and modern warfare requirements.

Peru faces no external threat, but President Ollanta Humala is under increasing pressure to be more proactive in the government's crackdown on Shining Path guerrilla groups that caused a Cabinet crisis earlier this month with resignations by Defense Minister Alberto Otarola and Interior Minister Daniel Lozada.

The ministers were criticized for their handling of the aftermath of April kidnapping by the guerrillas of 36 construction workers in southeastern Peru. The workers were released but the security operations left nine members of the government forces dead.

In a country short of cash resources, the multimillion dollar spending on the reconditioning of old French Mirage jets and former Soviet MiG warplanes has raised eyebrows, but analysts explain the stopgap solution is the best the country can manage at present.

Critics say the government needs to do more to acquire weapons that can tackle the Shining Path threat.

The alternatives are a higher expenditure or a foreign loan. Amid global slowdown in military sales, Peru will have no trouble rearming its forces with credit from any of the suppliers desperate to boost their exports, but Humala is demonstrating prudence -- for now.

Both French and Russian suppliers have campaigned for boosting their defense aviation sales in Latin America. Other European and Asian suppliers have followed their lead and Brazil has joined the race with its competitively priced Super Tucano light attack aircraft -- no match for either Mirage or MiG but more suitable for the fight against the guerrilla groups.

Peruvian government officials are also considering unmanned aircraft for military duties but have not come to a decision.

Peruvian air force estimates say the upgrading of its Mirage 2000 and MIG-29 combat aircraft will entail an investment of $266 million, the Diario Correo newspaper reported.

Work on the upgrades is already in progress and its completion is scheduled for 2014, the newspaper said.

Peru began buying Mirages from France in 1986 and the current upgrade involves 12 aircraft. Although Mirage maker Dassault Aviation is helping with the upgrade, officials said the bulk of the work is being carried out by Peruvian engineers and aviation experts.

The upgrade of 18 MiG-29 aircraft however is not running as smoothly as anticipated because most of the work requires Russian expertise. The MiGs' refurbishment is likely to cost at least $126 million.

The upgrading programs began about six years ago under the presidency of Alejandro Toledo and a key part, training of the pilots in the uses of new technologies, is continuing with French help.

Peruvian Air Force upgrading its 12 Mirage 2000 and 18 MIG-29

The Peruvian Air Force revealed the upgrading of its Mirage 2000 and MIG-29 combat aircraft demanding an investment of 266 million dollars, reported the Sunday edition of Diario Correo.

The Mirages 2000 were purchased in 1986 by then President Belaunde Terry

The work is being done in a Peruvian Air Force base to the north of the country and the whole operation should be concluded by 2014.

Peru purchased the Mirages from France in 1986 and the upgrading of the 12 units, involving 140 million dollars is being done by Peruvian engineers and Air Force experts with the technical advise from the French company Dassault Aviation under a program named Inspection VP5.

The newspaper also reported that the Russian manufactured 18 MIG-29 are undergoing refurbishing at a cost estimated in 126 million dollars. However this leg of the program is behind schedule since it is only done by Russian engineers.

The two operations are part of a plan started by President Alejandro Toledo over six years ago with the purpose of modernizing the capability of the Peruvian Air Force. They intend to improve technology, avionics and engines. Testing with some of the Mirages should begin in a few weeks time.

Meantime pilots are kept trained by travelling to the French air base Mont de Marsan where they practice with simulators emergency and bombing situations plus missile targeting, concludes Diario Correo.