*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - September 8, 2009: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez could sign new deals to buy Russian arms and military vehicles during his visit to Moscow this week, a Russian defense industry source was quoted as saying Tuesday. 
The Mi-28 combat helicopter has been developed by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and is known by the NATO codename Havoc. In August 1996 Mil rolled out a prototype of the day and night capable version, the Mi-28N Night Havoc. The first production Mi-28N took its first flight in April 2004 and began flight testing with the Russian Air Force in June 2005. The Russian Air Force has plans to procure up to 60 of this variant, now called the Mi-28NE Night Hunter. "The Mi-28 can be armed with a mixture of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, unguided rockets, and podded guns. "Three were ordered in 2005 and 16 more in 2006 for delivery by 2008. The first production aircraft was delivered in May 2006 and began formal acceptance testing in September 2006. Five aircraft are involved in the testing which is scheduled to conclude in early 2008.
Mi-28 can fly at a maximum speed of 300km/h, can fly rearwards and sideways at speeds up to 100km/h and is able to hover turn at 45° a second.
"An array of new arms contracts with Venezuela are now being prepared, whose signing could coincide with Hugo Chavez's visit to Moscow," the source told Interfax news agency.
Venezuela is expected to buy three diesel-powered Kilo-class submarines, a "large shipment" of BMP-3 armored vehicles and T-72 battle tanks, 10 Mi-28 helicopters and "several" land-based anti-ship missiles, he added.
The total value of the contracts was not given.
Kremlin spokeswoman Natalya Timakova denied that there were any plans for new Russian-Venezuelan arms deals during Chavez's visit.
The two energy-rich countries are to sign an oil and gas agreement, Timakova told reporters, without giving further details.
Chavez, a leftist firebrand who has repeatedly criticized the U.S. for its "imperialist" policies in Latin America, is due to arrive in Moscow Wednesday for a two-day visit.
The Venezuelan leader is scheduled to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Thursday.
In recent years, Venezuela has signed over $4 billion worth of arms contracts with Russia, and last November its navy held joint exercises with Russian warships in the Caribbean, traditionally seen as a U.S. domain.
The Mi-28 combat helicopter has been developed by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and is known by the NATO codename Havoc. In August 1996 Mil rolled out a prototype of the day and night capable version, the Mi-28N Night Havoc. The first production Mi-28N took its first flight in April 2004 and began flight testing with the Russian Air Force in June 2005. The Russian Air Force has plans to procure up to 60 of this variant, now called the Mi-28NE Night Hunter. "The Mi-28 can be armed with a mixture of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, unguided rockets, and podded guns. "Three were ordered in 2005 and 16 more in 2006 for delivery by 2008. The first production aircraft was delivered in May 2006 and began formal acceptance testing in September 2006. Five aircraft are involved in the testing which is scheduled to conclude in early 2008.
Mi-28 can fly at a maximum speed of 300km/h, can fly rearwards and sideways at speeds up to 100km/h and is able to hover turn at 45° a second.
"An array of new arms contracts with Venezuela are now being prepared, whose signing could coincide with Hugo Chavez's visit to Moscow," the source told Interfax news agency.
Venezuela is expected to buy three diesel-powered Kilo-class submarines, a "large shipment" of BMP-3 armored vehicles and T-72 battle tanks, 10 Mi-28 helicopters and "several" land-based anti-ship missiles, he added.
The total value of the contracts was not given.
Kremlin spokeswoman Natalya Timakova denied that there were any plans for new Russian-Venezuelan arms deals during Chavez's visit.
The two energy-rich countries are to sign an oil and gas agreement, Timakova told reporters, without giving further details.
Chavez, a leftist firebrand who has repeatedly criticized the U.S. for its "imperialist" policies in Latin America, is due to arrive in Moscow Wednesday for a two-day visit.
The Venezuelan leader is scheduled to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Thursday.
In recent years, Venezuela has signed over $4 billion worth of arms contracts with Russia, and last November its navy held joint exercises with Russian warships in the Caribbean, traditionally seen as a U.S. domain.
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