What weapons does Venezuela possess to fight back against the US?

One of the most powerful forces in South America

The Venezuelan military is rushing to prepare its defenses against foreign invasion. And they have reason to do so: US President Donald Trump is considering all options for Venezuela, including a violent solution to overthrow Nicolas Maduro.
The Venezuelan military is considered one of the strongest in South America. According to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Venezuela's total military strength is 123,000 plus 220,000 militiamen.

Venezuelan army soldiers parade. Photo: AP

The country's military budget is between $2.6 and $3 billion. The armed forces include the Strategic Command, Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, and militia.

Venezuela is the largest importer of Russian weapons in the Western Hemisphere. In 2006, the country purchased a batch of 7.62mm AK-103 assault rifles, replacing the Belgian FN FAL assault rifles that had been in use since the mid-20th century.

Almost all of the Venezuelan Army's military equipment is Russian-made: 92 T-72B1V tanks, 123 BMP-3M (modernized) infantry fighting vehicles, 114 BTR-80A armored vehicles. There are also French AMX-30 tanks (obsolete), French and Chinese armored personnel carriers.

Field artillery includes 50 Msta-S 152mm armored self-propelled guns, 24 Grad 122mm multiple rocket launchers and 12 Smerch 300mm multiple rocket launchers.

Venezuelan Army BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicle. Photo: CC BY-SA 2.0/ CANCILLERÍA DEL ECUADOR

There are also smaller Russian, French and American guns. The air force includes 10 Mi-35M2 attack helicopters, 16 Mi-17V5 multi-purpose helicopters, 3 Mi-26 heavy transport helicopters, as well as 40 light helicopters manufactured by Bell and Sikorsky (USA).

The main "trump cards" of the Venezuelan Air Force are 23 Russian Su-30MK2V heavy fighters and 19 American F-16A light fighters. The transport air force has different types of aircraft: about 40 aircraft manufactured by the US, China, Germany and the UK.

The Navy is modest, but still sufficient to protect the coastal area. 3 Italian Lupo missile destroyers, 2 German project 209 torpedo submarines and 15 patrol gunboats.

Powerful air defense system

The strength of the Venezuelan Armed Forces is guaranteed by a powerful air defense system (5 brigades). This is an important factor that can influence a group of hawks in the Pentagon. Venezuela has two divisions of the S-300VM long-range air defense missile system, which can effectively deal with targets (including hard-to-detect targets) at a distance of up to 250 km and at altitudes of 25 to 30,000 meters, as well as with ballistic missiles.

Medium-range air defense missions are performed by 12 Buk-M2E air defense missile systems, as well as 24 modernized Pechora-2M S-125 air defense missile systems. The export version of the Buk air defense missile system has proven its effectiveness in combat in Syria.

The Pechora-2M S-125 air defense missile system on a self-propelled chassis, intercepting targets at a distance of 20 to 32 km and at an altitude of 20 to 20,000 meters, is equipped with modern equipment to "deceive" anti-radar missiles.

Venezuelan Su-30MK2V. Photo: ANDRÉ AUSTIN DU-PONT ROCHA (MEXICO AIR SPOTTERS MAS

The final line of air defense consists of 12 Tor-M1 low-altitude air defense missile systems and several thousand Igla-S man-portable air defense systems, as well as Russian (Soviet) and French-made anti-aircraft guns.

All air defense brigades operate in coordination with the Aerospace Defense Command (part of the Air Force). Airspace surveillance is carried out by the Chinese JYL-1 3-coordinate radar systems and JY-11B mobile radar systems (the JY-11B is quite effective).

Thus, Venezuela has the ability to shoot down "uninvited guests", they need to think carefully before deciding to invade the country's airspace.

Of course, Venezuela's military power cannot be compared with that of the United States. However, in the event that the US decides to intervene militarily in Venezuela, the country's military can fight back strongly.

Moreover, public opinion in NATO countries is very sensitive to military losses. Especially when elite military pilots of any country are killed.