Central/South American Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Colombia will finalize the acquisition plan for frigates for Strategic Platform


(Defensa.com) The Ministry of National Defense of Colombia would finalize the acquisition plan frigates Strategic Platform Surface (PES) program. This follows from the statements of the Director of Research, Development and Innovation (R + D + i) of the Colombian state company COTECMAR (Science and Technology Corporation for the Development of Naval, Maritime and Fluvial Industry) Patarroyo collected by Fredy Zarate the specialized portal janes.com

At the moment it would be defining the final design that will build ships for the Navy of the Republic of Colombia (ARC). It is confirmed that eight frigates will be acquired with a displacement of 4,500 to 5,000 tons and will be built over the next twenty years, it is foreseen that are all in service in 2035. The Colombian shipyard COTECMAR and Navy of the Republic of Colombia work years in the design of a frigate called Strategic Platform Surface (PES) should enter service in 2025 (previously reported in 2019). As is clear from this calendar, the first frigate should be operational in 2025 and the last of the eight would ten years later, in 2035.


This new type of frigates would come to replace the four corvettes FS1500 of "Almirante Padilla" ARC class whose life will end in 2024 and were built by the German shipyard HDW. COTECMAR announced that would handle the construction of these vessels in Colombia but taking the design and construction alone a ship of this size is complex given the limited experience of this shipyard, which is based on the construction of the IPO class "July 20". Therefore COTECMAR could have an international technologist which would reduce development time and reduce technological risks, and can also divide the construction of vessels between both partners.

Recall that at the end of last year we reported that the new frigate developed by Navantia would be a perfect place to meet the requirements of the Strategic Platform Surface (PES) of Colombia program candidate. The characteristics of this frigate were analyzed in depth in November last year defensa.com.

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The Paraguayan Armed Forces create a unit dedicated to Electronic Warfare

(Defensa..com) By Decree No. 3275 of the Executive dated April 14, created the Directorate General for Information Technologies and Communication of, under the Command of Armed Forces Armed Forces of Paraguay. The decree states that the Director General Commander is a Major General or equivalent of the Navy. At the same time Directorates and Communication Technologies in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Logistics Command and the Directorate of War Materials are created.

The creation of this new military unit responds to the provisions of No. 1840 Executive Order dated July 1, 2014, which declares of national interest the implementation and use of Information Technologies and Communication Technologies (ICTs ) in public administration and implementation of specialized units tics is ordered in institutions under the executive branch. ICT specialized units form a network, constituting a coordination, actions and resources through collaboration, communication, inter-institutional cooperation relations, agreements on joint coordination and management functions associated with the object of promote the defense of cyber spectrum - Electronic Forces. These advances are framed within the modernization and transformation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Paraguay.

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Paraguayan Engineering Command re-equipped battalion Engineering Building after an investment of $ 10 million


(Defensa..com) The president of Paraguay, Horacio Cartes, as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the nation, presided over the ceremony of presentation of new equipment for Engineering Command. In total we have acquired 30 machines, 28 vehicles, 18 residential modules to be used for road work in the area of Homeland Defense Departments covering Concepción, Canindeyú and San Pedro (North Zone of the Eastern Region of Paraguay), where combating various criminal gangs, including the self Paraguayan People's Army (EPP).

Engineering commander, Brigadier General Miltiades Rojas said the plan Engineer Battalion equipment that will serve to work in communities in the departments of Concepción, San Pedro and Canindeyú, both vertical and horizontal constructions where private companies choose not to. The Finance Minister Santiago Peña, said meanwhile that have invested about $ 10 million in a historic recognition Engineering Command to improve the situation. He concluded that Treasury resources. "It's part of the allocated budget and we are opening reception of the machines," he said.

The assets acquired are as follows: 4 Caterpillar Crawler Dozers, 6 Graders Caterpillar, Komatsu Loader 3, 4 Mini loader Caterpillar wheel, 3 compactor roller Bomag 3 Caterpillar hydraulic excavators, backhoe loader 4 Caterpillar 3 Valtra tractors 4 x 4, 5 Double Cab pickups Nissan 4 x 4, 3 trucks Ford 4 x 2 with 6 m3 tipper 1 Truck Ford 6 x 2 liter tank 15.0000, 3 trucks Ford 4 x 2 with water cistern for 10,000 liters, 3 Ford 4 x 2 trucks with fuel tanker transport and maintenance, 4 trucks Ford 4 x 2 for passenger and general cargo, 2 truck Ford 4 x 2 ambulance base support, 4 Volvo tipper truck 6 x 2 12 m3, 3 tract Volvo trucks 6 x 4, 3 car towed kitchen living quarters, 12 modules car towed to bedroom (10 people), 3 modules car towed to health. Purchases will continue within the framework of modernization of the Armed Forces of the nation.


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20-years after decommissioned, the unforgettable Hawker Hunter in the Chilean Air Force


(Defensa.com) All armed forces have operated in some material that has left a legacy and marked a before and an after time. Chile is no stranger to this phenomenon, which unquestionably in the medium Army M-41 Walker Bulldog in the Leander frigates Navy and Air Force Hawker Hunter unforgettable tank said. It was exactly 20 years ago that the Chilean Air Force has eliminated this classic and elegant hunting British design, which remained in service in Chile for 28 years serving with Aviation Group No. 7, 8 and 9.


It was a Wednesday April 19 20 years ago when our publication FDS attended the last flight of a flock of Hunters Group No. 8. The unit was already in process of preparation for the reception of the Mirage F-5M Elkan acquired Belgium. By then, the fleet of Hunter still added 21 copies of more than 50 acquired, but only 4 were operational, 8 hours flight expired, another 8 in need of major interventions and one static instruction. Thanks to the rotation of the turbine Rolls Royce Avon hours available, were successfully relocated in flight 10 specimens from BA Cerro Moreno (Antofagasta) to Los Cerrillos in Santiago remaining in flight line 4 issues for the farewell ceremony and low.


to display and subsequent departure of the last flight of Hunters, coming to fly Valparaiso, consisted of copies J-718 (BEL IF19) and J-736 (XE704) two-seater T Mk 72 plus copies J-734 ( XF317) and J-735 (WV326) both FR Mk 71A fighter and reconnaissance. The J-718 was the only survivor of the first batch purchased by Chile in 1966, which actually turned out to be an F Mk 6 built to Belgium in 1956 and transformed tandem, after an accident, as T66A receiving tuition G-APUX with which flew for the various parts of the world in demonstrations before being sold to Chile.


The other three specimens were manufactured for the Royal Air Force between 1955 and 1956 as F Mk 4 and subsequently updated photo-reconnaissance two-seater other, coming to Chile in 1974 after crossing the Atlantic in flight with a stopover in Ascension Island . Among the drivers of the last flight worth remembering the then Commander in Chief, General Ramon Vega Hidalgo, General Fernando Rojas Sell, Jaime Estay Viveros (first pilot Chilean Hunter) and Enrique Montealegre Jullian

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k-8 Air Force Bolivia


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The Navy of Peru announces an international tender for major modernization and inspection of Antonov An-32B


(Defensa.com) The Navy of Peru, under the so-called Recovery Program Airlift Capabilities, called - according to the portal of the Supervisory Board of the State Procurement (OCSE) - an international tender face the Mayor and General Inspection Technical Resources Extension of the two Antonov An-32B of the Command of Naval Aviation (COMAVINAV). The total investment would be around $ 10.8 million and would, given the complexity of the requested work for the modernization, transfer of aircraft abroad for at least six months.

The process, whose results should be released next week, have been invited eight companies of Ukraine Antonov JSC, Camiltech Ltd, Continent-Avia Ltd, Claasen Group-410 Antonov, Kiev Aviation Plant (Aviant) Motorsich, Reconstructive Plant N ° 410 and Vip Avia Corporation, five of Russia: Aircraft Repair Plant No. 123, Aerosila, AviaHelp Group JSC, Aviazapchast and Omega Tranzit, and one of Poland: ANKOL SP Zoo. To these I would add, although it has not been proven, AerCaribe (Colombia) who was disqualified in the last tender organized by the Ministry of Interior for inspection Mayor 3 Antonov An-32 because its economic proposal exceeded by more than the amount allocated $ 800,000 and had no existing permits Antonov JSC.

The Mayor and General Inspection Technical Resources Extension will extend the life of the An-32B Naval Aviation for another 20 years. Both ships acquired for resale in Hungary in 1994, should be subjected to a series of inspections in the main structure (to detect the presence of cracks, corrosion or defects), engines and auxiliary power plant, flight controls and landing gear as well as the electrical systems, fire, fuel and pneumohydraulic. In addition, modifications that will not only increase the payload to 7.5 tonnes but reduce operating costs per flight hour would be made.

The Antonov An-32B Cline is a medium transport aircraft designed and manufactured in Ukraine by Antonov JSC, which has a length of 23.78 m, a wingspan of 29.20 m. and a height of 8.75 m. It is powered by two engines Ivchenko Progress AI-20DM each of 5,112 hp that give a top speed of 530 km / h and a cruise of 470 km / h. The roof of operation is 9,500 m. and 2,500 km. Its maximum takeoff weight is 27,000 kg. It can carry 42 paratroopers, 50 troops or 24 stretchers.

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Venezuela ordered the arrest of seven officers, including General Herbert García Plaza, for irregularities in the purchase of three ferries used in Spain

(Defensa.com) The Attorney General of Venezuela, Luisa Ortega Diaz, announced via a television channel arrest warrant seven Venezuelan officials for alleged irregularities in the acquisition of three ferries used in Spain. Among those involved is the former Minister of Water and Air Transport and ex-president of Bolipuertos, General Herbert García Plaza, on which he would have warrant and could have left the country. On April 20 the Court 10 Control of the Metropolitan Area of Caracas ordered the arrest of García Plaza.

The Ministry of Air Transport and Water is Bolipuertos (Bolivarian Ports), a company in which they work four of those already detained in the operation. The origin of the research is the acquisition of three ferries used to Spanish companies last year for an amount of 50 million euros to be used by operators to connect Venezuelan tourist destinations on the island of Margarita.

Was originally planned to purchase ships with three years of use to a Greek shipyard, but the current Venezuelan government had ordered paralyze the purchase and now sought García Plaza have been ordered to buy the Spanish ships. However I do not launched the formal acquisition process and is suspected would have been incurred in corruption (intentional in Venezuela embezzlement), "concert with contractor" and "evasion bidding processes."

Some Venezuelan media have echoed that the state of ships bought in Spain was not as expected and that the update would have required additional outlays, being only one of them currently in service. There are three high-speed catamarans used by Spanish shipping to unite Baleares, the Straits and the Canary Islands which were acquired by Consolidated Ferrys (Conferrys) company expropriated by the Venezuelan government in 2011 and Bolipuertos dependent.

The "Virgen del Valle II" Venezuelan (formerly "Euroferrys Pacific") was owned by the Spanish shipping company Trasmediterránea and was acquired by Consolidated Ferrys (Conferrys) to connect the island Margarita. It was built at Austal Ships of Australia, launched in 2001 and used in Spain to join Ceuta to Algeciras. The ship "San Francisco de Asís" was acquired by Conferrys to join Guaira and Margarita and formerly the "Federico García Lorca", owned by the Spanish shipping Baleaira was built in Italy and launched in 2001.

Finally the "Virgen de Comoroto" Venezuelan formerly the "Dolphin Jet". Although it was launched in 2004 has had a more intense life than earlier and began operating in the North American Great Lakes to operate in the Strait of Gibraltar to FRS. Herbert García Plaza had made statements to the Venezuelan daily Fifth Day in which he defends his innocence and blamed his arrest warrant interests of companies linked to the Venezuelan government that would have been affected by its management. In these statements, which conducted an undisclosed location, further stated that the case has been in the hands of his lawyers.

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Bolivia announced the purchase of 20 aircraft and 40,000 assault rifles


(defensa.com) El ministro de Defensa de Bolivia, Reymi Ferreira, anunció la compra de 20 aviones de combate y 40.000 fusiles de asalto de última generación para las tres fuerzas del Estado de Bolivia, indicando que se dispuso la inversión de 140 millones dólares, que forman parte de un crédito que otorga el Gobierno de Francia y de una inversión del nacional. El titular de Defensa no fue explícito al explicar el tipo de armamento que adquirirá ni el modelo que se comprará y remarcó que su despacho ha recibido cinco ofertas que están siendo consideradas, al igual que las propuestas de China, Rusia, Brasil y Argentina.

Ferreira aseveró que la compra del armamento se agilizará por orden presidencial y se prevé que las armas estén en el país antes del 6 de agosto del presente año. Una tercera parte será para la reserva y el resto para reposición del que actualmente tienen las Fuerzas Armadas, que realizaron la última compra en la gestión 2000, adquiriendo fusiles Galil de calibre 5,56 m. OTAN


Por otra parte, el presidente del país, Evo Morales, entregó 5 aviones adaptados y modificados como ambulancias para que sean utilizadas en el programa sanitario Mi Salud -confeccionado entre el Ministerio de Salud junto a la Fuerza Aérea Boliviana (FAB), para asistir a las poblaciones del Oriente boliviano-, que fueron incautadas en diferentes operativos antinarcóticos. Se trata de 4 Cessna 150 y 1 Beechcraft King Air C-90, destinados a la V Brigada Aérea, que tendrán como funciones la realización fr servicios de asistencia médica a las poblaciones alejadas, la evacuación de personas, traslado de personal médico y asistencia a los casos de emergencia que se presenten. Comenzaron ya a actuar en El Beni

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Russia and Cuba negotiated the sale of weapons, ships and bases installed with navigation system GLONASS

(Defensa.com) Last week there was a meeting in Cuba between Vice President of the Cuban Government, Ricardo Cabrisas, and Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, who confirmed that Russia intends to continue to supply modern military equipment to the Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. The Russian vice president of the Russian ervice for Military-Technical Cooperation, Anatoli Punchuk also announced that Cuba is interested in acquiring Russian warships manufacture and instruct Russian companies rebuilding their ports.

Another issue that transcended data has been the possible construction of facilities on Cuban territory of the Russian satellite navigation system GLONASS. This occurs after Russia requested the US government to install this system bases on its territory, getting no answer. Once Russia received the US refusal was decided that as of June 1 this year the seasons of the American GPS navigation system that is in Russia must cease its military activities and shall be subject to the control of the Russian authorities.

During this recent visit a meeting of the Russian-Cuban intergovernmental commission on trade and techno-scientific cooperation that would have addressed this issue would have taken place. The Russian vice-Russian service for military-technical cooperation, Anatoli Punchuk said Russia would form Cuban specialists in this navigation system. Recall that in July last year there was a visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Cuba after a boost relations between the two countries given the strategic importance that Russia attaches to Cuba as oldest ally in Latin America was announced.

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First KC-130R former USMC delivered to Chile, 2 in order