LIMA, June 5 (RIA Novosti) - Venezuela's president has dropped the heaviest hint yet that his country may buy Russian-made fighters by saying warplanes could take to the skies during a July 5 military parade to celebrate Independence Day.
Venezuela has already signed a $54-million contract for 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles, the batch of which was shown off on television Sunday night, and put pen to paper in the middle of last year on a contract for 15 military helicopters.
And Hugo Chavez, the outspoken left-wing leader of the South American country and vehement critic of U.S. foreign policy, told the nation in a television broadcast that Su-30 Flanker fighters could appear above the capital on July 5.
Chavez said earlier this year his country could purchase Sukhoi aircraft from Russia to replace its contingent of U.S. F-16 multi-role fighters following an embargo on arms sales to the country slapped on by Washington.
