Wampum

The engine of the C-295 is the PW127 turboprop. It is generic for the 70-seat civilian turboprop market, and that is the "restricted technology" the Bush regime is attempting to exploit to prevent from falling into "undemocratic" (but elected, not appointed) Venezuealan hands. The C-295 is, as you'd expect, the militarized version of the 70-seat flying bus, configurable to haul seats, pallets, or stretchers. They go for about $25,000,000 each.

The engine of the CN-235 is the GE CT7-9C turboprop. It too is generic for the 45-seat civilian turboprop market, and that too is the "restricted technology" the Bush regime is attempting to exploit to prevent from falling into the same "wrong hands". The CN-235 is, as you'd expect, the militarized version of the 45-seat flying bus, configurable to haul seats, pallets. They go for about $17,000,000. The C-295 is a stretched derivative of the CN-235 transporter, with characteristic high wing, rear loader design.

Hugo Chavez wants 10 of them. The Bush regime is flogging the idea that new, over-engineered commuter aircraft, in the hands of the government that sends 1.5 million barrels of oil, is a threat to the stability of South America and the Caribbean. I hope the Bushistas know that a woman, a socialist woman, is about to be elected president of Chile. They may be laboring under the impression that General Augusto Pinochet is still in power in Santiago.

The US also seeks to prevent Brazil from selling Venezuela 24 EMB-314 SuperTucano turboprop, presumably on the same PT6A-68 turboprop theory, or on the avionics package, standard FLIR technology for night flights. The Brazilian EMB-312 Tucano trainer is operational in the Air Forces of much of South and Central America (17 countries total). The MB-314 SuperTucano is an enhanced speed and altitude version of the EMB-312. They go for about $4,500,000.

The US also seeks to prevent Russia from selling Venezuela six Mi-17V-5 versatile transport, and one Mi-26T military transport, and three Mi-35M transport-combat helicopters, as well as follow-on orders for another eight helicopters, and possibily three 4th generation Russian non-nuclear submarines, the (Project 677) Amur-950 boat, as well as surface patrol boats.

Nixit dixit Sean McCormack.

I expect that Rosoboronexport will find itself funded to upgrade the various versions of the MiG-21, MiG-23 and Su-22 planes now in Cuba. Brazilian and Russian sales data in the update.