Venezuela Signs $2B Arms Contract with Spanish Firms

CN-235MPA Persuader(click to view full) In 2005, DID covered a report on Latin American arms procurement that highlighted Venezuela as the major arms buyer in the region. In November 2005, Defense-Aerospace.com translated a document (URL now broken) noting that Spain’s Minister of Defence Jose Bono had attended a contract-signing ceremony wherein EADS-CASA will deliver 12 aircraft and Navantia would deliver 8 ships; the total value of both contracts was EUR 1.7 billion ($2 billion), of which the aircraft represented only about EUR 450-500 million. Other sources noted that Spain would deliver 10 C-295 light-medium transport aircraft and 2 CASA EADS CN-235MPA Persuader maritime patrol aircraft. Though the contract reports did not specify exact ship classes, the deal also reportedly included 4 corvettes and 4 patrol vessels from Spanish ship-builder Navantia. Technology transfer export laws – and their accompanying restrictions – would play a role in this sale. Some parts of the deal would make it, and others wouldn’t. In the aftermath, work continues: * Suddenly You Find You’re Out There, Walking in a Storm… * Yesterday’s Gone: Progress and Developments * Appendix A: The Nature of the Vessels Suddenly You Find You’re Out There, Walking in a Storm… CN-235 & […]