"Venezuelan First Drone built" Topic

So Chavez now "reveals",or is it boasts as is his wont, that Venezuela has built it's first drone ? And in "cooperation" with Iran, Russia and China. Not surprising there either.Soon there will be so many drones being used by everyone that you won't be able to shake a stick without hitting one .If you were to use a "Venezuelan" Drone in a game would they be very effective in the terrain in that region?

Chavez reveals Venezuela has built first drone
by Staff Writers
Caracas (AFP) June 14, 2012

President Hugo Chavez has revealed that Venezuela has made its first drone in partnership with Iran, Russia and China, and said Caracas plans to start exporting it soon.

"It is one of the three planes that we have manufactured here, and we are continuing to make them… not just for military use, (as) much of its equipment is for civilian use," Chavez said Wednesday during a meeting with top military and defense officials.

The drones were developed in cooperation with "Russia, China, Iran and other allied countries," he said in remarks broadcast on radio and television.

Designed as a surveillance tool, the machine "does not carry arms" and has a 100-kilometer (60 mile) sweep. It can fly solo for some 90 minutes and reach an altitude of 3,000 meters (9,000 feet)," said General Julio Morales, president of the state-run Venezuelan Military Industrial Company Cavim.

Chavez is a left-wing firebrand who often criticizes the United States, which has closely monitored for any signs of Iranian influence in Venezuela.

The United States -- which has controversially waged drone strikes remotely against suspected militants in Pakistan and Yemen -- expressed caution about Chavez's announcement.

"The Venezuelans make lots of extravagant claims. So do the Iranians," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters Thursday in Washington.

"Our concern, obviously, would be with any breaking of international sanctions on Iran. And we will be most vigilant in watching how this goes forward," she said.

Another official in Venezuela said that the drone was assembled from parts made locally and built by engineers trained in Iran.

Measuring four meters (13 feet) long by three meters (10 feet) wide, the drone can transmit real time photographs and video, officials said. It is currently being modified so it can also carry out night flights.

Cavim is also developing guns such as the AK103 in partnership with Russia, grenades and munitions, as well as more pilotless planes.

"Of course we are developing a powder factory… a drone factory, of course we are doing it. We have the right, we wouldn't have it if we were a colony, but we are a free and independent nation," Chavez said.

A former military man, Chavez has been developing cooperation with several countries to boost the Venezuelan army."

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Amazon had better cancel Chavez's account.

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It's really funny how alot of different Governments feel the need to develop their "own" Drones . Will it really be that much of an advantage to have ones built by themselves rather then get one of the others out there? Robert

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Drones are the Shiny Toy that all the kids want to play with. They see their rich neighbour playing with his in the playground and now they pester their Mommies until they get one of their own… even if bought at Walmart.

Sounds like your average top level American R/C model aircraft.

Good for them. Perhaps they can enter it in one of the local R/C model competitions here in the USA this Summer.

Surprised to hear from Chavez. Last I'd heard, rumor had it he was near death.

Wow, looks like one of the old Pioneer spotter drones from the 1980s.

Some countries build drones because it's tacticaly smart, some counties build them becasue they feel they have to to show off(like venezualia)

While come countires could easly build much better versons then the cheap ass post soviet stuff, but don't bother.

hey, we all support free market competition right?

"hey, we all support free market competition right?"

You betcha!! They could get some good ones from Israel……oh wait . But it does look like its not a whole lot better then others out there and even if armed a very limited payload. Perhaps they can get some RC modelers to design one. Robert

Iran's types looks cooler Robert.

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It's just me or it looks like a old German V1?

Well that or they look like copies of US ones . But really. What advantages would there be to have them in the terrain that Venezuela would be involved in? The Jungle for example.How much of an effect could they have in a game between Venezuela and one of it's neighbors? Would other UAVs be more effective? Robert

Depends on what sensors you put on the drone, but I could see orbiting some Predators or equivalent to make sure that the only people growing cocaine are the ones paying their 'taxes' to the government…

IIRC, thermal imagers work OK in the jungle, but things like a millimeter-wave radar work much better.

Hmmm. In the types of operations that Venezuela may conduct against it's neighbors Would certainly be a little of overkill. But for Hugo it would probably make him feel superior. Robert

You do have to admit though that they do look like model airplanes . Robert

Of course they look like big radio-controlled models. That's all a small drone is!

Some do and some don't thats for sure. The more sophisticated ones certainly don't . Robert

Of course we are all waiting for the copies of the drones from the US that some claim are working on. Robert

Im surprised the chinese haven't wheeled one out yet.