Venezuela to take delivery on Chinese planes next year

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Caracas: Venezuela will take delivery in 2010 of the first six of 18 K-8 Karakorum trainer or light attack planes it bought from China, the Air Force's top commander said Friday.

"A total of 18, K-8 18 aircraft will be delivered, in addition to radar equipment that will help ensure national security," General Jorge Arevalo told ABC news agency.

He said China would make three deliveries of the warplanes next year, the first of which will consist of six units.

The two-seater K-8 fighters will be test flown by Venezuelan pilots in China before they are taken apart and shipped to Venezuela, officials said.

A deal for the 18 jets was signed by Venezuela and China in late 2008. The aircraft is part of Venezuela's effort to upgrade its armed forces and gradually replace its mostly US-made equipment.

Arevalo stressed the Chinese planes and radars were intended to boost Venezuela's defensive capabilities, adding: "we don't attack anybody."

Venezuela and Colombia's military are on heightened alert after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez recently complained of a US-Colombian military base agreement he claims threatens regional peace.

Russia, China and Belarus are Venezuela's main military suppliers.

In September, Caracas said it had obtained a 2.2-billion-dollar credit from Russia to purchase nearly 100 T72 tanks and a series of anti-aircraft rocket systems from its strategic ally.

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