A plane crossed the Pacific and arrived, giving Venezuela confidence and delaying the US military's plan!
Recently, a Russian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 heavy military transport aircraft took off from the Far East, made multiple stops, covered nearly 15,000 kilometers of flight, and finally landed at Maiquetia International Airport near Caracas, Venezuela.
The cargo hold of this plane carried real "hard goods": at least one complete " Pantsir-S1 " combined air defense system, as well as parts of the " Buk-M2E " medium-range surface-to-air missile system.
According to a briefing released by the Russian Ministry of Defense on October 30, this equipment was provided as "defensive military aid" at the request of Venezuela, aimed at "enhancing its national air defense capabilities."
The "Pantsir-S1" system has a range of up to 20 kilometers, can track and strike multiple low-altitude targets simultaneously, including cruise missiles, drones, and attack aircraft; while the "Buk-M2E" has a maximum range of up to 70 kilometers, capable of intercepting medium and low altitude flying objects, as well as some tactical ballistic missiles.
This move clearly disrupted Washington's rhythm.
Venezuelan military quickly deployed the equipment after receiving it. Satellite images show that by early November, at least two military bases located in the northwest of Caracas and the eastern shore of Lake Maracaibo had already seen the radar and launch units of the "Pantsir-S1". These locations precisely cover the main attack axes for potential air strikes from the Caribbean Sea direction by the US Navy ships.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on November 2, citing an anonymous US defense official, the "limited air strike plan targeting key Venezuelan military facilities" originally scheduled to start at the end of October has been "indefinitely postponed."
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1847939704530948/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.