Israel-based Image Satellite International (ISI) has shared alleged satellite images of the deployment of Russia-made S-300 air defence missiles by the Venezuelan military to the Captain Manuel Rios Airbase in the Guarico state, a key airbase south of Caracas, amid simmering tensions in the region. This reported by Sputnik.
#Followup: #Venezuela has put the #S300 into #operational readiness, after conducting drills in February 2019 (as reported previously by #ISI).#Colombia #intelligence #Satellite #military #defence #defense #MaduroRegime #Update #imagery pic.twitter.com/JerkoIcozn
— ImageSat Intl. (@ImageSatIntl) March 24, 2019
ISI also reported that the Venezuelan Armed Forces had put the S-300s into operational readiness after holding military drills in February.
iSi #Intelligence Summary - https://t.co/FWqmIYSdJP#Venezuela: A month of military preparations. Will there be a confrontation?
— ImageSat Intl. (@ImageSatIntl) March 25, 2019
***#ISI shows a parallel between the beginning of the crisis in Venezuela and the heightened #alert in the #military's #S300 unit.#Satellite #space pic.twitter.com/yoYNVmdnUR
The deployment reportedly includes five launchers and a 9532ME multi-channel missile guidance radar (MMGR).
Several days before the dispatch, a number of media outlets reported that an estimated 99 Russian military staff had arrived in Caracas on board two planes, which also delivered 35 tonnes of cargo.
Back in 2009, Russia agreed to lend Venezuela over $2 billion to purchase 92 tanks and an S-300 missile system that can shoot down fighter jets and cruise missiles. Two battalions of S-300VM "Antey-2500" were delivered in May 2012.
