Venezuela has decided to shift its military focus toward modernizing Western weapons systems, stepping away from its reliance on Russian supplies.
According to the Ukrainian portal Defense Express and WP Tech, this decision stems from challenges in obtaining spare parts for Russian T-72 tanks, which has driven Venezuela to prioritize investment in its domestic defense industry and adopt Western systems.
Venezuela’s New Military Strategy
Venezuela has announced a new strategy for the development of its armed forces, set to run until 2030.
This plan includes a focus on modernizing Western weaponry and reducing dependence on Russian technologies.
The decision is partly influenced by the logistical challenges caused by Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has made maintaining Russian equipment, such as the T-72B tanks, increasingly difficult. As a result, Venezuela is turning to its French AMX-30 tanks, which are seen as more practical to maintain and upgrade.
Venezuela’s military has a varied arsenal, including:
Main Battle Tanks: 92 Russian T-72B tanks and 81 French AMX-30 tanks.
Light Tanks: 78 Scorpion-90s and 31 AMX-13s.
Armored Vehicles: 123 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, 114 BTR-80A personnel carriers, nearly 80 Dragoon 300s, and 80 V-100/V-150 armored vehicles.
Artillery: 48 Russian Msta-S self-propelled guns, 13 Nona-SVKs, 24 BM-21 Grads, 13 French Mk F3 self-propelled guns, and 40 M101 and OTO Melara Mod 56 howitzers.
Missile Systems: 20 LAR-160 multiple rocket launchers.
Venezuela’s air force includes 21 Su-30MKV fighters and 18 F-16s, though their technical condition remains unclear.
Air Defense and Independence
Venezuela also operates a mix of Russian air defense systems, including 44 S-125 launchers, nine Buk-M2Es, and 12 S-300VM systems. Despite their effectiveness, the country’s new strategy seeks to reduce dependence on Russian military supplies and transition to Western technologies for greater independence and reliability.
The T-72, one of Russia’s most iconic tanks, has been central to Venezuela’s armored capabilities.
Designed in the 1970s, the T-72 has undergone numerous modernizations, with the T-72B3 being the most notable upgrade. Equipped with advanced Sosna-U sights, improved reactive armor, and a 125 mm 2A46M cannon supported by 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm PKT machine guns, the T-72 remains a powerful platform.
However, the difficulty in obtaining parts has forced Venezuela to reconsider its reliance on this aging Russian technology.
