Venezuelan Armed Forces are about to establish a Coast Guard Command armed with Russian-made Bal-E mobile missile systems, reports Infodefensa .
At present, a group of Venezuelan officers and technicians is passing initial training in Russia.
Caracas was supposed to receive coast defense missile systems purchased from Russia in 2011. At that time in the interview to Ultimas Noticias , the ex-chief of Operational Strategic Command General Henry de Jesus Rangel Silva confirmed the announcement of president Chavez made in Sept 2009 that Venezuela would receive missile systems with fire range up to 300 km in the nearest future.
Same as Hugo Chavez, the general did not specify the type of armament. World Arms Trade Analytic Center supposed at that time Venezuela might purchase either Russian Club-M or K-300P Bastion mobile coast defense missile systems.
As it turned out, Venezuelan Coast Guard will be armed with new coast-based systems Bal-E with firing range up to 120 km. The missile system was commissioned into Russian Armed Forces in 2008.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , February 22, 2012