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CARACAS, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Venezuelan government has approved the purchase of a new fleet of Russian-made military planes at a cost of 480 million U.S. dollars, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said Thursday.
"President Nicolas Maduro authorized ... the purchase of the Sukhoi, in order to continue defending our national airspace," Lopez said during a meeting with senior military leaders.
The minister said the new planes will help improve Venezuela's ability to protect its borders, especially against drug trafficking along the Colombian frontier.
Venezuela will soon be launching drones to combat smuggling and drug trafficking, he added.
The new planes will help Venezuela's armed forces fight back an "economic war" and "destabilizing plans" designed to harm the country, Lopez said.
In September, a Venezuelan Sukhoi aircraft suffered a grave accident after hitting another plane that was entering Venezuelan airspace, kiling two of its pilots.
