Venezuela has been the subject of an attempted US-backed coup in the last years. With bipartisan support for the coup attempt in the US it is more important now more than ever for Venezuela to prepare for a possible but highly unlikely US invasion or intervention of some sort.
Venezuela has one of the strongest militaries of South America. They employ T-72B tanks and BMP-3 IFVs. They also have advanced air defense systems such as the Buk-M2E and the S-300VM.
The T-72B is not modern by Western standards, but it is more capable than the T-72M1 the US Army has typically gone up against in the past. The T-72B's armor is thicker than the T-72M1 and it also employs Kontakt-1 ERA (explosive reactive armor.) Venezuela has about 90 T-72B tanks in its inventory, and has signed to order 100 more from Russia.
Venezuelan T-72Bs on parade.
On exhibit.
T-72Bs in a military base.
The BMP-3 is a heavily armed IFV. Its main armament is a 100mm gun and coaxial 30mm autocannon.
It has the ability to fire Bastion ATGM out of the 100mm gun, making it a dangerous vehicle for even modern tanks. Venezuela has about 130 BMP-3Ms, which are far more modern than the original BMP-3 and are able to fire APDS (armor piercing discarding sabot) rounds out of its 100mm gun as well as Basnya ATGMs.
Venezuelan BMP-3Ms.
BMP-3Ms during exercises.
The Buk-M2E is the export version of Russia's Buk-M2. It is a highly capable system, said to be operable under electronic warfare conditions. Its missiles have a range of 45KM and a flight altitude of 25,000 meters/82,000 feet. 20 Buk-M2E systems were ordered by Venezuela.
Buk-M2E on parade.
Buks during exercises.
Venezuela also employs the S-300VM air defense system. This variant of the S-300 is mostly designed to intercept ballistic missiles, but can shoot down aircraft as well. The S-300VM missiles have a range of 200KM/120 miles and a flight altitude of over 90,000 feet. Venezuela has at least two S-300VM systems, but the true number is unknown.
Venezuela's Air Force would be the most formidable fleet of aircraft a NATO nation would have ever gone up against, though there are relatively few reported in service as of 2020. Venezuela has both US-made F-16s and Russian Su-30 fighter jets.
Su-30s and S-300VM.
An Su-30s and F-16s escort an Iranian oil tanker.
F-16s and Su-30s on the tarmac.
Igla-S MANPADS are one of Russia's most modern man portable air defense systems. They are resistant to countermeasures such as flares, but their range is short. The Igla-S missile's flight altitude tops out at 11,000 feet. The Igla-S is the most modern version of the Igla, first introduced to the Russian Army in 2004. Venezuela reportedly has 5,000 Igla-S MANPADS.
Venezuela is not a weak nation, it has modern weapons in decent numbers that make it unattractive to an invasion or intervention. This is likely why we see a Western backed coup attempt instead of a military intervention. It is unknown what the future might hold, but the Venezuelan armed forces would not go quietly.
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