Iran Made Drones Guarding Venezuelan Airspace

Caracas, June 1, IRNA – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called on the country's Armed forces here Thursday to launch Aripa System, comprised of Iran-made drones in the campaign against violence, promote security, and control airspace of that Latin American country. President Maduro made the remark in a ceremony arranged for delivering the new military facilities to the Venezuelan Armed Forces at Libertador Air Base located in Maracay, 150km west of the capital city, Caracas. In a live televised address Maduro said: ˈI congratulate every Venezuelan today as the Aripa system operation was launched successfully taking advantage of Iranian made drones, which is a sign that our country is on the path towards advancement and taking advantage of modern sciences and technologies in our military and security operations, aimed at preserving peace and security in our dear country, Venezuela.ˈ According to this report, during the ceremony three drones jointly manufactured by Iran and Venezuela were delivered to the Venezuelan Army, but President Maduro emphasized, ˈThe financial assets for this project would be highly increased in the future and its products would be sold to the ember countries of Bolivar Union Treaty (ALBA).ˈ The Venezuelan TV noted that Aripa is a production plan in the field of manufacturing drones in accordance with a contract for technological military cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, signed by the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the year 2006, in whose framework so far 15 drones have been manufactured. These drones are equipped with small surveillance cameras. After gaining victory in Presidential Elections last spring, the Venezuelan President launched vast scale programs aimed at improving the countryˈs status, particularly in security and development fields. Addressing the Aripa Project officials, he once said, ˈYou can count on our financial, ethical, and state support.ˈ He added, ˈWe contribute to the progress of such project with all our might so that in the future we would have strong and indigenous advanced industries.ˈ President Maduro also informed that he has allocated a Special Economic-Military Zone to the countryˈs military forces so that the National Bolivarian Army would be able to provide their required facilities and products at ease. The Venezuelan president said, ˈThe national Bolivarian Army forces have the full support of the government for getting stronger and improving their capabilities and their military industries, taking advantage of the best possible technologies in the world in every field, and their food and clothing, too, should be the best.ˈ President Maduro said, ˈWe do these things because this is what the top military commander, Hugo Chavez had ordered to be done.ˈ Maduro said, ˈIn the future we would have an advanced military industry in South America, because in the world the weak countries are not respected, the ones who bow to the big powers are not respected, and those who yield to the will of the empires and the superpowers are not respected.ˈ The Venezuelan president reiterated, ˈThe world nations respect the powerful, competent, and brave nations, and those who struggle for their freedom and independence, which is why we need to attract the respect of every nation in the world for the Venezuelan nation.ˈ/end