The Maduro regime has framed its military buildup, notably the acquisition of Russian systems, as a necessary response to perceived threats from the United States.
Venezuela’s acquisition and deployment of the Russian-made SA-24 Man-Portable Air-Defense System (MANPADS), also known as the 9K338 Igla-S, represent a significant element of its military strategy and its deepening ties with Russia.
This advanced air-defense system underscores Venezuela’s efforts to bolster its defensive capabilities amid regional tensions and its alignment with Moscow in the face of Western pressure, particularly from the United States.
An evolution of earlier Soviet and Russian MANPADS, such as the Igla (SA-18) and Igla-1 (SA-16), the SA-24 Igla-S is designed to counter low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
All About the SA-24 Missile Launcher
Developed by Russia’s KBM Design Bureau, the Igla-S entered service in the mid-2000s and is considered one of the most advanced shoulder-fired missile systems in the world. It features improved range, accuracy, and resistance to countermeasures compared to its predecessors, making it a formidable tool for air defense.
Venezuela’s acquisition of the SA-24 began as part of a broader military cooperation agreement with Russia, which intensified under the leadership of Hugo Chávez and continued under Nicolás Maduro. Under the strain of economic sanctions and political isolation from the United States and its allies, Venezuela became closer to Russia, relying on it for diplomatic support, economic assistance, and, of course, military hardware.
The Chavista regime in Caracas purchased hundreds of Igla-S systems in the early 2000s, with deliveries facilitated through arms deals worth billions of dollars. These purchases were part of a larger package that included fighter jets, tanks, and other air-defense systems, such as the S-300VM, reflecting Venezuela’s intent to modernize its armed forces and deter potential aerial threats.
Even with the assistance from Russia, though, much of Venezuela’s Armed Forces have fallen into disrepair due to the economic troubles that the socialist policies of the successive Chavez and Maduro governments have imposed upon the country.
An SA-24 Igla-S is a highly portable, infrared-guided missile system operated by a single soldier or a small crew. It has a range of around 3.7 miles and can engage targets at altitudes of up to 11,500 feet.
The system’s 9M342 missile is equipped with a dual-band infrared seeker, enhancing its ability to distinguish targets from decoys and flares, a common countermeasure employed by aircraft. Its warhead, weighing around 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds), includes a proximity fuse, increasing its lethality against a variety of aerial targets, from helicopters to cruise missiles.
One of the SA-24’s key advantages, like so many Russian-made systems, is its simplicity and mobility. Weighing around 42 pounds with its launcher, it can be deployed rapidly in rugged terrain of the kind that dominates Venezuela’s region.
The system’s resistance to electronic jamming and its ability to operate in all weather conditions further enhance its utility for a military seeking to protect strategic assets, such as oil fields, military bases, and government installations.
Why Venezuela Needs New MANPADS Launchers
Venezuela’s adoption of the SA-24 MANPADS serves both defensive and symbolic purposes. Militarily, it strengthens the country’s ability to counter low-altitude aerial incursions, a capability that could prove critical in the event of a conflict with neighboring countries like Colombia or a hypothetical intervention by the United States.
The system’s portability allows Venezuelan forces to deploy it flexibly, potentially protecting key infrastructure or supporting ground operations by denying adversaries air superiority in localized areas.
The Maduro regime has framed its military buildup, notably the acquisition of Russian systems, as a necessary response to perceived threats from the United States. By showcasing advanced Russian weaponry, Caracas signals its resilience and its access to powerful allies, a message aimed at both domestic audiences and regional rivals.
As with so many systems like the SA-24, in the right hands, it can be truly lethal. If one lacks proper training and experience with these foreign systems, however, it will be useless. For the SA-24 to work well, it requires well-trained personnel and integration into a broader air-defense network—areas where Venezuela’s military capacity may be limited. Moreover, the system’s focus on low-altitude threats means it must be paired with longer-range system, like the S-300VM, to provide comprehensive coverage, further straining Venezuela’s limited resources.
Do Russia and Venezuela Stand United?
During President Donald Trump’s first term in office, in the year 2019, there was a row between Washington and Moscow over the sale of SA-24s to Caracas. U.S. officials accused Russia of escalating an already tense situation between America and Venezuela by giving the Venezuelans systems that could be used against U.S. (or allied) aircraft. In particular, Colombia, a U.S. ally with a long history of border spats with neighboring Venezuela, has voiced concern about the deployment of such weapons near its territory.
Nevertheless, the SA-24s do enhance Venezuela’s defensive posture. Maduro knows that Trump wants him gone and has already in the first term of Trump’s presidency attempted to overthrow Maduro’s regime.
By having these Russian-made systems on hand, Maduro is desperately seeking to highlight that his regime is not vulnerable to the kinds of attacks that the United States may yet subject Venezuela’s socialist regime to. More importantly, though, these systems are a great bargaining chip for Caracas to use to squeeze concessions from Washington. That’s because the SA-24s could be sold by the rogue regime in Caracas to transnational terrorist or criminal networks, which could be used to threaten American planes.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Karolis Kavolelis.
