Venezuela plans on buying 12 Russian-built military planes, including Ilyushin-76 transport planes a

CARACAS: Venezuela plans on buying 12 Russian-built military planes, including Ilyushin-76 transport planes and Ilyushin-78 refueling aircraft, an air force official said Wednesday. Under President Hugo Chavez, Venezuela has already purchased some US$3 billion (euro2.25 billion) worth of arms from Russia, including 53 military helicopters, 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles and 24SU-30 Sukhoi fighter jets. 
Air Force Col. Oswaldo Hernandez Sanchez did not provide any details regarding 12 planes to be purchased from Russia, saying only that he expected them to arrive in Venezuela late next year.