92 T-72 tanks, S-300 missiles, Su-30 jets: Venezuela regime change could expose Russia’s most advanced fighter systems

If a US-friendly government is established in Caracas, American military and defense experts could gain access to the full arsenal of the Venezuelan armed forces, according to Defence Express. It includes Russian systems supplied to the country over the past several years.

This may provide the Pentagon with an opportunity to study in detail a range of systems that remain of high intelligence interest.

Russian air defense and air power left in Venezuela

Among the most valuable assets are S-300VM surface-to-air missile systems, delivered by Russia in 2013.

In October 2025, Russia also sent an unspecified number of Pantsir-S1 and Buk-M2 systems to Venezuela, which were originally supplied between 2009 and 2015. Some of these may have been destroyed during the US operation in the Caracas area, including at least one Buk-M2 system.

The Pentagon may also closely examine Su-30MKV fighter jets, 21 of which remain in service with Venezuela, as well as the R-77 air-to-air missile, one of the most advanced in Russia’s arsenal.

Other weapons: Smerch, Mohajer-6, T-72B tanks

US analysts could also access:

• 300-mm Smerch multiple rocket launchers (12 units)
• Iranian Mohajer-6 reconnaissance-strike UAVs
• Chinese amphibious BMP VN-16 (ZBD-05)

Additionally, the new government in Caracas will need to address a large inventory of Russian armored vehicles and artillery, including:

• 92 T-72B tanks
• 123 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles
• 114 BTR-80A armored personnel carriers
• 48 Msta-S self-propelled guns
• 13 Nona-SVK mortars
• 24 Grad multiple rocket launchers
• Mi-17, Ka-29, and Ka-31 helicopters

Maintaining this equipment without Russian support is virtually impossible. The experts suggest a large portion of the arsenal may be decommissioned, sold, or rendered inoperable, while Washington is likely interested in gradually disarming Venezuelan forces and transitioning them to American systems.