Camilla Jessen
Venezuela operation raises doubts over Russian weapons.
A rapid US military operation in Venezuela has sparked renewed scrutiny of Russian-made weapons.
Analysts say the raid showed serious weaknesses in air defense systems long promoted by Moscow as near-impenetrable.
The episode is already being described as damaging for Russia’s global arms reputation.
Systems bypassed
During the US operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, American helicopters reportedly flew over Caracas with little resistance. Venezuelan air defences, largely supplied by Russia, failed to stop the incursion.
Military analyst Daniel Bachmat told The Telegraph that Russian ground-based air defences face structural limits.
“Ground defense systems, especially Russian ones, suffer from an inherent disadvantage against modern air power that cannot be overcome,” he said.
“They cannot cope with the combination of real-time intelligence, electronic warfare, and high-precision weapons,” Bachmat added.
Terrain and tactics
Analysts said geography also played a role. Russian systems were designed mainly for flat terrain, while Venezuela’s mountainous coastal landscape complicates detection of low-flying aircraft.
US General Dan Caine told reporters that American forces destroyed Venezuelan air defence assets as helicopters approached Caracas, clearing a route to the compound where Maduro was staying.
Similar failures, analysts argue, have been seen in Ukraine and during Israeli strikes on Iranian air defence systems in 2024.
A strategic blow
Bachmat said countries relying on Russian systems should reassess their capabilities. Israel’s destruction of four S-300 systems in Iran last year was cited as another warning sign.
Maduro has previously praised Venezuela’s arsenal, which includes S-300VM batteries, Buk-M2E systems, Igla-S missiles and S-125 Pechora-2M units.
In October 2025, he said: “Every military force in the world knows the power of the Igla-S [missiles], and Venezuela has no less than 5,000.”
Analysts claim the Buk-M2E system at La Carlota air base was destroyed, while S-300VM batteries failed to activate.
Wider implications
Geopolitical analyst Shanaka Anslem Perera called the outcome a “strategic crisis” for Moscow.
“The speed with which these systems were neutralized indicates a catastrophic failure of Russian export air defense technology,” he said.
He added that customers including China, India and Turkey now have evidence Russian systems cannot counter US fifth-generation forces.
Military site Zona Militar reported that Chinese-supplied radar networks were also neutralized, preventing effective air defence use.
Venezuela has spent more than $4 billion on Russian weapons. Moscow condemned the raid and voiced support for Caracas, but critics say the operation reinforced perceptions of Russia as a “paper tiger.”
Sources: The Telegraph, Zona Militar, official statements, Digi24
