According to Peruvian military analyst Martín Manco, an arms contract with the United States would risk becoming a serious headache for a Latin American country in the long-run.
"When you buy American-made weapons and then later you have some differences with the US, Washington will refuse to sell necessary parts and provide maintenance assistance. Of course, your planes would stay grounded," Manco said in an interview with Sputnik Mundo.
According to the experts, such an unwanted scenario can be ruled out when military cooperation with Russia is concerned.
"Russia will not stop delivering repair parts and providing maintenance assistance. Our planes will fly. This is the main advantage of buying weapons from a country with which there is no conflict of interests or immediate subordination," the expert pointed out.
Manco added that a batch of MiG-29M2 fighter jets could help Peru gain "air force parity" with other Latin America countries, including Mexico, Chile, Venezuela and Brazil.
The Peruvian military already operates a fleet of MiG-29 jets. Between 2008 and 2015, the Russian company modernized eight aircraft of the country’s air force. Peru, however, remains interested in buying the latest modification of the warplane.
In August 2017, a delegation representing the Peruvian Air Force visited Moscow. Lt. Gen. Rodolfo García Esquerre, chief inspector of the Peruvian Air Force, conducted a test flight on a MiG-29M2.
The MiG-29M2 is a 4++ generation fighter jet with an improved operational range and an increased weapon payload. The aircraft can reach a maximum speed of 2,100 km/h (1,304 mph). It can carry different types of munitions, including guided air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, guided aviation bombs and a 30-mm cannon. The MiG-29M2 can attack aerial targets as well as moving or static ground targets.
