Image source: topwar.ru
The El Pato air base, located in the desert near the city of Talara, is to turn into a spaceport as part of an ambitious project by the Peruvian Ministry of Defense.
As indicated in the Zona Militar publication, the groundwork for this will be created thanks to the Artemis program implemented by NASA in accordance with the agreement signed with Peru in May this year. Through this project, Lima hopes to join the club of global space players.
- stated in the US Space Administration.
Peru became the 41st country to join the Artemis project. It has been implemented since 2017 (in partnership with other states since 2020) and officially provides for "mutually beneficial cooperation in space exploration." However, in fact, this program is aimed at building a network of space observation stations and is actively promoted, obviously not only for peaceful development.
- it says on the NASA website.
Image source: topwar.ru
It is possible that the Peruvian authorities really intend to use cooperation with NASA as a springboard for space exploration. However, it is unclear how the placement of an American observation station will help this, especially if Lima has swung at the construction of a low-latitude spaceport next to it.
Currently, Soviet Su-25 attack aircraft purchased earlier by the Peruvian Air Force are based at El Pato Air Base.
- the publication says.
Previously, Su-22 fighter-bombers were stationed at this airbase, and now Su-25 attack aircraft (6 units after modernization). It was the most protected in the country from air attacks, being covered by the S-125 Neva and Pechora air defense systems.
