Can Venezuela fend off a US invasion? Its military and weapons explained

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela are growing.

After the Donald Trump administration conducted a series of strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats and deployed warships, marines and sailors to the Caribbean, President Nicolás Maduro warned that he was prepared to declare a state of emergency and mobilise the country against the United States.

Now, with Trump saying he has authorised the CIA to conduct actions inside Venezuela, Maduro too has ramped up his threats to the United States. Maduro has claimed that Venezuela has at least 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S anti-aircraft missiles in “key air defence positions”.
“Any military force in the world knows the power of the Igla-S and Venezuela has no less than 5,000,” Maduro said during an interview. He added that they have been deployed across the country “even in the last mountain, the last town, and the last city of the territory.”

This comes even as lawmakers in the United States across the aisle have questioned the legality of the Trump administration strikes on the alleged drug boats. Trump himself had claimed he had given the CIA the go-ahead to intensify operations inside Venezuela – part of what is widely seen as a campaign to oust Maduro. The administration has also put a bounty of $50 million (Rs. 439.45 crore) on Maduro’s head.

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But what do we know about Venezuela’s military? What about its arms stockpile?

Let’s take a closer look.

What we know about Venezuela’s military

Venezuela ranks at number 50 out of 145 nations in the 2025 Global Firepower Index. It is reported to have around 120,000 personnel on active duty in its military, another 100,000 troops in reserves, as well as over 220,000 personnel in the National Guard. Its Air Force is estimated at around 20,000 personnel, the army at 115,000, and the Navy at 25,500.

Venezuela’s air force is estimated to have over 80 combat aircraft, including two dozen Su-30MK2 multirole fighters – many of them armed with Kh-31 “Krypton” anti-ship missiles – and 18 modernised F-16 Fighting Falcons. Its Navy is equipped with two Type 209-class submarines, six Lupo-class frigates, half a dozen corvettes, over 40 patrol vessels and more than 10 fast attack craft. Its coastal areas are equipped with shore-based anti-ship missile batteries. The army has over 700 main battle tanks, mainly the T-72B1 models, and around 1,500 armoured fighting vehicles.

Maduro has responded to the US threats by, in his words, ‘mobilising millions’ of people to be part of the Bolivarian Militia. While Maduro claims that eight million people are part of the militia, experts say this is highly unlikely. They say that the figure is likely between one and two million, and they wonder about the level of training given to these personnel.

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Venezuela’s arms stockpile

Maduro has claimed that Venezuela has 5,000 Igla-S units – a portable anti-air defence system that can target aeroplanes, helicopters, and drones at lower altitudes – and that they comprise a key component of its air defence shield.

Venezuela is said to have over 600 towed and self-propelled units as well as over 100 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS). It is said to have positioned several S-125 Pechora-2M and Buk-M2E systems in critical areas including oil facilities.

Venezuela is said to have deployed Russian S-300VM Antey-2500 systems, surface-to-air missiles around strategic locations. It is said to have shore-based anti-ship missile batteries, though without modern sensors and area-defence systems. It is said to have both Russian radar arrays and Chinese communication relays to jam US communications.

These Bolivarian Militia have been given anti-tank systems, RPGs and domestically refurbished armoured vehicles. Many are thought to be middle-aged and not in peak military condition. There are reports that they have been equipped with a range of weapons – from AK rifles and older semi-automatic rifles.

What do experts say?

Venezuela can’t possibly hope to match the US, which remains the biggest spender and most powerful military on Earth, when it comes to a conventional battle.

Experts have claimed that the military is likely ‘in shambles’ with their submarines and surface vessels probably inoperable.

However, its Russian-made missiles and jets could easily target US ships and aircraft. Its militia, in case of a ground invasion, will also look to tie down US forces in the urban environment – which America previously faced in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Will Trump, the self-styled ‘peace president’, actually give the order to attack Venezuela and carry out a regime change? Only time will tell.

With inputs from agencies