Venezuela's defense minister says his country is considering building unmanned planes and may look to allied countries, such as Iran, for help.
General Raul Baduel says Venezuela has made progress in the development of planes that do not require human pilots.
Speaking in Caracas Monday, he said Venezuela will look to other countries for help in maintaining its aging U.S.-made F-5 fighter jets.
Venezuela has had trouble maintaining the jets since the United States began blocking arms sales to the South American country.
The Bush administration has said it considers Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez a destabilizing factor in Latin America.
