Argentina eyes purchasing F-16 from US to upgrade fighter jet fleet

Americas, News, US November 28, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

After evaluating several different options to improve the combat capability of the Argentinian Air Force, Argentina is considering purchasing the U.S.-made F-16 jets to upgrade its fighter jet fleet.

Under consideration for a possible purchase were several options including Chinese JF17 Thunder, Russian MiG-35, and Indian HAL Tejas, however, several defense officials and the heads of purchasing departments at the Argentinian Air Force have voted for the F-16 jets.

Argentinian Air Force had been in a dire need of upgrading its aging combat aircraft. Argentina currently has 30 combat aircraft and its air force fleet majorly consists of locally produced IA 63 Pampa jets and 23 American Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Both of these jets have been in service for more than 30 years now. Pampas had been in production since the 1980s while the Skyhawk jets are far older than the 1960s.

In September this year, Argentinian Defense Minister Jorge Taiana said that his country is analyzing “a joint proposal by the United States and Denmark on F-16 aircraft”. A few days later a commission from Argentina visited Denmark to assess the conditions of the country’s F-16 Fighting Falcon jets.

Argentina had also been considering purchasing the Chinese-made JF-17 jets. However, disapproval from the UK made Argentina reconsider the option. Argentina relies heavily upon U.S. weapons and defense technology not only for its air force but also for other defense sectors.

Since the Falklands Wars in 1982, Argentina operated under a severe arms embargo imposed by the UK. Under the embargo, Argentina is left with only a few options for its armament upgradation. Until the start of this year, Argentina had been considering purchasing the Russian-made MiG-35, however, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine the decision was reconsidered. Russia has lost several possible defense deals over its invasion of Ukraine.

*^{F-16 Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt of the 51st Tactical Fighter Wing flying in formation over their home base, Osan in South Korea. (Image Credit: U.S. Air Force/Lt. Col. Judd Fancher)}*

While operating under a strict arms embargo imposed by the UK, all it had taken for London was to request the imposition of economic sanctions on Argentina under the U.S. Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), and it would have affected the Argentinian economy to the core, hence the only feasible option left for Argentina was to go with an option that does not offend the UK, which came in the form of U.S.-made F-16 jets. Turkey has to face similar consequences when it purchased the S-400 missile defense system from Russia in the face of U.S. disapproval.

So far, the Argentinian Ministry of Defense has not released any official information on how and when the bidding process for the purchase of the new F-16 jets would start and how many jets they require, but some sources for the ministry have confirmed that Argentina plans to spend more than $700 million on upgrading its fighter jets and aerial combat capabilities. By purchasing the F-16 jets, Argentina would also have to make deals with the UK for the spare parts, upgradation, supplies, and training.