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F-16A/B MLU Replacement Fighter Aircraft
Reemplaz aviones de combate

The neverendng story of the Argentine Air Force's attempts to buy modern fighter jets tooke yet another turn when, despite “intense lobbying” from India, Argentina opted to purchase American F-16 fighter jets. The South American country had also been considering the Chinese-built JF-17 Thunder and India's Hindustan Aeronautic Limited (HAL) Tejas aircraft. In late July 2023 it was reported DSCA had a notification to the US Congress authorizing third-party transfers to Argentina The US State Department gave the green light 12 October 2023 to carry out a transfer of 24 aircraft from Denmark, but the total amount of the operation is unknown; the transaction competes with the FC-1 / JF-17 offer from China. The considerable sum of US$664 million has been earmarked for the procurement.

The other combat aircraft offered has been the Chinese JF-17. It is not used by the Chinese Air Force and was developed to be delivered to Pakistan. The tests carried out by the Argentine Air Force date back as far as 2014 and 2015, leaving a set of doubts about its structure and performance as well as the necessary logistics chain. The decision to leave aside the alternative of the Chinese JF-17 is in line with President Javier Milei's policy of not joining the BRICS group and not having Beijing as a key ally.

Javier Milei announced 20 March 2024 that the Government will buy American F-16 fighter jets from Denmark. Javier Milei shared posts from his X account confirming the transaction; From the Ministry of Defense they said that “they were working” on the operation. The Ministry of Defense clarified to LA NACION that “they are working” on it and that at the end of April more details about the operation will be given. These are second-hand, fourth-generation aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin in the United States.

The Argentine Government is advancing in the purchase from Denmark of 24 F-16A/B MLU fighter aircraft, fourth generation and second-hand, manufactured by the United States, for a total of 650 million dollars, a price that has already been confirmed, according to a publication today from the site @SA_Defensa on its platform The deal consists of 24 aircraft for $338 million, as well as a $212 million weapons package that includes AIM-9 Sidewinders and AIM-120 AMRAAM. The purchase is finalized after almost ten years of negotiations with different manufacturers, among which were the Chinese JF-17, with which, during the previous government, an agreement in principle had been reached.

“Argentina will buy US F-16 fighter jets from the Danish government. It is the greatest advance in Defense in the last 20 years,” announced the user “Milei Shelby” about the operation that minutes later was validated by the President himself who retweeted the message. Milei later shared another similar post confirming the transaction. When consulted by this medium, sources close to the ministry indicated that although the ministry led by Luis Petri was working on the transaction, at the moment they could not provide further details about the number of aircraft that will be incorporated into the fleet of the Armed Forces or the value of the operation. Instead, they indicated that there will be news at the end of April.

The acquisition is part of a very close bilateral relationship that the new administration is building with the United States, within the framework of which the head of the CIA, William Burns, visited Argentina today, and a meeting with the head of the Command is scheduled for April. South, General Laura Richardson.

LA NACION published at the end of October 2023 that the United States had authorized the sale of 24 F-16 fighter planes equipped with air-to-air missiles from Denmark to the country and was working on a financing package for 40 million dollars to facilitate the purchase by of the Argentine government, an operation of enormous geopolitical impact in which Washington competes directly with China, which had offered the sale of JF-17 aircraft from Pakistan. The F-16s were manufactured by Lockheed Martin in the United States and are today in the hands of Denmark, so Washington's approval was necessary for them to be a viable option, something that happened at the end of 2023.

On that occasion, the government of Alberto Fernández had to evaluate what decision to make among its different options. In mid-October, the Deputy Deputy Secretary of Regional Security of the State Department, Mira Resnick , said in a call with journalists in which LA NACION participated that the State Department approved the transfer of aircraft to Argentina after having informed Congress, where no objections were raised to the operation. Resnick stressed that the transfer is “of national interest for the United States,” and although he stated that the final decision rests with Argentina, he insisted that the North American offer is “superior” to that of China, and that, if finalized, it will serve to deepen the long-term relationship between both countries.

“The F-16 is a reliable and proven platform that will allow regular training and exercises to increase Argentina's interoperability with its neighbors and the United States,” the official stated. “ This builds relationships. “It is an opportunity for both countries to face mutual threats together, and this is a ship that many countries around the world operate and has demonstrated its capacity for military modernization,” she concluded.

The Argentine Armed Forces have historically been aligned with the United States and European allies in the last century, which have also given strong support to Argentina to guide the multiple negotiations that the country has had in the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to the US Air Force, the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft are compact, multi-role fighters, providing a high-performance, relatively low-cost weapons system for the US and allied nations. . Among its main characteristics is its outstanding performance in air combat, maneuverability and radio.

“It can locate targets in all weather conditions and detect low-flying aircraft by radar. In an air-to-surface role, the F-16 can fly more than 860 kilometers , deliver its weapons with superior precision, defend against enemy aircraft and return to its starting point. In turn, the US Air Force highlights that the cockpit gives the pilot an unobstructed view forward and upward. “It has excellent flight control of the F-16 through its fly-by-wire system. “Electrical cables transmit commands.” Additionally, its systems include high-precision global positioning and inertial navigation systems, or EGI, in which computers give direction data to the pilot.

In recent years, the United States has demonstrated a firm determination to promote the modernization of Argentine air power. For this reason, he did not hesitate to reject any British vetoes and make it clear that, beyond the harsh and anti-US profile that Kirchnerism showed since the 2005 Mar del Plata Summit to this day, Washington sees Argentina as a strategic partner with its eyes set on the long term and China's advance in the region, seas and Antarctica. Precisely this commitment has motivated the package offered to Argentina.

Despite the status granted by Washington to Argentina as a Major Extra NATO Ally since 1998, Argentine governments never fully appreciated the importance of said designation. The same US also accepted on several occasions British vetoes or questions with the imaginary and ancient argument that an improvement in the quality and quantity of Argentine weapons systems represented a danger to the Falklands.

In July 2023, the US government notified the Congressional Foreign Relations Committee of the proposal for six F-16 Block 10 and 32 F-16 Block 15 for Argentina, an initiative that includes a package of support, equipment and technical/maintenance information, all from the Danish government. All this for an approximate amount of US$338,695,634. The Congressional Notification mentioned that “This transfer is consistent with the security assistance objectives of the United States,” in relation to the fact that the potential arrival of the F-16s to Argentina had the approval of all parties. interveners and that it conforms to the rapprochement policy implemented by Washington.

In August 2023, in a significant development signaling the United States’ commitment to global security and cooperation, the Biden administration has formally notified Congress about the potential transfer of 38 F-16 fighter jets and four P-3 maritime patrol aircraft to Argentina. This strategic move is part of a comprehensive effort to enhance Argentina’s military capabilities and foster regional stability. The proposed arms package, which includes equipment from Denmark and Norway, underscores the multifaceted considerations that went into this decision, marking it as a calculated step towards bolstering Argentina’s defense infrastructure.

The United States initially gave the green light to a sale of 24 F-16 fighter aircraft equipped with air-to-air missiles from Denmark to Argentina and is working on a financing package for 40 million dollars to facilitate the purchase by the government Argentina, an operation of enormous geopolitical impact in which Washington competes directly with China, which has offered the sale of JF-17 aircraft from Pakistan.

The Government must now decide whether to carry out this operation, whether to accept China's offer, or whether to postpone any decision to modernize the Air Force and Navy fleet. In addition to the F-16 sale, the US government also paved the way for a purchase of four P-3 aircraft from Norway.

The Deputy Deputy Secretary of Regional Security of the State Department, Mira Resnick, said in a call with journalists that the State Department approved the transfer of planes to Argentina after having informed Congress, where they did not stand up. objections to the operation. Resnick stressed that the transfer is “of national interest for the United States,” and although he stated that the final decision is Argentina's, he insisted that the North American offer is “superior” to that of China, and that, if finalized, it will serve to deepen the long-term relationship between both countries.

“The F-16 is a reliable and proven platform that will allow regular training and exercises to increase Argentina's interoperability with its neighbors and the United States,” the official stated. “ This builds relationships. “It is an opportunity for both countries to face mutual threats together, and this is a ship that many countries around the world operate and has demonstrated its capacity for military modernization,” she concluded.

The approval of the transfer of aircraft marks a new milestone in the bilateral relationship between the United States and Argentina and comes after years of negotiations between Buenos Aires and Washington, where the advance of China in Latin America is viewed with particular concern. Official sources indicated to LA NACION that the authorization of the United States to purchase weapons is “a great step in confidence” in the bilateral relationship, and they estimated that the final decision will surely be left to the next government.

Resnick clarified that this particular transfer does not require any approval from the United Kingdom, which has maintained a veto on Argentina for the purchase of military equipment since the Falklands War, because there are no components in the planes that require British approval. “We work very hard to ensure that there are no obstacles to the transfer,” said the official, who stressed that the decision now depends on the Argentine government.

In the midst of the deep crisis that the economy is going through, one of the main potential obstacles to completing the acquisition of aircraft from Denmark – or, for example, also from China – is the cost of the F-16 aircraft. Resnick did not give details about what the final cost of the planes would be because, he said, the price “changes.” The notifications sent by the State Department to Congress last June placed the cost of the operation with Denmark at an approximate sales value of US$338,695,634 for the transfer of up to 38 aircraft, six F-16s of the “Block 10” version " and has 32 “Block 15” aircraft.

“We are working on funding now and expect to soon notify $40 million in military funding to Congress and believe this will help increase the competitiveness of this solution to modernize your aging Air Force fleet and support your national security,” Resnick added.

In addition to the offer of F-16 aircraft from Denmark, Alberto Fernández's government has long considered the possibility of acquiring JF-17 aircraft produced by China and Pakistan. The JF-17 proposal, which would have better financial conditions, includes 15 units, with the possibility of negotiating a second batch and, eventually, a third.

“They are new aircraft and China offers a very complete weapon and sensor package with few restrictions. The conditions would be, rather, political due to the twist that an operation with China would imply,” military sources confided. The aircraft of Sino-Pakistani origin would be equipped with Chinese engines, unlike the versions operated by Myanmar and Nigeria with Russian engines.

US Air Force Lt. Col. Thomas Kanewske specified in the call that the F-16s being offered to Argentina include AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles, the two main air-to-air missiles used by the Air Force. North American. Kanewske also stressed that the F-16 is a “state-of-the-art” platform that continues to be manufactured, and that they are “comparatively equal in technology to the F-16s that have been actively deployed around the world and in global conflict situations.”

“The F-16 is a next-generation platform and the Danish government is operating a comprehensive package. So what is unique about the F-16 is the relationship with the US Air Force. It is our “full package approach.” It's not just the plane, it's the training, it's the maintenance, it's the logistics, it's everything that goes into keeping a plane in flying condition and with cutting-edge technology for 40 years," Kanewske said about the implications of the operation.

The Argentine Armed Forces have historically been aligned with the United States and European allies in the last century, which have also given strong support to Argentina to guide the multiple negotiations that the country has had in the International Monetary Fund (IMF). China, at the same time, has begun to play a much more active role in the development of infrastructure and is one of the largest trading partners and is becoming one of its main creditors in the emerging and developing world.

On October 30, 2024 the US State Department made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Argentina of F-16 Aircraft Equipment and Support and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $941 million. The Government of Argentina requested to buy equipment and services to support twenty-four (24) F-16 Block 10/15 aircraft procured through third-party transfer.

These items include: thirty-six (36) AIM-120 C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM); two (2) AIM-120 C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections; one hundred two (102) MK-82 500lb general purpose bombs; fifty (50) MXU-650 air foil groups for 500lb GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs; one hundred two (102) FMU-152A/B joint programmable fuzes with FZU-63A/B fuze systems; and fifty (50) computer control groups MAU-169L/B. The following non-MDE items will also be included: weapons and weapons support equipment; explosive charges, devices, propellants, and components; AN/ARC-238 radios; Joint Mission Planning Systems (JMPS); FMU-169D/B inert fuzes; Ground Support System (GSS) for Link-16; KY-58M and KIV-78 cryptographic devices, AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders (SKL), communications security (COMSEC) cables, and other COMSEC devices and equipment; cartridges, chaffs, and flares; practical explosive ordinance disposal system trainer; avionics support; communications equipment; precision navigation; Computer Program Identification Numbers (CPINS); electronic warfare database support; major and minor modifications and maintenance support; aircraft components, parts, and accessories; instruments and lab equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; classified and unclassified software delivery and support; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; clothing, textiles, and individual equipment; jet fuel; aircraft ferry, aerial refueling, and transportation support; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.