F-16 Fighting Falcon News

October 31, 2024 (by Lieven Dewitte) - The US State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Argentina, providing essential equipment, services, and logistical support for the nation’s recently acquired F-16 Block 10/15 fighter jets.
Last year, the U.S. approved Argentina acquisition of the two dozen F-16 Block 10/15 aircraft from Denmark, in a deal valued at $320 million.

The newly announced $941 million contract will see Argentina receiving 36 AIM-120 C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), 102 MK-82 500 pound general purpose bombs, 50 GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs and assorted other ordnance.

Additional elements include mission planning systems, cryptographic devices, ground support for Link-16, communication security (COMSEC) systems, avionics support, and essential spare parts. Argentina will also receive training equipment, documentation, classified and unclassified software, and personnel training to integrate the F-16s seamlessly into the Argentine Air Force.

Lockheed Martin will be the principal contractor for the deal and will oversee the modernization of the fighters.

Argentina’s acquisition of F-16 fighters from Denmark represents the country’s most pivotal aeronautical defense investment in over four decades.

The arrival of F-16s marks a strategic milestone for Argentina, whose aging fighter fleet has encountered numerous challenges over the years. The Argentine Air Force has been searching for replacements for the 16 Dassault Mirage III fighters retired in 2015, considering options like new Mirages, Swedish Saab Gripens, Israel Aircraft Industries Kfirs, and Korea Aerospace Industries FA-50s—all of which were blocked due to diplomatic pressure from London.

This situation created an opening for China, which proposed its single-engine JF-17 fighters—a joint venture between China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Pakistan’s Aeronautical Complex.

Concerned about the influence of China, Washington in 2022 began facilitating a deal for used F-16s. Meanwhile, a 2018 policy shift in London allowed the sale of weapons to Argentina deemed “not detrimental to the UK’s defence and security interests,” according to the Foreign Office.

Chile operates 46 F-16s while Brazil is in the process of fielding Saab’s latest Gripen E fighter with plans for at least 36 aircraft.

Denmark has been upgrading its fighter fleet with new Lockheed Martin F-35As, freeing up its older F-16s. The remaining Danish F-16A/Bs are now being donated to Ukraine.