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The Argentine Air Force has its first F-16 fighter jet in country
December 13, 2024 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
Two Argentine C-130s went to pick up a disassembled F-16B MLU block 10 in Denmark. It is a two-seat variant that will not fly but will used instead by the VI Air Brigade of Tandil to training pilots and ground personnel.
The KC-130H aircraft, registration TC-69, landed in Argentina on December 15, carrying the aircraft’s fuselage, while another Herc, the TC-66, had arrived earlier with other parts and the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200 engine.
The airframe that arrived in Argentina is not part of the 24 operational F-16A/B MLU block 15 fighters acquired from Denmark earlier this year. Those jets will only be received starting in December 2025 and will fly from Denmark to South America in four joint flights with six aircraft.
The first batch will have four F-16Bs and two F-16As and will have support from U.S. Air Force tanker aircraft for the flight. They will be piloted by Danish fighter pilots.
In preparation of their arrival, the Argentine Air Force is investing in a training and maintenance center, as well as modernizing the air base where the F-16s will be based.
The jet (#ET-210) has a rich history. In 2008 it was flying in the USA as part of the flight test program for the F-35. It had a mishap in 2011 onto the runway at Edwards AFB as the undercarriage collapsed. It returned in 2016 to Denmark. The tail of the jet is preserved at Skrydstrup AB.
For pictures of the transport and arrival, see the F-16.net forum topic "Danish F-16s for Argentina"
RDAF F-16BM #ET-210 dedicated to the 461st FLTS comes in for landing at Edwards AFB following an F-35A weapon release test mission on July 24th, 2013. [Lockheed Martin photo by Paul Weatherman]
The airframe that arrived in Argentina is not part of the 24 operational F-16A/B MLU block 15 fighters acquired from Denmark earlier this year. Those jets will only be received starting in December 2025 and will fly from Denmark to South America in four joint flights with six aircraft.
The first batch will have four F-16Bs and two F-16As and will have support from U.S. Air Force tanker aircraft for the flight. They will be piloted by Danish fighter pilots.
In preparation of their arrival, the Argentine Air Force is investing in a training and maintenance center, as well as modernizing the air base where the F-16s will be based.
The jet (#ET-210) has a rich history. In 2008 it was flying in the USA as part of the flight test program for the F-35. It had a mishap in 2011 onto the runway at Edwards AFB as the undercarriage collapsed. It returned in 2016 to Denmark. The tail of the jet is preserved at Skrydstrup AB.
For pictures of the transport and arrival, see the F-16.net forum topic "Danish F-16s for Argentina"
Additional images:
The F-16B MLU Block 10 jet is a two-seat variant that will not fly. It will be used by the VI Air Brigade of Tandil for training pilots and ground personnel. (Photo by Ministry of Defense of the Argentine Republic)
RDAF F-16BM #ET-210 taxiing on an Aalborg AB taxiway on May 14th, 2004. Looks like the grass needs to be mawn. [Photo by Erik Frikke]
RDAF F-16BM #ET-210 is ready to land at Aalborg AB on March 14th, 2005. [Photo by Erik Frikke]
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- U.S. greenlights $941 million munition and support package to equip Argentina’s F-16s (2024-10-31)
- Argentina formalizes acquisition of Danish F-16 fighters (2024-03-27)
- F-16 Fighting Falcon news archive
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- Danish F-16s for Argentina ( 47 replies)
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