Chilean Air Force (FACh) news and discussions

[Alfonso]

Hi:

Greetings from Chile.

The FACh have received 10 F-16 C/D block 50 M brand new and 18 F-16 A/B MLU from The Netherlands. Yesterday, a South American Website talk about a new purchase of 6 MLU from The Netherlands.

If it is true, the FACh need at least 10 more airplanes. I have a question about this: do somebody know if Norwegian or Denmark Air Force s have F-16 MLU surplus to sell?

We know in Chile that the Belgian Air Component has F-16 surplus, but in a not good conditions.

Thanks,

Cheers

 

[Alfonso]

DATE:17/10/08
SOURCE:Flight International
Chile in talks with Dutch on F-16AM/BM purchase
By

Chilean defence ministry sources have confirmed that negotiations with the Dutch government to acquire a second lot of Royal Netherlands Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BMs is under way. Local sources say the signing of an agreement is close at hand.

Budgeted at $170 million, the deal covers the purchase of 14 F-16AM fighters and a pair of two-seat F-16BMs, along with a large spares and tools package.

Chile hopes to receive the 16 F-16AM/BMs from the third quarter of 2009, allowing the air force to retire its entire inventory of Northrop F-5E/F Tiger IIIs, which are in service with the Antofagasta-based Grupo de Aviación VII.

Acquiring 10 F-16C/D Block 50s in 2002 and 18 ex-Dutch air force F-16AM/BMs in 2005 - which replaced Dassault Mirage 50CN/DC Panteras and Mirage 5BA/BD Elkans - the purchase of a second batch of F-16AM/BMs fulfils a Chilean air force plan to standardise its air defence/strike assets with a single aircraft type.

Local sources have indicated that the Chilean air force is examining a follow-on order for another 10 F-16C/D Block 50 fighters between 2010 and 2012.

 

[Aussie Digger]

Chile has been a very savvy military capability purchaser over the past few years.

Whilst other Countries have beaten their chests and carried on, Chile has slipped under the radar a tad, acquired a large (and growing) F-16 fleet, updated to a modern standard and a well armed one at that, added force multipliers and deployed a respectable A2A refuelling capability and significantly built up it's land and maritime forces.

Colombia has done a similar thing with it's upgraded Kfir acquisition.

They've quietly gone about building real capability, whilst others have rattled sabres and bought flashy items of dubious military worth.

Interesting approaches...

 

[citizen578]

US ''disappointed'' with Chilean decision to buy Mi-17s

Russo-Chilean helicopter deal


Also:

MEXICO, July 10 (RIA Novosti) - Chile plans to continue talks with Russia on the delivery of five Mi-17 multirole helicopters for the Chilean Air Force despite pressure from the United States, a government spokesperson has said.
Chile originally planned to purchase S-70A Black Hawk helicopters from the U.S. but change their mind after Russia state arms exporter Rosoboronexport quoted an estimated $80 million for their Mi-17 V5 craft, which are nearly half the price of the Black Hawks.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke sent a letter to Chilean ambassador Jose Goni on July 1, in which he expressed his "disappointment" with the country's decision.
"It is quite normal. When a decision is made over a purchase of equipment or weaponry there is always a losing side, which becomes disappointed and attempts to defend its point of view," Chilean government official Carolina Toha said.
Chilean Defense Minister Francisco Vidal was earlier quoted as saying that "we should not choose the seller [of weaponry] according to nationality, and decisions on the purchase of weaponry must be based on the results of an open tender."
According to Chilean military officials, the Russian helicopters would be used for search and rescue operations, especially civilian emergencies.
Russian weaponry is popular among many Latin American countries, but Chile has traditionally been a purchaser of western-made equipment

 

[swerve]

I wouldn't criticise someone with a modest budget & a need for robust helicopters for buying Mi-17s.

 

[Salty Dog]

Russian weaponry is popular among many Latin American countries, but Chile has traditionally been a purchaser of western-made equipment

Brazil whilst favoring western made equipment recently purchased (12) Mi-35M attack helicopters for the FAB (Brazilian Air Force).