Argentina Air Force News and Discussion

[Sandhi Yudha]

The first (non-flyable training, Blk10) F-16 is on the way.

El Hércules TC-66 inició su viaje de regreso desde Dinamarca transportando al primer F-16 de la Fuerza Aérea Argentina

A través de una reciente publicación del Ministerio de Defensa, ha sido confirmado que el primer caza F-16B Block 10 de la Fuerza Aérea Argentina ya se

www.zona-militar.com

Thank you for sharing.
The whole acquisition of 24 second hand ex-Danish F-16AM/BM including arms package seems to be around $650 million.
But it looks like there is still some budget left over for three UH-60s.

This article reports that |" on 2 December 2024, a bid was launched by the Comando de Aviación del Ejército Argentino (Argentine Army Aviation) to acquire three second hand UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter come from the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) stock of the USA."|

Argentina seeks Black Hawk helicopters

Argentina seeks Black Hawk helicopters On 2 December 2024, a bid was launched by the Comando de Aviación del Ejército Argentino (EA, Argentine Army Aviation) to acquire three secon...

scramble.nl

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

On 21 December 2022, Argentina ordered six Bell 407GXi helicopters to equip its armed forces. Of these, three were allocated to the Fuerza Aérea Argentina (FAA, Argentine Air Force) and three to the Comando de Aviación del Ejército Argentino (EA, Argentine Army Aviation).

And now, the first two for the army have been rolled out. The Bell 407 GXi is a 407 variant with an Allison 250-C47E/4 engine and Garmin G1000H NXi avionics, and the right one on the photo seems to be equipped for medevac/SAR

First Two Bell 407GXi for Argentine Army Aviation

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

The Argentine Air Force presented its first F-16 Fighting Falcon, an F-16BM Block 10, during a 24 February ceremony in Tandil, Buenos Aires.
The first 6 aircrafts are planned to be delivered in december 2025.

Argentine Air Force unveils first F-16 Fighting Falcon

The Argentine Air Force presented its first Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon during a 24 February ceremony in Tandil, Buenos Aires. The F-16BM Block 10 is intended...

www.janes.com

 

[Ananda]

Another F-16B MLU ex Danish being prepared to be send to Argentina. Argentina and US already sign another contract for sustaintment support and armament supply for F-16.

 

[Ananda]

Argentina’s first F-16 fighters begin ferry flight from Denmark - Air Data News

Argentina is preparing to receive its first operational F-16s, marking a major step in the country’s long effort to modernize its fighter fleet.

www.airdatanews.com

1st batch of 6 F-16 AM/BM ex Danish AF for Argentina AF already left Denmark to Argentina. This is part of 24 F-16, with 1st batch consists of 4 BM and 2 AM. Shown the conversion training are priority of 1st batch.

Eventough it is already done MLU, the fighters still older generation of F-16. However considering dire situation of Argentina AF, it is better then nothing.

 

[StevoJH]

View attachment 53929View attachment 53930

Argentina’s first F-16 fighters begin ferry flight from Denmark - Air Data News

Argentina is preparing to receive its first operational F-16s, marking a major step in the country’s long effort to modernize its fighter fleet.

www.airdatanews.com

1st batch of 6 F-16 AM/BM ex Danish AF for Argentina AF already left Denmark to Argentina. This is part of 24 F-16, with 1st batch consists of 4 BM and 2 AM. Shown the conversion training are priority of 1st batch.

Eventough it is already done MLU, the fighters still older generation of F-16. However considering dire situation of Argentina AF, it is better then nothing.

And realistically it allows them to keep a fighter capability while limiting their ability to challenge the Eurofighters on the Falklands.

Especially since I don't think the Argentine Airforce have anything capable of refueling an F-16 in the air.

 

[Ananda]

Especially since I don't think the Argentine Airforce have anything capable of refueling an F-16 in the air.

I believe the only boom equiped tankers in South America are Chile KC135. Just like Argentine have AM/BM type F-16, Chile also have it plus a sq of Block 50. I also don't think Argentina will get surplus KC135 like Chile has. However considering Argentina Milei now consider Trump favorites, who knows.

 

[koxinga]

And realistically it allows them to keep a fighter capability while limiting their ability to challenge the Eurofighters on the Falklands.

Especially since I don't think the Argentine Airforce have anything capable of refueling an F-16 in the air.

I always found this amusing. UK placed an arms embargo on Argentina for years, and even stopped their attempts to acquire SoKor F/A-50s for essentially a basic air sovereignty mission. But they still have to keep quiet if the US wants to supply F-16s to them or earlier A-4 Fightinghawks.

KC135Rs are on the cards though. Formal request have been made through FMS. So what would the UK do? Complain to the US?

Argentine Air Force eyes two US-made Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers aircraft for incoming F-16 fighter fleet

Argentine Air Force eyes two US-made Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers aircraft for incoming F-16 fighter fleet

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[StevoJH]

Probably object to the sale privately because they have to, but accept that if the US wants to sell them they can.

I doubt the KC-135R’s have any UK content that requires export approval, unlike the F/A-50.

 

[Redshift]

I always found this amusing. UK placed an arms embargo on Argentina for years, and even stopped their attempts to acquire SoKor F/A-50s for essentially a basic air sovereignty mission. But they still have to keep quiet if the US wants to supply F-16s to them or earlier A-4 Fightinghawks.

KC135Rs are on the cards though. Formal request have been made through FMS. So what would the UK do? Complain to the US?

Argentine Air Force eyes two US-made Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers aircraft for incoming F-16 fighter fleet

Argentine Air Force eyes two US-made Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers aircraft for incoming F-16 fighter fleet

www.armyrecognition.com

Obviously the UK will prevent or attempt to prevent any significant threat to the Falklands.

However the UK can't (and neither should they be able to outside of diplomatic requests and pressure) prevent third parties providing weaponry.

Neither these F16s or any A4s are likely to pose any serious threat though, it seems unlikely (for the foreseeable future) that Argentina will be able to afford anything unless the Russians or Chinese choose to subsidise them.

 

[swerve]

I always found this amusing. UK placed an arms embargo on Argentina for years, and even stopped their attempts to acquire SoKor F/A-50s for essentially a basic air sovereignty mission. But they still have to keep quiet if the US wants to supply F-16s to them or earlier A-4 Fightinghawks.

KC135Rs are on the cards though. Formal request have been made through FMS. So what would the UK do? Complain to the US?

Argentine Air Force eyes two US-made Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers aircraft for incoming F-16 fighter fleet

Argentine Air Force eyes two US-made Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers aircraft for incoming F-16 fighter fleet

www.armyrecognition.com

The UK can block the sale or donation of any weapons with UK content, & will continue to do so until Argentina changes its policy towards the Falklands. I expect that's why everything went quiet on the idea of Argentina getting Brazilian-built Gripens, for example.

The UK can't block the sale or donation of weapons without UK content. All it can do is protest. In such cases the usual thing is to protest privately, not make a big fuss in public.

There's nothing amusing about it. It's normal diplomacy.