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.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered its certification to Congress, highlighting an estimated $941 million deal to enhance Argentina’s air defense and combat capabilities.
Argentina has requested support for its 24 F-16 aircraft, secured via a third-party transfer from Denmark in early 2024. The requested package includes 36 AIM-120 C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), guidance sections, 102 MK-82 bombs, components for GBU-12 laser-guided bombs, fuzes, and other control equipment.
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.
Argentina’s acquisition of F-16 fighters from Denmark, confirmed by Argentine Defense Minister Luis Alfonso Petri in April 2024, represents the country’s most pivotal aeronautical defense investment in over four decades.
The arrival of the F-16s is a strategic milestone for Argentina, whose aging fighter fleet has faced numerous challenges over the years. The Argentine Air Force had previously explored other options, including Dassault-Breguet Super Etendard Modernisés from France, Sukhoi Su-24s from Russia, and JF-17 Thunders from China and Pakistan. However, these efforts did not materialize, making the F-16 acquisition a crucial step in modernizing the country’s defense capabilities.