After a significant period of decline, Argentina has ceased to be a capable military force.
The Argentine air force recently retired its Mirage fighters with only a handful of them even flyable. The country also confirmed that all their Lockheed Martin A-4AR Skyhawk fighters have been grounded and will not be replaced for the foreseeable future.
The problems don’t stop there, their submarine crews despite benefiting from a recent upgrade need at least 190 days of immersion practice and in 2014 only spent 19 hours submerged. A similar situation is faced by their four destroyers, they don’t have any serviceable weaponry.
Argentine ground forces rarely have the resources for training and are vastly under equipped, their kit dates back to the 70’s and is in very short supply. In addition to this, the Argentine Air Force largely consists of a collection of obsolete aircraft mostly dating back to the 1970’s, which are frequently grounded due to poor serviceability.
According to IHS Janes
“The Argentine Air Force is drastically cutting staff working hours and decommissioning its last fighter aircraft amid continuing budget issues. A recently published daily agenda indicates that the service’s working hours have been significantly reduced, from 0800 to 1300; rationing of food, energy consumption, and office supplies has been directed headquarters staff and property residents; and only the minimum personnel required to staff headquarters, directorates, and commands are working.“
This leaves the Argentine military with just one type of jet, the IA-63 which is subsonic, decades old and barely serviceable. Argentina had looked into buying new Gripen’s from Sweden via Brazil but this was vetoed by the United Kingdom which makes a large number of internal components for the aircraft. They had also looked at JF-17’s from China, but the JF-17s proved too expensive to modify.
When Barack Obama visited in March 2016, Air Force One was accompanied by US Air Force F-16’s because Argentina could only offer Pucarás and Pampas for air defence.
Recently Argentina has decided to suspend plans for new fighter aircraft to replace their grounded A-4AR Fightinghawks until the country’s financial affairs improve. Citing economic trouble, Defence Minister at the time Julio Martínez made clear that there there would be no new combat aircraft purchased in the current economic climate.
This has quashed recent speculation that Argentina was in talks with Russia to buy a number of Mig-29s.
Nothing new, the new government is wisely focused on get its economy on a more sustainable footing, and rooting out corruption and waste in the defence establishment and wider government before its able to make significant capital spend on big ticket items, which I believe Macri is not currently interested in.
Still be vigilant of a surprise attack or spoiling intervention to interrupt Falklands commerce or military capabilities.
Argentina might lack conventional forces to threaten the Falklands but could still use special forces, although this would not deliver sovereignty to them of the islands.
Once Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales enter service the spectre of invasion will be resolved for next 50 years.
Well PofW anyways, they have been here (Canada) and to Australia offering to sell us QE when PofW is completed. We said no and I don’t thin my Auzzie counterparts were overly interested either, however maybe other nations were approached and have struck up discussions.
Would love to see your source on this?
Didn’t think so.
Load of balls, mate. I see that fake news has reached there too.
@Mr Bell Seriously? In what world do you think Argentina is remotely planning any kind of military option against the Falklands? Our two aircraft carriers, while wonderful pieces of kit, are not going to be relevant for any struggle over the Falklands simply because Argentina has made it clear it’s going to be using diplomacy. It has to, let’s face it, it hasn’t got any cash to restore its armed forces even if it wanted to. The UK needs to be focused on making friends in the OAS and countering any diplomatic moves Argentina makes – especially with regard to… Read more »
Quite right Tim62!
Now is the time for the UK to kick some butt and expand the Empire.
Is ornery your comment! What would you do if someone takes your house, throws you out and says it belongs to him because he is stronger?
You mean like the conquistadors did to the original inhabitants of the territories surrounding the River Plate?
The Falklands are well defended anyway even without the two superb carriers that are coming into service.. Has over 1000 military personnel plus 200 FIDF personnel, 4 Typhoon jets, air defence missiles… Land Ceptor air defence missiles coming into service by the end of this decade for the FI.
The UK could also send a battle group size force and a nuclear sub if needed.
The biggest threat to the UK’s possession of the Falkland Islands is another general election!
keep that traitorous marxist away from the royal navy
Most prior strategic defence reviews have been by the tories including that carried out in 1982 which planned to remove the Antarctic Research Vessel from its base in The Falklands. This provided Galtieri with the excuse he needed to invade and the result of which was the task force being sent out. With the loss of Atlantic Conveyor, Sheffield and Coventry etc. and all the life’s lost and maimed, what a brilliant piece of government policy! It would have been cheaper and less harrowing not to have the review in the first place.
There are other threats , brazil does support the argies and they have a capable invasion force , plus you can never count out russia who always sniffs around for more natural resources and that the argies are now looking to buy russian aircraft
@dave12 Sorry but the idea that Brazil would deploy a force to invade the Falklands is nonsense. And Argentina is not going to be buying Russian aircraft – Argentina’s defence minister Julio Martínez is cited above saying so. They don’t have any money whether they’d like the aircraft or not.
best Tim62
Fair enough i just put the idea out there
You are certainly right to cite Brazil as a potential diplomatic ally of Argentina when it comes to the Falklands – that is really the main arena this dispute is going to play out in coming years. Best
Although there is almost no significant risk/threat to the Falklands in the short to medium term ( although you should never say none at all, because we don’t know what we don’t know, that’s why have an armed forces). Long term I would say the threat to the Falklands is very real. In the 20-50 year time frame, you are looking at a world heading towards very significant resource stretch and especially resources needed to power high tec economy’s. It’s going to start getting desperate and within that context the likley hood of the antartic treaty holding is probably nil… Read more »
Brasil does not have a aircraft carrier at the moment ? Have my doubts they would want to go to war with the UK anyway. Don’t forget the UK could send extra Typhoon jets to support the Flight of 4 that are already based there.
But to be honest as Mr Bell said when the new carriers come into service with the 5th generation F35’s on board plus the Falkland Island defences they will be secure for many years to come.
Anyone who thinks that Argentina can make the political decision to invade is not obnoxious that a droid, the war was more than 30 years ago, 30 years after Hitler, Uk, sold any weaponry to Germany
OK so I doubt there are any on this forum that sympathize with the Argentine Forces plight but no matter how poor they are how low can you go to allow one of your major surface vessels to roll over and sink in Port!! The morale of those Argentinian sailors must be rock bottom.
Very true, not a career for anybody in Argentina right now. Which is probably healthy for Argentina given its 20th Century history.
Tim62
You are not right here Tim62. There are still young people interested in these careers. Patriots right?
It’s a truly tragic sight to see, puts our own forces’ financial woes into some perspective. The new Argentinian government seems keen on engaging with the UK so now might be the time to improve relations recently soured by CFK’s presidency. I think we should be doing more to exploit the farming, fishing and oil opportunities in the Falklands and EEZ and looking to improve trade links with the mainland states.
Although Argentina’s military appears to be in bad shape, it is still wise for the UK to be ready to defend the Falklands. A naval, army, and air force presence which acts as a deterrent to would be attackers also acts as a comfort and strength for the islanders. We must not make the same mistake again which enabled the Argentines to rapidly capture the Falklands and South Georgia.
Sorry but you´re wrong! Perhaps your defense should be focused on Argentine tourists!
Now is the time to attack!
(joke btw)
Not a time for joking Snorvey! Let´s honor those 44!
The biggest threat to the Falklands is Jeremy Corbyn. He’d be delighted to give them away along with Gibraltar.
The Falklands are not the issue, it’s what they give access to and that’s the British Antarctic territory. In the long term there is a high change there will be a war over that. The Falklands are the key to the BAT and the BAT is the best bit (read accessible) of a virgin continent. Time to the Antarctic treaty failing ? ( But probably when world resource stretch really hits in 20-50 years time) Time between Antarctic treaty failure and a major war in the south Atlantic…………. Also note: the US do not acknowledge our or anyone else’s claims… Read more »
Jonathan
I agree that if we’re ranking future threats to the status quo in the Southern Atlantic and BAT, then the breakdown of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty would be the most serious
best Tim
Yep not so much an issue for the short term but I can see a realistic long term risk around the BAT.
Given that Argentina is not likely to be attacked by anyone it seems to me that the time is ripe for a re organisation of all their forces concentrating on a decently equipped coast guard and a transport and recce. orientated air force. Both could be invaluable for Antarctic scientific support and environmental protection work, fishery protection and rescue etc. Services that the the Argentinian people could be proud of and a real roll for their country in this ever more difficult world. By the way, Jonathan. I think your bang on the money when it comes to the future… Read more »
So the political elites are now saying we have nothing to fear from Argentina. The last time somebody said that, I found myself in the Falklands in 1982,83 and 84 (Perks of being a sapper) and on a BFT in 2014
so whats the cost of getting Chinese Cruise missiles. Would threaten any RN ships sent to protect the Falklands
The BAT makes a good framework for dealing with the future of Antarctica, most likely it will not become a ground for economic development for the time being. Besides, Argentina has renounced to compete with Brazil for regional hegemony, such competition is not any more on the table in Buenos Aires. Chile is nowadays a significant military actor in the Southern Cone, though it is a committed status quo power, with strong friendly relations with the UK. The source of trouble is the diplomatic policy of Argentina towards Chile and Brazil, by putting pressure on them, in order to deny… Read more »
A once large and capable regional power utterly destroyed by budget cuts…sounds oddly familiar
[…] Argentina habría intentado comprar aviones Gripen de Suecia vía Brasil, pero fue vetada por el Reino Unido, que produce una gran parte de los componentes de la nave, continúa la publicación. […]
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Tanto miedo les quedo que despues de 35 años de la guerra por las MALVINAS y con las ffaa argentinas desactivadas aun piensan en que se las puede atacar?????? Yo les pregunto, como puede ser que en pleno siglo XXI sigan enarbolando la bandera del colonialismo rancio del pasado? Que hacen ustedes, britanicos a 14.000 kms de su pais en unas islas USURPADAS en 1833 POR LA FUERZA???? Mi pais NO INVADIO las islas en 1982 (NO SE INVADE TERRITORIO PROPIO), solo se intento recuperarlas como ultimo recurso, ya que Gran Bretaña NUNCA TUVO LA VOLUNTAD DE SENTARSE A NEGOCIAR,… Read more »
[…] the acquisition of new equipment and their ability to maintain current equipment. This caused the UK Defence Journal to declare that Argentina “ceased to be a capable military force” in 2017. The military […]
[…] has no military capability, and there is no public appetite for it. The UK defence journal wrote last year that it had “ceased to be a capable military force” due to prolonged cuts. When Obama visited […]