The U.S. State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to Argentina, valued at up to $941 million, to provide equipment, logistics, and programme support for Argentina’s recently acquired F-16 Block 10/15 fighter aircraft.
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency informed Congress of the decision on October 30, 2024.
Argentina’s request for the equipment package includes items to support 24 F-16 aircraft obtained through a third-party transfer. The proposed package comprises “thirty-six AIM-120 C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), MK-82 general-purpose bombs, GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb components,” as well as a variety of communications, avionics, and cryptographic devices.
Additional support includes training, maintenance resources, and spare parts for enhanced operability.
According to the U.S. State Department, this sale will support U.S. national security objectives and strengthen Argentina’s defense capabilities. “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in South America,” the department explained.
The U.S. further specified that the sale aims to “improve Argentina’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing the additional capacity to conduct air defence, offensive counter air, and close air support operations.”
As reported earlier this year, Argentina officially signed a historic agreement with Denmark in April for the purchase of 24 ex-Danish F-16A/B aircraft, marking Argentina’s first major military aircraft acquisition since 1983.
Argentine Minister of Defence, Luis Petri, led the signing ceremony, underscoring the significance of the acquisition. “With these new aircraft, we are taking a momentous step in our defense policy, recovering the supersonic capacity of our aviation,” Petri stated. He further noted that the F-16s, equipped with advanced technology, “will be the backbone of the air defense system in Argentina,” replacing the role previously held by Mirage aircraft.
In addition to the 24 F-16 aircraft, the Danish agreement provides Argentina with comprehensive support: four flight simulators, eight spare engines, and a five-year provision for aircraft maintenance. The deal also includes training for Argentine pilots and mechanics to ensure the effective integration of the F-16 platform into Argentina’s military infrastructure.
The U.S. has made clear that this sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.” Lockheed Martin, based in Fort Worth, Texas, will serve as the principal contractor, with no offset agreements attached to the sale.
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Rather than scrapping out T1 Typhoons we send some more if them south so we upgrade the numbers to match
To match? So 24? There are too few fast jets in the RAF for that percentage deployed to BFSAI.
MPA does I believe have infrastructure in place in the form of a couple of covered dispersals for extra jets in time of need.
But I don’t think it necessary at this point.
Never said 24…..some more to match….if we reckon another 6 for example would upgrade to match then thats ideal. Type ones are getting binned early so why not use here.
Fair enough, I’d read your numbers to match literally.
No worries more of a match in capability kinda thing……without doing a 1-1 comparison….its more about not letting it be one sided
Well we know even a T1 is a far superior type.
So the U.S. reckons that it will strengthen Argentinian defences. Against who?
Chinese influence.
This can only be interpreted as an unfriendly act by a supposed “Ally” of ours. By an “Irish” POTUS who is clearly demented. Not only are the Americans providing the F-16s, they are also funding the purchase
Unless the new Labour SoS Defence reinforces the Falkland Islands with additional Typhoons, a frigate and refueling aircraft, the Argentine will take this as the all-clear to mount another invasion.
An invasion with what? What exactly do they have that would allow them to mount an invasion at this point?
Yep…point taken.
Yes our ‘friend’ is arming our potential adversary AGAIN last time they armed the Hunta. Looks like they do not learn. We should add more Typhoons to the Falklands flight all armed with Meteor AAM.
Argentina will never move against the Falklands, it knows it, you know it, everyone knows it. You export around 2 billion usd every year to Argentina, you wouldn’t do that to your “enemy”
You do remember that the U.K. was also happy to arm the Junta the last time as well, or did you forget those Type 42s?
Yes and we gave them SAMs to… that was a mistake, however we have not repeated the mistake.
Better selling them what we know about rather than letting them come under China’s influence, who they would probably have turned to for jets next.
Biden and the Democrats last throw of the dice to show their complete disdain for the previous 75 yr + special relationship between the UK and USA.
They probably told him it would help against a potential threat from Cuba 😀
Yep, the US has never before made decisions that suit it rather than the U.K., this is totally the first time and it’s all Biden and the Democrats…
What happened during the Suez Crisis again?
It was either that or they move into Russia/China sphere of influence
Yes I appear to remember the the CIA arming the fighters against the Russians in Afghanistan and the later turned the arms on us. Randomly arming groups/countries against our persevere adversaries can be a double edged sword. Argentina has a long history of weak government, revolutions and dictatorship. Not to mention crimes against its own people. What happens if the F-16s are used to bomb ‘undesirables’ in the future. Argentina is volatile and unstableand the US is rearming it.
It’s been half a century at this point, at some stage people on the internet are going to have to let things go…
I agree.
However…Argentina itself cannot let it go, or it’s politicians can’t.
If they openly renounce their baseless claims then it would be easier for posters on our side to do likewise.
Perhaps, but every investment in their relatively small capabilities or decisions by other nations don’t have to get the reaction of somehow being a major threat to the islands, or a great betrayal of the U.K.
I mean the U.K. itself has been willing to sell military equipment to nations that have had issues with the U.K.
It is in the Argentine constitution to have the Falklands. So you are right if they renounce their ambition to retake the islands that would reduce tensions. There is also the point that historically Argentina has been unstable, volatile and prone to military dictatorships. So when giving them arms we have to consider what may happen in the future.
Great, we have now lost the Falklands….
You haven’t! stop being a drama queen
Another first post, drive by shooting type comment.
Russian or Chinese? Trying to push the “we’re doomed” narrative.
I prefer the term ‘drive-by arguments’ from Family Guy.
It’s definitely going to be a problem for the UK. To what extent who knows. I think we will see two AC venture into FI airspace. Then progress to multiple incursions. That will be start.
I don’t understand why all of you are upset about this. Do you really think that now that Argentina has Block 10 F16s that the power balance has shifted? If so, that only means the UK military power is pathetic at best.
These jets are literal antiques. The block 10 means they have 1980s tech. These are extremely far from being the modern block 70 F16Vs coming from Lockheed.
A half dozen F35s would find them to be a round of target practice.
However, it sounds like you guys would prefer to have China or Russia supply them with jets that aren’t in continuous need of maintenance components from the US?
don’t understand why all of you are upset about this. Do you really think that now that Argentina has Block 10 F16s that the power balance has shifted? If so, that only means the UK military power is pathetic at best.
These jets are literal antiques. The block 10 means they have 1980s tech. These are extremely far from being the modern block 70 F16Vs coming from Lockheed.
A half dozen F35s would find them to be a round of target practice.
However, it sounds like you guys would prefer to have China or Russia supply them with jets that aren’t in continuous need of maintenance components from the US?
All of us!🤔 not really is it? There are only a couple of doom mongers saying the Falklands are doomed.
The F16 are equivalent to F16C as they are F16A/B MLU. They are also getting fairly modern AMRAAM Cs. And there are 24 of them to our 4 Typhoons (assuming the are none in the shop). Oh yes we had no F35s in the Falklands. I would be happier if we had more planes down there just in case… to keep the Argentinians from temptation. It was a lack of deterrents that tempted them last time.
America doing its usual stab in the back do anything for money , so called Allie
Well, these airframes are about 40 years old. It’s either this or Argentina being influenced by China or Russia.
A patriotic government with spine should station some tactical nuclear weapons in Stanley and make it clear that any invasion or attack by Argentina will result in the nuking of Puerto Belgrano Navy Station and Rio Gallegos Airfield. Also, end all military commitments to the USA, and stop using their internet commercial systems and use our own. Also forge a Canada, NZ Australia Union. Make peace with Iran and Russia. And stop Britain being such a grovelly dogsbody. Make more of our surviving colonies and encourage settlement there and modernisation.