President Javier Milei and former defence minister Luis Petri have hailed the arrival of Argentina’s first six F-16 jets bought from Denmark, describing them as “guardian angels” that may strengthen the nation’s Armed Forces.
The US-built plane are among the many 24 used supersonic fighters purchased final yr from Copenhagen for roughly US$300 million – an trade Milei’s authorities described on the time as Argentina’s most necessary navy acquisition in 50 years.
Petri, who resigned his publish this week to take up his seat as a nationwide deputy for Mendoza Province, defended the acquisition in an interview, dismissing critics as supposed “sommeliers of fighter jets.”
The previous defence minister, who oversaw the deal, described the acquisition of F-16s as “crucial one by the Armed Forces within the final 40 years” and claimed the Air Power would take “a technological leap of not less than 30 years” because of this.
“We achieved efficient, not ornamental, deterrence, and we regained the management of our airspace.”
Argentina had not had any supersonic planes “since 2015,” he complained.
“I don’t actually care about criticism from [opposition] Kirchnerism, as a result of they demonised and defunded the Armed Forces.”
“They are saying they have been about to purchase Chinese language JF-17 planes, however didn’t, which they need to have, as a result of there have been no related purchases for 40 years” for the navy sector.
“This authorities has made the choice to again its Armed Forces, and a method of doing that’s by equipping them.”
On Chinese language JF-17s, he specified that “solely 145 have been made worldwide,” whereas of the F-16 mannequin purchased from Denmark, “over 4,500 have been made, and three,600 of them are at the moment flying.”
He defined that some 800 F-16s “are used at the moment by america, the principle navy energy on this planet” and highlighted that “over 26 nations use it, it’s not up for dialogue, they’ve been modernised, and now we have planes for 25 extra years.”
Milei thrilled
Talking at a ceremony final Saturday, Milei hailed the arrival of the planes.
“After a protracted wait, I lastly have behind me the primary six F-16 fighter jets,” Milei stated on the tarmac of a navy base in Río Cuarto, Córdoba Province, some 600 kilometres (373 miles) west of Buenos Aires.
Following a ceremony, Milei boarded one of many F-16 Combating Falcons – which had flown low over the capital earlier than touchdown in Río Cuarto – and was seen smiling within the cockpit subsequent to his sister Karina Milei, who serves as his presidential chief-of-staff, and Defence Minister Luis Petri.
“Lots of of 1000’s of Argentines have been capable of search for and see their guardian angels within the sky for the primary time,” the President stated in a publish on social media.
“The F-16s are the brand new guardians of Argentine airspace,” he stated.
When the sale was introduced in April 2024, Argentina’s Defence Ministry stated the modernised Danish F-16s would kind “the spine of Argentina’s air defence system.”
They change Argentina’s French Mirage jets, the final of which have been retired in 2017 after 4 a long time of service.
The US administration of President Donald Trump, a Milei ally, authorised the switch of F-16s.
Value it?
The F-16 Combating Falcon remains to be, as of 2025, probably the most extensively used fighter jets on the planet. Its mixture of efficiency, working price and the truth that it may be simply up to date explains its reputation with air forces internationally.
Designed within the ‘70s by Basic Dynamics, and later produced by Lockheed Martin, the F-16 was conceived as a light-weight, versatile and economical fighter jet.
With 1000’s of hours of fight and precise missions gathered, the platform developed all through a number of blockings and settings. In 2025 older variations geared toward coaching, reminiscent of Block 15 and 20, dwell facet by facet with such intermediate fashions as Block 30 and 40, which added enhancements in avionics and mission capabilities.
The present incarnation is the F-16V, generally known as “Viper,” incorporating an AESA radar, a brand new mission laptop and larger tactical connectivity. This replace helps lengthen the mannequin’s working life and locations it as a aggressive various to extra trendy fighters, particularly for nations with intermediate budgets.
Different customers
The F-16 is a novel case in navy aviation: it’s in service within the Americas, Europe, the Center East, Asia and Oceania.
Within the Americas, america is its principal person, adopted by Chile and Venezuela, whereas Guatemala and Argentina have began current incorporation processes. In Europe, it’s current in Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Greece, Portugal, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, along with different nations which nonetheless preserve fleets in transition.
Within the Center East, it’s nonetheless key within the air forces of Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. In Asia and Oceania, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan and Thailand proceed to make use of it actively, whereas Australia makes use of it for coaching.
The wide selection of operators makes the F-16 a standardised platform and supplies a worldwide ecosystem of spare components, upkeep and coaching which makes it simpler to maintain even in nations with medium-sized navy constructions.
In contrast to fifth-generation fighter jets, the F-16 gives a stability that’s troublesome to match between working price and efficiency. Its upkeep is extra reasonably priced, its logistics has been extensively proved and the provision of second-hand items considerably reduces start-up prices. The inter-operability with Western requirements and the chance to modernise avionics preserve it related.
This helps many nations maintain a “plausible aerial functionality” with out the funding required by an F-35 or a Rafale.
Plan for Argentina’s Air Power
Between 2024 and 2025, the Argentine Air Power obtained the primary F-16s from Europe, in a course of which included spare half packages, technical help and coaching. The bought plane are from completely different eras, which is why the working availability will rely upon the standardisation of components and infrastructure growth.
For the fleet to work in full in the long term, Argentina should maintain logistical help contracts, practice pilots and mechanics, refit hangars and upkeep traces, and guarantee a steady financing to cowl all the life cycle of the system. In any other case, the tactical worth of the airplane shall be restricted by the provision of parts and upkeep price.
The arrival of the F-16 in Argentina reconfigures strategic perceptions in South America. Thus far, Chile and Venezuela have been the one nations within the area working the mannequin. Its addition by Argentina opens the door to new alliances, bilateral workout routines and political definitions on the function of defence in a regional context market by budgetary restrictions however with a rising want for modernisation.
This additionally interprets into strengthened diplomatic ties, for the reason that switch of navy planes entails technical agreements, joint coaching and a larger cooperation with provider nations.
Though the F-16 stays purposeful and adaptable, it faces inevitable competitors: fifth-generation fighters. Such methods because the F-35 have capabilities which can be invisible to the radar, merged sensors and built-in knowledge networks which or double or treble the F-16’s options in high-demand eventualities. Moreover, the progress of digital warfare and the starring function performed by drones and long-range missiles power it to rethink its function.
Regardless of all that, the F-16 maintains a transparent house: it’s dependable, adaptable and, most of all, fundable. That’s the reason it should proceed to fly not less than for the subsequent twenty years.
– TIMES/PERFIL/NA
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