Argentina has refused to buy F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters because of more important priorities

Argentine President Alberto Fernandez has excluded the possibility of buying fourth-generation F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters in the near future.

Here's What We Know

The head of state said in an interview with the Financial Times that buying weapons is not a top priority. Fernandez also said this after completing an inspection of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters of the Danish Air Force.

Argentina was considering buying not only Lockheed Martin planes. Indian Tejas and Chinese FC-1 were alternatives. The South American country also wanted to buy Israeli Kfir and French Mirage F1, but later it was abandoned. Another option was the South Korean FA-50 fighter, but it did not work out because deliveries were blocked by Great Britain.

In 2015, Argentina decommissioned the Mirage after 45 services. Since then, the country's air force has had no fighters capable of supersonic speeds. Now the combat fleet consists of IA-63 Pampa training planes and several A-4AR Fightinghawk light planes.

In comparison, neighboring Brazil has about 50 upgraded F-5 Tiger II fighters with long-range missiles and orders 36 Gripen aircraft. The Chilean Air Force has 42 F-16 Fighting Falcom fighters, including Block 50, and 11 upgraded F-5 Tiger IIs.

Source: Defense News

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