Argentina's latest purchase.....

[AndySmith]

https://www.reuters.com/article/argentina-planes-france/france-sells-five-used-fighter-planes-to-argentina-ambassador-idUSL1N1NE02S

I think a sale made at a nominal amount for 5 Super Etendards Sem V, so they have a bit more air cover for the upcoming G20 meeting in Buenos Aires. Some of the locals seem to be a bit excited that they have an aircraft that can use a BVR missile.

Does anyone know what the capabilities of this aircraft is. I assume as it's an attack aircraft, it would lack much capability in terms of air to air radar?

I don't think anyone in MPA is going to be losing sleep over this sale - presumably taken with no opposition from HMG?

[Heathrow Harry]

Last updated 18 years ago........ purely so they can fly "cover" for a Political shindig......


From Janes


After long negotiations, the Argentine and French governments signed a contract for the Argentine Navy to buy five Dassault Super Etendard Modernisé (SEM) aircraft that were retired by French Naval Aviation.
http://cms.janes360.com/images/assets/072/68072/p1649425.jpg
Argentina will buy five retired French Super Etendard Modernisé. (Marine nationale)The EUR12.5 million (USD14.5 million) contract includes a simulator and spare engines, and all deliveries are to be completed by December 2017.

Argentina hopes to recover half its fleet of 10 Super Etendards with the 2nd Attack and Fighter Naval Aviation Squadron to provide air protection during a G20 meeting in Argentina planned for late 2018. The air force’s dwindling A-4AR Fightinghawks are viewed as insufficient for that mission.

Three of the SEMs are to be placed in service immediately to re-train the squadron’s pilots on the type, as their Super Etendards have been grounded. The other two SEMs will be cannibalised to recover and modernise Argentina’s grounded Super Etendards.

Super Étendards underwent a series of upgrades throughout the 1990s to add new capabilities and update existing systems for use in the modern battlefield. Designated Super Étendard Modernisé (SEM), the first combat missions for the type came during NATO's operations over Serbia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbia) in 1999; it was reported that over 400 combat missions were flown with 73% of the assigned objectives destroyed, the best performance of all the air forces involved in the missions over Serbia.

[AndySmith]

Just been chatting to a Argentine aviation author friend of mine who is well connected the their Naval Air Arm. Seems that they will be used to update their existing fleet. One of their Etendards has only 700 hours on it, and the most used has little more than 3000 hours. It seems the two spares aircraft will be used to update two of theirs, and when they are operational, they'll canibalise the others to update others.

He saw it more as a purchase to keep their Naval Air Arm attack squadron going...

[cokecan]

i was under the impression that the A-4AR's had all been removed from service - something like the fleet had gone from 34(?) down to mid-20's, then a spares/certification/airworthiness problem had grounded them for the last 18 months.

is that not the case?

i'll get interested when they start buying missiles - i'm pretty sure i've read several articles suggesting they haven't held an in-date missile in the entire inventory for nearly a decade...

[sandiego89]

Andy do you, or anyone else, know the recent status of the existing Argentinian Super Entendards? Were they all grounded? When did they last fly? Occasional flights? It is really tough to find any information on them. I do recall the one that snagged the arresting wire on the Brazilian carrier a few years ago- when the hook was retracted on a touch and go! Quit a surprise I imagine!

[Marcantilan]

Andy do you, or anyone else, know the recent status of the existing Argentinian Super Entendards? Were they all grounded? When did they last fly? Occasional flights? It is really tough to find any information on them. I do recall the one that snagged the arresting wire on the Brazilian carrier a few years ago- when the hook was retracted on a touch and go! Quit a surprise I imagine!

All Super Etendard are now grounded. They last flight was around three years ago. All pilots must retrain in the type.

About the touch and go, yes was an one in a million case: arresting the wire with the hook up!

[ORAC]

https://twitter.com/sa_defensa/status/1659189396522795010?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A


The @MindefArg of Argentina has officially decided that they will no longer attempt to recover the Super Étendard Modernisé.

The 5x aircraft were delivered from France in 2019, however never took flight due to lack of ejectors because of the British embargo…

https://www.pucara.org/post/el-ministerio-de-defensa-de-argentina-decide-frenar-la-recuperación-de-los-super-etendard

[WB627]

You can always rely on the French as an ally LOL :mad: Do they come with any "used" Exocets?

[Asturias56]

Actually selling Argentina useless aircraft could be seen as a true mark of genius and friendship.....................

[ORAC]

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/09/08/argentina-buys-p-3-orion-maritime-patrol-aircraft-from-norway/

Argentina buys P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft from Norway

SANTIAGO, Chile — The Argentine government has finalized negotiations to buy four surplus P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft from the Royal Norwegian Air Force, meeting a requirement set in 2015 by the South American country’s Navy.

The agreement was reached Aug. 31 in Buenos Aires during a meeting between Defence Minister Jorge Taiana and representatives of the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency.

Three of the P-3C aircraft are fitted for maritime surveillance, anti-submarine and anti-surface missions, and one P-3N is designed for search and rescue operations (https://www.defensenews.com/c4isr/2017/11/20/behind-the-hunt-for-a-missing-sub-sensors-underwater-drones/), according to a news release from the Argentine Defence Ministry. The statement also also noted the deal is worth $67 million…..

[ORAC]

Looks like they are buying up to 8 Sea Knights. Last used operationally by the US back in 2015…

Background to USMC retirement then report on possible purchase.

https://news.usni.org/2015/04/10/marines-bid-phrog-farewell-to-last-active-ch-46e-sea-knight-squadron

One current civilian operator, though Columbia Helicopters has a large fleet of the civilian versions and holds the type certificate and produces spare parts.

https://verticalmag.com/news/the-firefighting-phrog/

https://www.defensenews.com/global/the-americas/2023/09/21/argentina-eyes-surplus-ch-46-helicopters-as-mi-17-replacement/

Argentina eyes surplus CH-46 helicopters as Mi-17 replacement

SANTIAGO, Chile — The Boeing CH-46 medium-lift helicopter, retired from service (https://news.usni.org/2015/04/10/marines-bid-phrog-farewell-to-last-active-ch-46e-sea-knight-squadron)in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, may get a new lease on life, this time with the Argentine Air Force.

Talking to local media after a Sept. 15 ceremony, Argentine Air Force chief Gen. Xavier Issac said he’s interested in buying surplus CH-46s currently stored with the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/11/10/aircraft-boneyard-keeps-planes-for-parts-or-possible-reuse/) in Arizona. He added that the Argentine government has sent a letter of request to the U.S.….

[chevvron]

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/09/08/argentina-buys-p-3-orion-maritime-patrol-aircraft-from-norway/

Argentina buys P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft from Norway

SANTIAGO, Chile — The Argentine government has finalized negotiations to buy four surplus P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft from the Royal Norwegian Air Force, meeting a requirement set in 2015 by the South American country’s Navy.

The agreement was reached Aug. 31 in Buenos Aires during a meeting between Defence Minister Jorge Taiana and representatives of the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency.

Three of the P-3C aircraft are fitted for maritime surveillance, anti-submarine and anti-surface missions, and one P-3N is designed for search and rescue operations (https://www.defensenews.com/c4isr/2017/11/20/behind-the-hunt-for-a-missing-sub-sensors-underwater-drones/), according to a news release from the Argentine Defence Ministry. The statement also also noted the deal is worth $67 million…..
The Argentine Navy has operated P3s since the '80s. I can remember one arriving in the UK at Farnborough using the callsign 'Argentine Navy' and the diplomatic furore it caused; it stayed overnight then went elsewhere but on return, landing permission was denied and it went to Brize Norton instead.
What happened after that I don't know.

[chopper2004]

Their Armada is also purchasing AW109 trekker to replace the AS555 Fennec<span style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /><a href="https://x.com/SA_Defensa/status/1704968906270752929?s=20">https://x.com/SA_Defensa/status/1704968906270752929?s=20</a><br /><br />cheers</span>

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F6lEFWqa4AAPlj4?format=jpg&name=medium

[ORAC]

Further to the above..

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/09/26/argentina-signs-agreement-aimed-at-buying-leonardo-aw109m-helicopters/

Argentina agrees to buy Leonardo AW109M helicopters

SANTIAGO, Chile — Argentina’s Defense Ministry has signed a letter of intention for the procurement of eight AW109M lightweight helicopters (https://www.defensenews.com/global/the-americas/2023/09/21/argentina-eyes-surplus-ch-46-helicopters-as-mi-17-replacement/) from Italian firm Leonardo.

The agreement was signed Sept. 21 as Argentine Defense Minister Jorge Taiana visited Italy to see the aircraft’s production line.The AW109Ms would be used by the Argentine Navy in a seagoing role aboard French-built Bouchard-class offshore patrol vessels, acquired between 2019 and 2022 to patrol the country’s exclusive economic zone to deter and prevent illegal exploitation of fishing resources.

A military source in Buenos Aires, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the defense program, told Defense News that “until now the OPVs have been going to sea carrying Airbus AS555 Fennec helicopters. But those aircraft are intended and needed for weapons-targeting functions and training with missile frigates and corvettes, instead of coast guarding work.”

Funding for the purchase of eight to 10 lightweight helicopters for the Navy was already included in the government’s draft budget for 2024, which was submitted Sept. 15 to the Chamber of Deputies within the Argentine Congress.

The budget request seeks $110 million for the maritime lightweight helicopter program, to be spent over 10 years.

Luis Piñeiro, an independent defense and security analyst based in Buenos Aires, told Defense News that “this is a long-due and necessary step, which will add to the recent acquisition of P-3C Orion [maritime patrol aircraft]. It will bolster Argentina’s capacities to detect, deter and fight illegal fishing that cost the country between $1 billion and $2.6 billion per year.”

[chopper2004]

The first of new BEll 407GXi for them will be delivered shortly

https://scontent-lcy1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/386255538_735835058568950_1218356763141920425_n.jpg?_nc_cat= 109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=49d041&_nc_ohc=WzxSX866pkMAX_YBXFn&_nc_ht=scontent-lcy1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBI-bBEnifrbP1gUNmCmO6x46zZGOR_cDxmWTWsroejgg&oe=652059F2

Comes from an order back in June

https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/argentina-to-acquire-six-bell-407gxi-helicopters/

cheers

[Asturias56]

"But those aircraft are intended and needed for weapons-targeting functions and training with missile frigates and corvettes, instead of coast guarding work."

How many are seaworthy ?

[SLXOwft]

"But those aircraft are intended and needed for weapons-targeting functions and training with missile frigates and corvettes, instead of coast guarding work."

How many are seaworthy ?

Seaworthy or airworthy? According to Zona Militar only one COAN Fennec was operational in 2020 down from 3 in 2010 and 4 in 2000.

If you mean the ships more than half of both the two Meko classes are supposed to be operational according to publically available sources.

[Asturias56]

Seaworthy or airworthy? According to Zona Militar only one COAN Fennec was operational in 2020 down from 3 in 2010 and 4 in 2000.

If you mean the ships more than half of both the two Meko classes are supposed to be operational according to publically available sources.

Thanks - it was the ships - last I remember hearing was that one was totally out of action as they never paid for the work being done on an engine part but that must have been a couple of years back