Argentina withdraws from Falklands agreement.
The Chinese are more interested in Argentina than the Indian's I suspect
I hope that the F-16 sale to Argentina goes forward.
LW - what benefits do you see? I guess if any S american country actually needs arms (which I'm not totally sold on) then better they buy from the good guys rather than the bad?
A US viewpoint would be most interesting.
A US viewpoint would be most interesting.
Are India good or bad guys? I lose track these days.
As ever they sit in the middle. Not in their interests to get too involved in other peoples problem's
While I was still in the Navy we were still training Brazilian pilots in the T-45 for carrier ops. That made for some good mil to mil contacts with a major nation in our part of the world.
The F-16 is a fine bird, strengths and weaknesses well known. Getting some from a NATO ally means they will likely have been well maintained over their service lives.
I'd expect that various support agreements for that unit would improve US-Argentina Mil to Mil contacts.
They are a major nation in our part of the world, and we've had on and off relations with them over the years.
I see this as an opportunity to improve the overal relationship.
Also, almost 40 years ago the UNITAS exercises were a much sought after deployment, and Argentina was one of the "must see" places for he ships and aircrews who participated.
Thank you - sounds logical to me
For the last 41 years (since the 1982 war) and except on rare occasions, Argentina has been prevented (by British diplomacy) from acquiring state-of-the-art weaponry. Or, sometimes, even weapons with minimal offensive power.For example, Argentina was about to buy the KAI FA-50 fighter, but the existence of British components in it made this operation impossible.
In recent years, the need to buy supersonic fighters became more pressing and, without too many options, Argentina began to look sympathetically at offers from China and India, free of any embargo and with the possibility of acquiring modern weaponry with the fighters. It was at this point that the US offer for the old F-16s began to materialise. Not before. I guess the US government considered it more valuable to prevent the Chinese from selling fighters in its backyard than British pressure to do so.
Likewise, opinions around here are divided on whether to go for the Chinese or the US offer. My view? We are in an election year and the issue will be left for the next government to decide. The next government will not make any initial decision, as it will face a major budget problem, will leave it for a few years and, when it is more or less decided, will leave it for the next government. And so on ad infinitum.
In recent years, the need to buy supersonic fighters became more pressing and, without too many options, Argentina began to look sympathetically at offers from China and India, free of any embargo and with the possibility of acquiring modern weaponry with the fighters. It was at this point that the US offer for the old F-16s began to materialise. Not before. I guess the US government considered it more valuable to prevent the Chinese from selling fighters in its backyard than British pressure to do so.
Likewise, opinions around here are divided on whether to go for the Chinese or the US offer. My view? We are in an election year and the issue will be left for the next government to decide. The next government will not make any initial decision, as it will face a major budget problem, will leave it for a few years and, when it is more or less decided, will leave it for the next government. And so on ad infinitum.
We are in an election year and the issue will be left for the next government to decide. The next government will not make any initial decision, as it will face a major budget problem, will leave it for a few years and, when it is more or less decided, will leave it for the next government. And so on ad infinitum.
In recent years, the need to buy supersonic fighters became more pressing and, without too many options, Argentina began to look sympathetically at offers from China and India, free of any embargo and with the possibility of acquiring modern weaponry with the fighters. It was at this point that the US offer for the old F-16s began to materialise. Not before. I guess the US government considered it more valuable to prevent the Chinese from selling fighters in its backyard than British pressure to do so.
My personal preference is Vipers to Argentina, for the above stated reasons. But I am not in charge.
We are in an election year and the issue will be left for the next government to decide. The next government will not make any initial decision, as it will face a major budget problem, will leave it for a few years and, when it is more or less decided, will leave it for the next government. And so on ad infinitum.
"In recent years, the need to buy supersonic fighters became more pressing "
why? Why does every country in S america need fast jet fighters? Unless someone is planning a war we don't know about. It seems its "necessary" for the generals etc in the armed forces who really need more helicopters and ground kit to fight insurgencies and drug cartels
I guess Chile Argentina is the most incendiary possibility but it's not terribly likely
why? Why does every country in S america need fast jet fighters? Unless someone is planning a war we don't know about. It seems its "necessary" for the generals etc in the armed forces who really need more helicopters and ground kit to fight insurgencies and drug cartels
I guess Chile Argentina is the most incendiary possibility but it's not terribly likely
Well, Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world, with large unpopulated areas and, like everyone else in this part of the world, problems of unclear borders. It is also a member of the G20 and a regular participant in peace missions.
It is logical that it would want to maintain a minimally credible air force.
As for the problems of drug cartels and insurgency, they do not exist here. If they did exist, Argentina's armed forces are prohibited by law from intervening in internal security matters.
It is logical that it would want to maintain a minimally credible air force.
As for the problems of drug cartels and insurgency, they do not exist here. If they did exist, Argentina's armed forces are prohibited by law from intervening in internal security matters.
Well, Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world, with large unpopulated areas and, like everyone else in this part of the world, problems of unclear borders. It is also a member of the G20 and a regular participant in peace missions.
It is logical that it would want to maintain a minimally credible air force.
As for the problems of drug cartels and insurgency, they do not exist here. If they did exist, Argentina's armed forces are prohibited by law from intervening in internal security matters.
It is logical that it would want to maintain a minimally credible air force.
As for the problems of drug cartels and insurgency, they do not exist here. If they did exist, Argentina's armed forces are prohibited by law from intervening in internal security matters.
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Earlier this year the Danes were reported to be considering Ukraine as the new operator for their Vipers which I believe are Block 15. 38 would seem to be close in numbers to Chile's 36 ex-KLu AM/BM block 15/20 MLUs and 10 block 50 C/Ds.
Over the last few years virtually everyone in the FJ business has been reputed to been trying to sell to Argentina including Russia with MiG-29 s then -35s. MercoPress reported back in '21 that several of these approaches had failed due to MB bang seats being fitted or UK avionics.
Marcantilan I thought President Fernandez effectively ruled out spending money of FJs late last year as there are far more pressing uses for the money? Could this be a pre-election mirage (pun not intended) to attract voters of a militarist bent?
Over the last few years virtually everyone in the FJ business has been reputed to been trying to sell to Argentina including Russia with MiG-29 s then -35s. MercoPress reported back in '21 that several of these approaches had failed due to MB bang seats being fitted or UK avionics.
Marcantilan I thought President Fernandez effectively ruled out spending money of FJs late last year as there are far more pressing uses for the money? Could this be a pre-election mirage (pun not intended) to attract voters of a militarist bent?
It is hard to say whether this is an election issue. What is certain is that the image of the armed forces improved a great deal during the Covid pandemic and now the general public (even those who do not follow military matters) feels that the military has been abandoned by the political powers when it comes to the budget.
What is certain is that Argentina is trying to finalise military purchases of:
And maybe I am forgetting something. Although it seems a huge rearmament, the truth is that if in 20+ years you didn't invest anything in defence, then you have to buy everything together.
Where they will get the money to pay for all this, I don't know.
What is certain is that Argentina is trying to finalise military purchases of:
- Iveco Guarani 6x6 armoured vehicles (156) from Brazil.
- Cougar helicopters (12) from France and light helicopters (20) from India.
- P-3 aircraft (4) to Norway
- F-16 aircraft (USA), HAL Tejas (India) or JF-17 (Pakistan / China).
- Submarines (3) to France or Germany.
And maybe I am forgetting something. Although it seems a huge rearmament, the truth is that if in 20+ years you didn't invest anything in defence, then you have to buy everything together.
Where they will get the money to pay for all this, I don't know.
Well, Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world, with large unpopulated areas and, like everyone else in this part of the world, problems of unclear borders. It is also a member of the G20 and a regular participant in peace missions.
It is logical that it would want to maintain a minimally credible air force.
As for the problems of drug cartels and insurgency, they do not exist here. If they did exist, Argentina's armed forces are prohibited by law from intervening in internal security matters.
It is logical that it would want to maintain a minimally credible air force.
As for the problems of drug cartels and insurgency, they do not exist here. If they did exist, Argentina's armed forces are prohibited by law from intervening in internal security matters.
I read somewhere, many years ago [was it Janes, or Flight?] that:
"no country that coud afford an effective Air Force has ever gone without".
But many nations have almost negligible air forces and seem to get along fine........