The acquisition contract for four Orion P-3C four-engine aircraft and a batch of spare parts launched by the Argentine Ministry of Defense during Alberto Fernández 's administration begins to close the circle; the first of them is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, Saturday, August 31, at the Almirante Zar naval air base in Trelew , in the Patagonian province of Chubut.
The four aircraft have a specific purpose: maritime exploration and surveillance of the extensive Argentine coastline of the South Atlantic, which suffers from overexploitation of its migratory fishing resources within and outside the 200-mile mark.
The aircraft were supposed to have arrived in the country by now. However, the delivery was delayed due to the transition of government and payment problems during Sergio Massa 's administration at the Ministry of Economy, Ámbito Financiero reported.
Minister Luis Petri successfully renegotiated the contract, overcoming obstacles such as the impediment to a component of the search radar, which was necessary for the operation of the aircraft. Thanks to the mediation of US officials, authorization was obtained for its inclusion and use in the maritime surveillance mission.
