As published yesterday by Infobae , Javier Milei ratified his agreement with the White House to obtain a contract for the Argentine Air Force, which will allow the incorporation of 24 F-16 Fighting Falcons, manufactured by Lockheed in the 1970s and incorporated into Denmark in the 1980s. .
Denmark was one of the first to acquire the F-16. In 1975, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway purchased a total of 344 aircraft, of which 77 went to Denmark, (which only arrived in 1980). Of them , in 2020; 34 were still operational, which are those that with the endorsement of the US would come to Argentina. Although 10 were given last year to Ukraine.
Aircraft with 44 years of service
Since the Danish F-16 aircraft entered service, they have undergone a series of modernizations, including reinforcement of the structure, installation of new sensors, cockpit layout, satellite navigation system, new systems electronic self-protection and identification of other aircraft, as well as the integration of precision weapons.
The modifications have guaranteed the aircraft's operational efficiency until 2025. But for Denmark, in these 44 years, the plane gave everything it could give, and the remainder of what remained operational will be discarded, to be replaced by the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter , also of American production.
So much so that in August 2023, it was politically decided to donate 10 Danish F-16 aircraft to the Ukrainian air force as help for the country's defense in the war against Russia.
According to Infobae , currently the Minister of Defense, Luis Petri ; accelerates the bureaucratic procedures to purchase these 24 F-16s, which will allow the Air Force to recover the war potential it lost during the Malvinas War in 1982; but with airplanes that are over 4 decades old.
Milei and his Minister of Defense, Luis Petri , know this dynamic in the purchase of combat aircraft and the bureaucratic procedures in the Libertador Building move at a forced pace.
If the operation is not closed by the end of February, the acquisition falls due to lack of financing that is provided by the Pentagon.
Washington's political decision not only meant displacing the Chinese regime and endorsing the purchase of the 24 planes, but also the execution of a geopolitical movement that included the United Kingdom and its plan to control and protect the Malvinas Islands.
For the management of the Pentagon, the State Department and the National Security Council; The British administration accepted that Argentina buy warplanes to return to a defense status that it had lost in 1982.
In the next two weeks, Minister Petri should deliver all the documentation to the Chief of Staff, Nicolás Posse , to close the operation with Denmark.The funds to buy the warplanes are available, says Infobae , and Milei has already made the political decision.
