The Argentine Air Force has officially introduced its first Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon during a ceremony on February 24, 2025, at the Tandil military airbase near Buenos Aires. Attended by Argentine government officials, including the Minister of Defence, and high-ranking military personnel, the event marked a significant milestone in the country’s air combat modernization efforts.
The highlight of the presentation was a two-seat F-16BM Fighting Falcon, painted in Argentine Air Force colors. This aircraft, acquired from Denmark, arrived as a ground-based training platform rather than an operational fighter. It was showcased with mock-ups of AIM-9M/L Sidewinder and AIM-120B AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, representing its potential combat capabilities.
The AIM-120B AMRAAM missiles may originate from either Denmark or the United States, following Argentina’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement signed last year for a weapons and equipment package. Additionally, under the aircraft’s wing, the FAS-850 Dardo 3 glide bomb, an Argentine-developed 225 kg weapon capable of striking targets up to 200 km away from an altitude of 10,000 meters, was displayed, though its compatibility with the F-16 remains uncertain.
Argentina purchased 25 second-hand F-16AM/BM aircraft from Denmark in April 2024, including one non-operational unit for training purposes. This acquisition marks the nation’s first major step in restoring its air combat capabilities, which have suffered a decline over the past four decades.
The first six operational F-16s are expected to enter service by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, Argentina’s political realignment has strengthened defense ties with Washington, bolstering military cooperation between the two nations.
Source: Swifteradio.com
