The United States formally approved the sale of Denmark’s F-16 combat aircraft to Argentina, along with a financing package that would accelerate the purchase process amidst the country’s challenging economic situation.
The authorization was effectively consolidated after the 30-day period that the US congress had to present opposition to the agreement expired. Through the social network X, the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs of the United States Department confirmed that the approval letter for the transfer of the F-16 fighters was handed over to the Argentine ambassador in that country.
Today @StateDeptPM’s Mira Resnick ???????? delivered a letter to @JorArguello approving the transfer of F-16 aircraft from Denmark ???????? to ????????Argentina. The transfer reaffirms our close defense ties and steadfast support for Argentina’s air force modernization efforts. pic.twitter.com/ia4D92An40
— Political-Military Affairs, US Dept of State (@StateDeptPM) October 11, 2023
Although the total approved for the transfer is 32 aircraft, sources close to the operation indicated that if it proceeds, Argentina would incorporate those of the Block 15 batch: 16 single-seat of the variant A and 8 two-seaters F-16B would be realized.
Details of the agreement such as the total amount, the logistic package and the weaponry included in the transaction remain to be known. The delivery times and the training of pilots and mechanics that would make up the technical group supporting the aircraft are also unknown.
The US approval leaves the final decision of accepting the offer in Argentine hands. The national government evaluated, besides this proposal, alternatives like the Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder and the Indian Hindustan HAL Tejas.
President Alberto Fernandez’s tour of China coincides with the formal closure of the US approval process, surely not by chance. It is expected that the signing of the agreement -if it were to occur- should be after the state visit so as not to add a point of conflict.
Sources close to the negotiation also speculate that the signing may be delayed due to the current political-economic moment, although the Danish offer may have a limited lifespan: the pressure to close the agreement is directly proportional to the tense negotiations taking place in Europe for international aid to Ukraine to include squadrons of F-16s from any origin.
