“Argentines… yes, you. The F-16s are coming at supersonic speed and there is less and less left to receive them. Are you ready?”, he posted Luis Petri in his X account. The former minister referred to the arrival of the combat aircraft that were acquired during his management in the Defense portfolio. Accompanying the message, the elected legislator shared a short video of the F-16 planes with himself on one of them. A preview of the arrival of these combat-ready aeronautical vehicles that disembark in the country in December.
A few days ago, as a result of this news, Petri paraphrased Tom Cruise in the film “Top Gun” in a post on social networks. “The new Argentina feels the need for speed: to take off towards a great future, to fly higher, to defend our sky more than ever,” the official posted on his Instagram account. An updated version of the remembered phrase that the character “Maverick” Mitchell uttered in the film: “I feel the need… the need for speed!”
Evidently, the leader’s enthusiasm continues with the arrival of the air fighters in a few weeks. Last year, the Argentine government formalized the acquisition of 24 combat aircraft F-16 Fighting Falcon from the fleet of the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF). The contract was signed at the Danish Skrydstrup base by Petri, in an event in which the president participated Javier Milei virtually. According to official documentation, the package includes single-seat (F-16AM) and two-seat (F-16BM) aircraft —for advanced training—, four flight simulators, eight backup engines, spare parts guaranteed for five years, as well as training for pilots and mechanics.
The operation was possible thanks to the prior approval of the sale by the United States government within the framework of the foreign military sales (FMS) program. The amount of expenditure is estimated at around 300 million dollars for the planes, other versions mention up to 650 million dollars when weapons, logistics and complementary equipment are included.
With the F-16, Argentina recovers the ability to operate multipurpose supersonic fighters, something that had not happened since the retirement of modern combat fleets decades ago. Furthermore, the system includes not only the aircraft, but also simulators, maintenance, spare parts and personnel training, which suggests a commitment not only to operations, but also to the sustainability of the fleet in the medium term.
Likewise, some analysts warn that it is second-hand material, with several years of use, which raises questions about its useful life, maintenance and modernization costs, which already includes a contract with Lockheed Martin for operational support. Beyond the technical, the purchase represents a clear alignment with Western defense standards, especially with the United States, by ruling out other combat aircraft alternatives that had been evaluated for years.
However, before the F-16s become fully operational, it will be necessary to complete the infrastructure at the Tandil air center, the training of pilots and mechanics, maintenance logistics, and the integration of weapons systems and technical support. The success of the project will depend both on the specific management of the aircraft and on the country’s ability to sustain this modernization without neglecting other national emergencies.
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