The arrival of the first six F-16 aircraft to Argentina marked a military milestone for the government of Javier Milei. Acquired from Denmark for US$301.2 million, these supersonic fighters represent the recovery of the supersonic air capacity lost in 2015 with the retirement of the Mirage. At an event in Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Milei celebrated the event as a symbol of sovereignty, stating: “Today more than ever we can say that the forces of heaven are accompanying us.” He harshly criticized Kirchnerism for leaving the country “defenseless” for decades, motivated by “ideological and partisan interests,” and for demonizing the Armed Forces by exploiting the dictatorship for political purposes.
The event included a low flight over downtown Buenos Aires, passing by the Plaza de Mayo, the Obelisk and Congress, at about 600 meters high. Hundreds of people gathered spontaneously, waving flags and expressing national pride. The planes, four two-seat and two single-seat, traveled from Denmark with stops in Spain, the Canary Islands and Brazil, supported by American KC-135 tankers. For the Government, this not only modernizes the Air Force, but also sends a geopolitical message of alignment with the West.
Debate. But the acquisition sparks intense debate: Are these F-16s obsolete or useful? Designed in the ’70s by General Dynamics (today Lockheed Martin), they entered service in 1978. The version purchased includes modernizations in electronic warfare, software and hardware by the Danish Terma. Experts such as Carlos Rinzelli, former pilot, highlight its versatility, supersonic speed (up to 2,500 kilometers per hour) and maneuverability. Sergio Eissa, defense analyst, sees the purchase as necessary given Argentina’s defensive weakness, although he warns of limitations: they cannot operate loaded in the Malvinas without adequate aerial refueling (the local Hercules C-130 is useless). Andrés Serbin Pont describes it as key to replacing an obsolete fleet since the ’90s.
The outgoing Defense Minister, Luis Petri, defended the operation: “They don’t understand anything. What we have to ask is what they did.” He highlighted its role in deterrence and air surveillance, allowing total control of the territory and rapid response (Tandil-Buenos Aires in 12 minutes). He accused previous governments of not buying anything and promoting the “destitution” of the Armed Forces. Critics, such as former minister Agustín Rossi, argue that alignment with the United States was prioritized. about Chinese JF-17 options, cheaper and newer. Others point out that they are second-hand with a short lifespan, without radars to monitor the Malvinas and only for training, without complete artillery.
A controversial point is the cost compared to Romania. That country bought 18 F-16s from the Netherlands for a symbolic euro, assuming 21 million euros in logistics. Destined for a NATO school to train pilots (possibly triangulated to Ukraine), they are part of the European replacement for the F-35 in the face of the Russian threat. Argentina, on the other hand, paid US$301.2 million for 24 operations plus one training operation, in five interest-free installments, plus US$40 million in US subsidy and $44,694 million in local infrastructure (2024-2027). Key differences: Romania pays symbolically for aircraft for NATO, while Argentina assumes a million-dollar expense for second-hand units. Critics question whether the price justifies the limited utility.
More doubts. Another precedent is Colombia, which discarded similar F-16s in 2023 due to obsolescence and opted for 17 Swedish Saab Gripen E/Fs. They considered that the F-16s were old and expensive to maintain. The controversy escalated with the crossing between Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and retired diplomat Héctor Torres. On December 6, Torres tweeted: “Scrap? Denmark replaced the F-16s we bought from them with F-35s. The most suggestive thing is that the United Kingdom was consulted and did not object to the sale.” Quirno responded threateningly: “I remind you that you describe yourself as a member of the Foreign Service. Even if you are passive, you should act according to your position, not use it to describe yourself, or resign.” Torres backed down: “I shared a personal feeling, it was not criticism of foreign policy. I accept your reprimand.” Career diplomats criticized the intimidation of a retiree for expressing his opinion, highlighting tensions between the libertarian government and the traditional Foreign Ministry.
For Milei, the F-16s symbolize the restoration of sovereignty, but the debate persists: strategic investment or unnecessary spending on questioned technology?
