While details are still being finalized for the purchase of the F-16s, the potential acquisition of Danish Fighting Falcons, facilitated by the United States, for the Argentine Air Force raises questions about the future of other weapon systems. Specifically, the A-4AR Fightinghawks, operational since the ’90s and often considered underutilized, come under scrutiny.
As of the current date, the national government is progressing in the final details to close the deal for the F-16 fighter jets for the Argentine Air Force. In a recent interview with Neura Radio 89.7, the Joint Chief of Staff of the Argentine Armed Forces (JEMCOFFAA), Brigadier General Xavier Isaaac, highlighted the selection process that led to choosing the Fighting Falcons from the Royal Danish Air Force as the future supersonic fighter for the Argentine Air Force. Although he did not provide a specific date for the signing of agreements, he confirmed the political support to finalize the operation.
However, in the realm of preliminary analysis, the likely inclusion of the F-16s in the Argentine Air Force raises questions about the future of what has been, in terms of capabilities, the main weapon system for the Argentine Air Force: the A-4AR Fightinghawk. It is clear that, once agreements are signed and corresponding schedules are set, the incorporation of the Danish fighters will take years, including the selection and training of pilots and crews with the new combat aircraft, as well as the adaptation of infrastructure for proper support at the VI Air Brigade in Tandil, as well as at the Río Cuarto Material Area.
Thus, in the coming years, the A-4AR, deployed from the V Air Brigade in Reynolds, San Luis province, will continue to fulfill its functions of providing air cover, attack, and escort. Doubts arise when the complete incorporation of the F-16s occurs, prompting an evaluation process that determines the potential retirement of the Fightinghawks by the end of the 2020s.
While it is highly likely that, due to the history of the weapon system with the Argentine Air Force, there are units in a state of preservation with a significant remaining flight hours, the institution will need to assess the operational feasibility and available resources of having two overlapping weapon systems, adding to the efforts required to sustain two fighters with different logistical chains.
As of the current date, in recent years, the Air Force has pursued various programs to recover the weapon system to have a greater number of units in serviceable and flight-worthy condition. However, the reality is that the goals set by authorities are far from being achieved. As previously reported, in 2023, Brigadier Isaac, then Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Air Force, stated that “…another not insignificant thing is the recovery of A4, which is a reality, and I believe that God willing and everything goes right, we will be reaching the dozen A4s by the end of the year, starting from two…”. The operational reality of the Fightinghawks shows that these stated goals have not been met, amid a challenging socioeconomic and financial situation that compels the Armed Forces, like the rest of the National State, to rationalize resources and make them as efficient as possible.
As mentioned in the preceding lines, all statements are based on assumptions and brief analyses of the current situation of the National Military Instrument. While the potential incorporation of the F-16s primarily aims to recover the supersonic interception capability lost with the retirement of the Mirage/Finger in 2015, their arrival could signal that the A-4ARs may begin to write their final pages of history with the Argentine Air Force. Time will tell what happens, but the moment to make pivotal decisions about the future of the weapon system is approaching, regardless of whether the Fighting Falcons from the Royal Danish Air Force arrive or not.
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