Opinion – Below, in a few words, I will inform and analyze for the readers of Zona Militar the recent developments regarding the purchase of a new or “used” supersonic air superiority fighter to equip the Colombian Aerospace Force.
First, I would like to address both official statements and widespread rumors suggesting the intervention of the U.S. government and industry to force the purchase of the F-16 proposed by this country. The first indication of this was a statement made by some U.S. authorities regarding special anti-corruption oversight that any acquisition contract for the new fighter would undergo by the Department of State. This only demonstrates that the pressures on the Colombian government in this decision—both internal and external—will be an everyday reality. However, in this particular case, if the process is transparent and free from embezzlement or bribery, such a warning is merely a clear attempt to eliminate competitors from the race.
On the other hand, there is an unconfirmed rumor about a possible U.S. veto on American-made components in the Saab Gripen fighter. Although not a proven fact, it raises concerns among specialized and official media. Both cases appear to be methods aimed at blocking the Swedish proposal, driven by interests within the establishment and former officials.
Regarding the first point, as mentioned earlier, international oversight is preferable, considering multiple examples of overpriced contracts such as the 8×8 armored vehicles and contracts awarded directly through agreements with CIAC – Colombian Aeronautical Industry Corporation (as in the case of the National Police aircraft). As for the second, there is no real confirmation or official statement, and after tracing the origin of the rumor, it was found to have originated from a military opinion forum. Nevertheless, it highlights the veto and conditioning capabilities that the U.S. government holds over weapons it sells or has a stake in.
Moving on, another newsworthy item for analysis is the offer of eight used F-16 fighters from Jordan, previously covered by Zona Militar, based on the analysis conducted by author and analyst Gonzalo Jiménez Mora, to whom I extend my gratitude for his contribution.
The eight aircraft originally offered are airframes manufactured between 1980 and 1981, of the F-16 A/B Block 15 type, delivered to the Arab country between 1997 and 1998 under lease agreements, having already been used by the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard since their production. They were stored with 25% remaining service life at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. After concluding their service with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, they were once again stored in 2008. The aircraft offered bear the serial numbers: 80-0554, 80-0567, 80-0578, 80-0589, 80-0594, 80-0596, 80-0618, and 80-0619.
All of the above are part of the “Peace Falcon I and II” program, which resulted in ADF (Air Defense Fighters) upgrades for Jordan’s 16 General Dynamics-built aircraft. However, only the 16 aircraft manufactured in Belgium received the OCU (Operational Capability Upgrade) avionics update between 1987 and 1992, an upgrade not applied to the Jordanian fleet.
From the above, analyst Gonzalo Jiménez Mora has drawn several very valid and important conclusions:
- As can be seen, the aircraft have been in storage for approximately 16 years.
- They were manufactured before the Venezuelan F-16A/Bs, which were acquired under the “Peace Delta” program in 1983/1984.
- The offered fighters are not Block 20, nor do they feature the AM/BM upgrade (as some Colombian internet users have mistakenly claimed); only the aircraft whose airframes were built by SABCA in Belgium received that upgrade.
- According to the ADF modification standard, the aircraft would have the capability to launch AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-7 Sparrow missiles.
- The F-16A/B Block 15 OCU ADFs are equipped with the APG-66A radar (“look-down” capability and continuous wave illumination).
- On November 15, Colombian media (Blu Radio, Ricardo Ospina) mentioned that the U.S. offer for the eight fighters would include the delivery of an AN/TPS-70 radar as an “offset,” with the radar having already been received in the first week of December.
The sources consulted for this analysis include F-16.net, Joe Baugher, Lockheed Martin’s public records, and the IISS.
Ultimately, the conclusion is that the decision remains unmade. The politicians in charge of the selection, the President of the Republic, and the Minister of Defense seem to have forgotten the announcements of the past while our Air Force languishes in misery. So much so that, to date, there is no fiscal approval for the “New Supersonic Fighter Project for the Colombian Aerospace Force.” Similarly, the Mi-17 helicopters remain without maintenance, the UH Huey IIs are neglected, and evacuations in the Catatumbo region are carried out using the same models—but operated by private companies that have managed to keep them in service. There are no jet trainers or ground-attack aircraft, and the Air Force continues to overuse the Tucano and Super Tucano aircraft while having trainers that are only used for parades. The future of the recently renamed Colombian Aerospace Force looks bleak.
You may also like: Funds are finally allocated for the maintenance of the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters of the Colombian Armed Forces
