The lengthy selection process for the future multirole fighter of the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) may be nearing its end, as the long-awaited announcement of the winner could finally take place next October. The decision on the replacement of the veteran Mirage 2000P and MiG-29, which have accumulated more than four decades of service, has been postponed since midyear, when it was initially expected to be announced in July. Now, with recent updates in each of the proposals, the competition is in its final stage.
The FAP’s Commander General, Air General Carlos Enrique Chávez Cateriano, confirmed in recent statements at the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Innovation Fair, held in Montreal, Canada, that the process is moving toward an imminent resolution. In this regard, he stated: “We urgently need new aircraft; otherwise, we will be left unprotected.” The plan foresees the acquisition of 24 next-generation fighters, in two batches of 12 units each.
The candidates in competition are the F-16 Block 70 from Lockheed Martin (United States), the JAS-39 Gripen E/F from Saab (Sweden), and the Rafale F4 from Dassault Aviation (France). Each manufacturer has strengthened its proposals in recent months, seeking to meet the FAP’s technical requirements while offering not only the aircraft but also technology transfer, long-term sustainment, and local industry participation.
In August, an official delegation led by Defense Minister Walter Astudillo and Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer traveled to Sweden to learn in detail about the Gripen E/F’s capabilities. There, Saab added to its proposal the GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft, a system considered key by the FAP to achieve comprehensive airspace coverage and that, if acquired, would complement the Gripen fighters’ operations.
A few days later, on August 29, the same delegation traveled to France to meet with Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu. In Paris, the Rafale proposal was presented as part of a broader package encompassing cooperation in maritime surveillance, satellite observation, and other strategic areas. The visit reinforced France’s interest in positioning the Rafale as the natural successor to the Mirage 2000, which has served the FAP for more than 40 years.
The third candidate, the F-16 Block 70, received a strong boost on September 16, when the U.S. Department of State authorized the possible sale of 12 aircraft to Peru under the FMS program. The operation, valued at 3.42 billion dollars, includes not only the delivery of 10 single-seat F-16Cs and 2 two-seat F-16Ds, but also a comprehensive package of logistical and sustainment support, which represents an additional appeal in light of the FAP’s needs.
Expectations surrounding the final announcement continue to grow, particularly because the original timeline established that the selection should have been defined by July 31, with the subsequent purchase authorization before the end of the year. Although the decision was delayed, the latest diplomatic moves and Washington’s confirmation regarding the F-16s suggest that the process is entering its final stage, with October as the key date to know the winner.
In parallel with this definition, the Ministry of Defense announced the upcoming incorporation of 12 subsonic aircraft to complement the future multirole fighters. These aircraft will be primarily aimed at airspace control against drug trafficking and border protection, replacing the retired A-37B Dragonflies and reinforcing the role of the Sukhoi Su-25 still in service. In this way, the FAP seeks to undertake a comprehensive modernization, combining light attack platforms with state-of-the-art air superiority aircraft.
Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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Considering the way the US blackmails, we would be crazy to choose the F-16. We already have a bad experience with the purchase of Korean trainers. They have American engines, and Washington placed restrictions on the Peruvian Air Force’s use of those trainers. If Perú choose the F-16s, it is because of corruption and arm-twisting.