While public attention has largely focused on the induction of the Argentine Air Force’s first F-16 fighters and the Argentine Army’s 8×8 Stryker wheeled armored combat vehicles, the Argentine Navy has been advancing several programs aimed at the recovery and incorporation of key capabilities. In detail, part of the efforts led by the Ministry of Defense and the Navy’s General Staff seek to reverse the deterioration and loss of capabilities of the Naval Aviation Command through the acquisition of platforms such as the P-3C Orion and the light Leonardo AW109M helicopters, intended to operate from the ocean patrol vessels of the Patrol Division.
In the case of the helicopters, the process has been prolonged over recent years, while also reducing its original scope, which had envisaged the acquisition of a total of eight (8) light helicopters. Ultimately, the number was reduced to four (4) units, with Leonardo’s AW109M being selected as the embarked helicopter model.
It should be noted that their incorporation—preceded by recent developments such as the signing of a Letter of Intent during the previous ministerial administration, official statements from the current one, and administrative decisions adopted toward the end of last year—aims to replace the AS-555 Fennec helicopters. These aircraft, which currently operate from the ocean patrol vessels acquired years ago from France, have limited operational availability.
This issue is not minor, as the AS-555 Fennec was not designed to perform surveillance, patrol, personnel transport, evacuation, or search and rescue missions. Its primary role, for which it was originally acquired, was to serve as an over-the-horizon targeting designation platform for the Argentine Navy’s MEKO 360 destroyers.
Regarding developments in the acquisition process, the most recent took place at the end of last year, when the national government, through its publication in the Official Gazette of the Argentine Republic, authorized the signing of a Financing Contract backed by Export Credit Agency coverage between the Argentine Republic and Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank (CACIB), for a total amount of €71,676,175.26.
Prior to this, in October of last year, the then Secretary of Strategy and Military Affairs at the Ministry of Defense, Marcelo Rozas Garay, indicated that the Ministry expected to move forward with the acquisition of four aircraft, stating: “…we can say that we are going to have the four Leonardo helicopters…”, while clarifying that “…this does not mean they will arrive before the end of the year…”.
Now, following the change in leadership of the Ministry with the appointment of the new Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Presti—former head of the Argentine Army’s General Staff—a series of high-level meetings have been held with representatives and ambassadors from various countries, particularly those with Germany and Italy.
In the latter case, the Ministry of Defense confirmed the minister’s meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Italy, Fabrizio Nicoletti, during which “…new opportunities for cooperation between the Armed Forces were highlighted, with an emphasis on the exchange of training and instruction, as well as defense production and industrial initiatives, including the recent signing of the contract for the acquisition of four Leonardo AW109 helicopters for the Argentine Navy”.
The reference to the recent signing of the contract constitutes the first official confirmation that the agreement has already been concluded between the parties, allowing the Argentine Navy and its Naval Aviation Command to finally move forward with the incorporation of the new AW109M helicopters. However, no further details or a specific timeline for the arrival of the first aircraft have been provided so far.
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