Despite the political turmoil it has faced for years, Peru continues to move forward with various modernization and re-equipment processes for its Armed Forces, among which the purchase of a total of 24 multirole fighters for the Peruvian Air Force stands out. The most recent development occurred just days after the inauguration of Peru’s new president, José María Balcázar, who, through Supreme Decree No. 001-2026-DE, and with the signature of the Minister of the Interior in charge of the Defense portfolio, Hugo Begazo de Bedoya, authorized that the purchase of the 24 new combat aircraft be carried out under the “military secrecy” modality.
This stems from the list of annexes included in the official document, which details a series of processes covered by this decision, among which appears the “investment project with CUI No. 2573425,” under which the strengthening of the operational capabilities of the Peruvian Air Force is encompassed, reflected in the acquisition of combat aircraft intended to replace the aging MiG-29 and Mirage 2000 fighters.
Currently, while various reports and speculations continue to circulate and while the official selection announcement has not yet been made, the competition to equip the Peruvian Air Force centers on three fighter models: the F-16 Block 70 from Lockheed Martin, the Gripen E from Saab, and the Rafale F4 from Dassault Aviation, all vying for a contract valued at approximately US$3.5 billion.
Finally, despite the acquisition process being covered under “military secrecy,” and although it will be conducted through a direct purchase rather than a tender process, it will still remain subject to all Peruvian state oversight bodies and mechanisms to ensure transparency. Among these bodies is the Comptroller General’s Office, which will evaluate the decision made by the Peruvian Air Force; if no objections are raised, the process will move to the Armed Forces Procurement Agency (ACFFAA) for negotiations and the signing of the respective contract that will bring the process to a close.
Photographs used for illustrative purposes.
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