Since late October, the Argentine Air Force (FAA) has made progress in preparations for the arrival and integration of its first F-16 Fighting Falcon, sourced from Denmark. Specifically, and as officially announced, it is an F-16B MLU Block 10, unit number 25 of the program, intended for training and preparation of technical and support crews for the weapons system, as well as serving as an introductory aircraft for future pilots.
Recently, the Argentine Air Force confirmed that the aircraft, an F-16B MLU Block 10, has been prepared in Denmark since late October for subsequent shipment to Argentina. It will be transported via two C-130H Hercules planes from the FAA, along with a package of aircraft components that will be shipped in containers by sea.
The destination of this aircraft is the VI Air Brigade in Tandil, Buenos Aires province, the unit designated to receive the future 24 F-16A/B MLU jets acquired by Argentina from Denmark under an agreement signed last April. Per the agreement, an additional unit will be included in the package, which is not airworthy but will serve as a training tool for crews and personnel tasked with integrating the new weapons system into the force.
To facilitate this, since October, FAA personnel have been in Denmark conducting preparatory tasks for the shipment of this first F-16. Specifically, the Argentine team is working at the Danish Defense Maintenance Service, a unit of the Royal Danish Air Force located in Aalborg.
Among the tasks performed by both Argentine and Danish personnel are “…the identification of goods to be transported, as specified in the purchase contract signed on April 16…”, followed by “…cataloging, proper packaging of the cargo in containers, and completing necessary documentation to comply with the import procedures of goods to the Republic of Argentina.”
The FAA has indicated that the required steps for containerized cargo preparation have been completed, with the appropriate documentation signed and the cargo transported from Aalborg to Aarhus, where it will be handed over to the shipping company responsible for its transport to Argentina.
As for the F-16B aircraft, it will be disassembled for transport on two KC/C-130H Hercules, which will soon depart for Denmark to bring unit number 25 to the VI Air Brigade in Tandil. Once there, the fighter will be reassembled with support from Royal Danish Air Force personnel and specialists. An official presentation of the aircraft is expected in the coming weeks, attended by the Minister of Defense as well as national and military authorities.
Regarding the rest of the aircraft in the FAA’s F-16M Program, the integration process is expected to begin in 2025, with the first six airworthy units arriving. According to the latest report from the Chief of Cabinet, it is expected that “…the aircraft will begin arriving in Argentina in December 2024 (training aircraft), with the rest arriving in groups of six from December 2025.”
Cover photo used for illustration purposes.
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