The recent presentation of the Argentine Air Force’s first F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter-bomber marked a significant milestone—not only as one of the many key steps toward incorporating the weapons system but also as a trigger for speculation. The No. 25 M-1210 ground instruction unit was unveiled armed with two Dardo glide bombs. This configuration, showcased during the official ceremony, raised various hypotheses regarding this local project, including the possibility of its reactivation and eventual integration into Argentina’s F-16 fleet.
The F-16BM M-1210, a unit intended for ground training, was presented a few days ago at the VI Air Brigade in Tandil, Buenos Aires Province. This first F-16 unit of the Argentine Air Force was exhibited before various political and military authorities, featuring a multi-role configuration, with the presence of the locally designed Dardo glide bombs standing out. It is worth remembering that this project regained prominence in November last year when the IA-63 Pampa III EX-03 from the Flight Test Center (CEV) conducted a series of flights with a Dardo unit. This led to speculation that the Argentine Air Force had restarted the project.
As seen in the images, the Dardo glide bombs were mounted on PIDSU (Pylon Integrated Dispensing System Universal) pylons, developed and manufactured by the Danish company Terma. This system was designed as a multipurpose platform capable of accommodating countermeasure containers such as flares or chaff, as well as housing radar warning receivers (RWR) and electronic warfare systems.
The Dardo bombs were complemented by the F-16’s typical air-to-air pairing: short-range AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and medium-range AIM-120 AMRAAMs. The photographs reveal that the units displayed during the ceremony were training versions, likely the DATM-9 (Dummy Air Training Missile) and DATM-120 variants, which are used to train ground personnel in maintenance, loading, transport, and storage procedures. “…All components are completely inert. The missile contains no programmable electronic components and is not approved for flight…,” according to official U.S. documents.
It is also worth noting that Argentina has officially requested U.S. authorization to purchase 36 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), along with two additional guidance sections. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) press release published in October 2024 did not include the acquisition of AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles but did list the purchase of air-to-surface weaponry such as Mk-82 bombs, fuzes, and components for GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs.
Project Dardo
The FAS-850 “Dardo” project is a local initiative aimed at developing and producing a stand-off guided bomb compatible with certain Argentine Air Force weapons systems. Over the course of the project, several variants were conceived, incorporating improvements over time to enhance range and accuracy.
Although no official details have emerged regarding the Argentine Air Force’s intent to resume the project, the goal appears to be completing the development of the Dardo glide bomb for integration into the service’s weapons systems, with the IA-63 Pampa III as the initial candidate. It is important to note that weapons integration processes often take several years, including ground and flight tests, airborne telemetry evaluations, and multiple live-fire launches.
Several challenges must be overcome before the Dardo can be integrated into Argentina’s F-16 arsenal. Beyond completing development, serial production of the glide bomb must be consolidated before its eventual integration into the F-16 platform. This final step would require explicit U.S. approval—a goal that presents significant complexities beyond just technical considerations.
You may also like: Denmark has already completed the transfer of 12 out of the 19 F-16 fighters committed to the Ukrainian Air Force
