The program for the incorporation of F-16 fighter jets into the Argentine Air Force will not only allow the recovery of a vital national capability but also comes with a series of initiatives aimed at helping the Force regain and modernize various operational aspects. One of these projects involves restoring the runway and helipad maintenance capacity of the Grupo Construcciones (Construction Group), which belongs to the Palomar Logistics Area.
A recently published evaluation report revealed some noteworthy details regarding this project, which is directly tied to the arrival of the Danish F-16s. The motivation behind this initiative stems from the fact that the Construction Group of the Palomar Logistics Area “…faces serious operational difficulties due to its inability to properly maintain the runways at Argentine Air Force bases…”. This is no minor issue, considering that the unit is responsible for building, repairing, and maintaining 25 runways and 15 helipads across the country.
The current state of the equipment is yet another reflection of years of underinvestment and neglect, as the report details the poor condition of the machinery: “…Graders, heavy transport trailers, trucks, vibrating rollers, bulldozers, and tampers have an average age of 30 years, resulting in high maintenance costs and low productivity due to technical obsolescence…”.
“…The Palomar Logistics Area is operating at only 50% of its capacity… which illustrates the magnitude of the challenges the Construction Group faces in maintaining the runways in proper condition according to regulatory timelines (Comprehensive Renewal every five years)…”, the evaluation report continues.
Due to material and budgetary shortages, the Argentine Air Force has been unable to properly maintain its runways, a situation that has led to serious consequences. “…Deteriorated runways impose restrictions on flight operations, limiting aircraft activity and affecting takeoff and landing capabilities. This problem impacts not only transport and supply missions but also aircraft availability, as the air bases cannot guarantee safe and operational infrastructure for aircraft and helicopters…”, the report concludes.
Restoring capabilities or outsourcing
Faced with the challenge of recovering the Construction Group’s capabilities, two solutions were proposed and assessed to determine the way forward:
- Acquisition of road maintenance equipment.
This option involves acquiring the necessary roadwork machinery to enable the Construction Group to carry out runway and helipad maintenance autonomously. “…The main advantage of this option is operational independence. In a context of armed conflict, having this capacity is essential to ensure the continuity of air operations…” - Outsourcing maintenance services.
This alternative consists of contracting an external provider specialized in runway and helipad maintenance. “…This option could be implemented more quickly in the short term but carries the disadvantage of losing autonomy in managing critical infrastructure…”
Ultimately, the first option was chosen, as it allows for operational autonomy, rapid response in critical situations, long-term savings, and economies of scale in the use of the Air Force’s human resources.
Material requirements for the Construction Group
The following equipment requirements were established for the Argentine Air Force’s Construction Group:
Road machinery: Caterpillar D7R bulldozer, joint cutter, 25-ton transport trailer, line-marking machine, motor grader with front dozer and scarifier, gasoline-powered vibrating engine, 3.8 HP compactor, front-end loader, self-propelled vibrating roller, pneumatic pavement hammer, portable air compressor, 252-bar pressure washer, vibrating screed.
Power supply equipment: 5,500W portable generator and 56,000W three-phase generator.
Vehicles: Truck (Daily 70-170 type), truck (Stralis type), pickup (Amarok TDI 4×2 type), van (Sprinter 416 CDI type), and a 4-axle 10.8m trailer with a tilting gate.
The technical report states that the Total Investment Value would be $36,000,000,000.
*Cover image for illustrative purposes. Credits: U.S. Air National Guard – Airman 1st Class Alexis Goodman.
You may also like: Elbit Systems showcased its capabilities and solutions to equip the Argentine Air Force’s F-16AM/BM fighters
