January 18 marked the end of the F-16 fighters’ service in Denmark, after completing 46 years of distinguished duty. Nevertheless, the future of the former Royal Danish Air Force combat aircraft is now being decided between Argentina and Ukraine, both countries currently in the process of incorporating them. As of today, the Ukrainian Air Force would already be operating a total of twelve (12) of the nineteen (19) aircraft committed, while the Argentine Air Force formally began its incorporation process in February 2025, recording the arrival last December of the first six (6) fighters in flyable condition. Accordingly, below we will briefly outline how the delivery schedule to Argentina will continue.
The end of one journey and the beginning of another
The selection and acquisition of the F-16 fighters by Argentina marked the conclusion of a long process of evaluation and analysis undertaken by the Air Force over several years, with its corresponding advances and setbacks. In total, the country is currently in the midst of incorporating 24 F-16AM/BM aircraft (18 single-seat and six twin-seat), to which must be added the F-16BM Block 10 ground training aircraft “M-1210”.
As previously reported, on December 5 the first six aircraft of the Argentine Air Force’s Peace Condor Program arrived at Área Material Río Cuarto, the initial home of the new weapons system, while refurbishment efforts and infrastructure works continue at the VI Air Brigade in Tandil.
As of today, and having completed their ferry flight from Denmark, the Argentine Air Force possesses a total of two F-16AM aircraft—serial numbers M1009 and M1020—and four twin-seat F-16BM aircraft (M1004, M1005, M1007, and M1008).
As officially reported by authorities of the Institution, the Ministry of Defense, and the Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers, the remaining 18 F-16s are expected to be received in groups of six aircraft at the end of 2026, 2027, and 2028, while progress continues in the education and training of pilots, aircrews, and support personnel, as well as in the adaptation of infrastructure at Área Material Río Cuarto and the VI Air Brigade in Tandil.
In line with this, the reception of the corresponding logistics packages for the sustainment and operation of the weapons system over the coming years has also been taking place, with the aim of achieving Initial Operational Capability (IOC) within the agreed timeframes.
This is evidenced by the arrival on January 9 of 50 containers with tools, spare parts, components, and armament, as reported by Zona Militar, thus adding to those received in early 2025 on the occasion of the arrival of the M-1210 ground trainer and during the past month of September. This is no minor detail, as it marks the commissioning and implementation of the new ILIAS management system.
Finally, just over a month after their arrival in Argentina, the Argentine Air Force is moving forward with readiness activities and preparations to begin F-16 training flights, while various advances are being recorded in the training of pilots and personnel, both domestically and in other parts of the world, as evidenced by the presence of Argentine personnel in the United States and Denmark. Barring any new developments, the first F-16 flights are expected to take place during the coming month of February, thus marking a new milestone in the roadmap set out by the Peace Condor Program.
You may also be interested in: This is how the first F-16s were incorporated into the Argentine Air Force: an updated timeline of the Peace Condor Program
