Argentina to Receive F-16 Aircraft Procured from Denmark Soon

Argentina will receive its first combat-worthy F-16 fighter jets from Denmark within the next 30 days, Defence Minister Luis Petri announced recently.

Speaking at a November 6 ceremony to induct the second Orion PC-3 acquired from Norway, Petri said, “In just a few days, the first Striker fighter jets will arrive … and in 30 days we will have the F-16s, which will definitively guarantee sovereignty in our skies.”

Argentina finalized its deal with Denmark in early 2024 to buy 24 second-hand F-16 Fighting Falcons for about $300 million. According to the Ministry, the first six combat-capable aircraft will arrive by the end of this year, with the remaining 18 jets scheduled to arrive over the next three years.

The first six operational units will be assigned to the Río Cuarto Material Area at the end of 2025 while work continues on runways and hangars at the VI Air Brigade in Tandil, where the fleet will ultimately be based.

In February, Argentina received a non-combat F-16 intended solely for pilot and ground-crew training. This aircraft is part of the agreement but not included in the group of 24 operational units.

The arrival of the first combat-ready jets marks Argentina’s most significant airpower upgrade in nearly two decades, responding to a requirement first raised in 2005.