The Argentine Air Force has received the first of 24 F-16B Fighting Falcon combat aircraft from Denmark as part of a contract signed in April.
The delivery aligns with Copenhagen’s strategy to support the aerial capabilities of the non-NATO South American ally as it transitions to the F-35 fifth-generation military aircraft.
It departed from Aalborg Air Base in Vadum via a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft to El Palomar in Buenos Aires, where it will be sent to Tandil Air Base for assembly.
Local news agency Pucará Defensa reported that the jet’s engine, spare parts, and tools had already been handed over a week prior to the fuselage’s arrival.
“The F-16 marks a before and after in Defense, redefining Argentine air power,” the Argentine Ministry of Defense said in a social media update.
“With its advanced technology, combat versatility and supersonic capacity, the F-16 becomes the backbone of the Argentine air defense system, to protect our sovereignty against the threats of the 21st century.”
¡TENEMOS EL PRIMER F-16 EN ARGENTINA! Hoy, el C-130 de la @FuerzaAerea_Arg aterrizó en El Palomar con el fuselaje a bordo, y siguió rumbo a Tandil para iniciar el armado. Una gran noticia para nuestra defensa y un motivo de orgullo para todos los argentinos. pic.twitter.com/XQVK7EMIaB
— Ministerio Defensa (@MinDefensa_Ar) December 15, 2024
Strengthening Danish-Argentine Relationship
Denmark and Fighting Falcon developer the US offered the F-16 for Argentina’s ongoing military aircraft expansion in October 2023, countering China’s offer of its Sino-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder platform to the Latin American government.
In March 2024, the Nordic country formalized its plan to sell its F-16 fleet to Buenos Aires, and by April, a contract was signed to transfer the planes to the Argentine Air Force.
In November, the US State Department then approved the $941-million sale of aircraft equipment, logistics, and program support to aid the integration of the ex-Danish F-16s into Argentina’s military.
“I am incredibly proud on behalf of the Danish Armed Forces and especially on behalf of [Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation] that we have been able to conclude this agreement with Argentina,” Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics’ Col. Klaus Qvist remarked during the recent F-16 handover to Argentina.
“It shows that we are thinking strategically in connection with the phasing out of the F-16, while at the same time being able to make money from the sale and support an important partner in building a fighter aircraft capacity. It is a huge success for all parties.”
The F-16 Fighting Falcon
Developed by Lockheed Martin, the F-16 has a top speed of Mach 2 (1,535 miles/2,470 kilometers per hour) and is armed with laser-guided, unguided, cluster, and nuclear bombs, machine guns, and multi-domain missiles.
It is equipped with a General Electric or Pratt & Whitney engine, depending on its configuration, with about 7,000 pounds (3,175 kilograms) internal fuel capacity.
The aircraft can be flown at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) a and range of 2,277 nautical miles (2,620 miles/4,217 kilometers).
