Overview
- The Air Force announced the retirement Thursday at V Brigada Aérea in San Luis, citing high upkeep costs, scarce spare parts and the need to shift money and crews to newer systems.
- The move ends nearly three decades of A-4AR service and leaves a temporary gap in supersonic air defense until F-16s are operational, with six of an expected 24 already delivered.
- Argentine pilots recently flew solo F-16 sorties in Tucson under the Peace Cóndor training program with U.S. and Danish instructors and support from defense contractor Top Aces.
- Officials project the first fully qualified F-16 aviators by mid-2027, with additional time needed for infrastructure, logistics and maintenance capacity to reach full combat readiness.
- A separate setback came earlier this year when Super Étendard Modernisé jets were also retired after never entering service due to embargo-linked shortages of critical parts.