Overview
- Six second‑hand F‑16s from Denmark conducted a brief Buenos Aires flyover after arriving at Área Material Río Cuarto, flown by Danish pilots with Argentine trainees in the rear seats.
- Official documents cite a US$301.2 million purchase payable in five annual installments covering aircraft, eight extra engines, five years of spares, ground support systems and four simulators, with U.S. export approval.
- Military sources say the jets arrived without operational weapons, with armament deliveries expected to begin around mid‑2026 as pilot accreditation continues.
- Former defense minister Luis Petri, now a legislator, defended the deal as the most significant military investment in decades, while critics questioned the aircrafts’ age, costs and value.
- A report points to ILIAS logistics implementation and says two recently retired Chilean generals are involved in program management, with some related contracts handled under military secrecy.