Javier Milei's Government Presented the First F-16 Fighter Jet in Tandil.

This Tuesday, the Argentine Air Force presented the first F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft, named "number 25," out of a total of 25 purchased by the Government of Javier Milei from Denmark.

This acquisition marks the return of supersonic combat aircraft to the country after nearly a decade characterized by the destruction of the armed forces by various governments, especially Kirchnerism.

The event took place at the VI Air Brigade in Tandil, which will be the operational base for these aircraft. Although it is currently a single unit, refurbishment work will be carried out on the runway and new hangars will be constructed to house the entire fleet.

This brigade was previously the headquarters of the Mirages, decommissioned in 2015, while the Air Force's A-4AR have faced technical problems, which could lead them to be permanently out of service.

The aircraft presented is an F-16B MLU Block 10 trainer, designed for pilots and technicians to familiarize themselves with the new weapons system. This unit will allow for training exercises in weaponry, software systems, avionics, and ejection seats.

The F-16 arrived in the country in parts on two Hercules aircraft flights and was assembled in Tandil. It is expected that by the end of 2025 the first batch of six aircraft will arrive and that deliveries will continue until 2028, when the entire fleet is completed. Unlike the first, all remaining units will arrive in Argentina flying.

According to the Ministry of Defense, these aircraft can connect Tandil with Buenos Aires in just 12 minutes and are equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, including AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, as well as air-to-surface weaponry.

Finally, there is speculation that the acquisition of tanker aircraft for in-flight refueling could be a future necessity, with the aim of extending the operational autonomy of the F-16s.

The purchase of the aircraft

April 16, 2024 marked a milestone in the recovery of Argentine air power, with the signing in Denmark of the purchase contract for 24 F-16A/B MLU Block 15 fighters by the Ministry of Defense and the Argentine Air Force.

This acquisition, valued at approximately 300 million dollars, represented the greatest advancement in the modernization of Argentine military aviation in over a decade.

The arrival of the first F-16 at the VI Air Brigade in Tandil, officially presented this Tuesday, is the first step in a process that will continue until 2028, when the delivery of all the aircraft is completed.