The bureaucratic process that the country began to obtain weapons progressed and the communication from the Defense and Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) of the United States government that enabled the purchase by the Argentina of weapons, communication equipment, spare parts and other supplies related to the acquisition of 24 F-16 fighters for the Argentine Air Force.
The DSCA is a Pentagon agency that offers financial and technical assistance, transfer of defense equipment, training and services to allies. Through a note, the cooperation office raised the potential sale via FMS (Foregin Military Sales) of weapons and now it is the legislators’ turn to give the green light to the final sale and transfer operation to Argentina.
On November 5, not only is the president of the United States elected, but the entire House of Representatives (435 seats) and a third of the Senate (33 of the 100) are renewed. This situation would add extra time to the final decision process of that country’s legislative body on the purchase and transfer of weapons.
“The State Department has made the determination to approve a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Government of Argentina of Equipment and Support for F-16 and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $941 million dollars. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency today delivered the required certification to notify Congress of this possible sale,” says the official DSCA statement dated October 30.
Armament
The weapons package and its accessories are valued at US$941 million and include the provision of air-to-air missiles, laser-guided bombs, programmable fuzes, communications equipment and other elements. The amount cited by the DSCA is not what is expected to be spent by the Air Force, it is only contemplated to invest around 600 million dollars, a senior military source clarified.
The statement states: “The Government of Argentina has requested to purchase equipment and services to support the twenty-four (24) F-16 Block 10/15 aircraft. “These elements include: thirty-six (36) AIM-120 C-8 medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM); two (2) AIM-120 C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections; one hundred two (102) 500 lb MIM-82 bombs; fifty (50) GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs; one hundred and two (102) FMU-152A/B programmable fuzes”. And he adds to the “Lockheed Martin company as the main supplier and that there are no offset forecasts in this potential sale.”
The purchase of the 24 F-16s from Denmark aligns Argentina with a group of 26 nations and allies who operate the platform. It allows the Air Force to increase interoperability with its peers in the region and even the use of devices in extra-regional scenarios given the updating of systems that the aircraft have.
The Pentagon agency text clarifies: “The proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of an important extra ally.” NATO which is a force for political stability and economic progress in South America.”
“The proposed sale will improve the ability of Argentina to address current and future threats by providing the additional capability to conduct air defense, air-to-air offensive and close air support operations.” “Argentina will have no difficulty integrating this equipment into its armed forces,” the statement concludes.
In addition to the weapons, associated equipment will be provided such as AN/ARC-238 tactical radiosmission planning equipment, inert fuzes, ground support equipment for Link 16 systems, F-16 protection systems, such as chaff, flares (decoys) and cartridges. Also logistical support for weapons, training, documentation, spare parts and associated software.
Source: Ambito
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