Argentina evaluates fast jet options
Argentina lost its supersonic capacity in 2015 after retiring its fleet of Mirage jets. (Photo: Argentinian MoD)
After more than five years without supersonic aircraft, the Argentinian MoD has allocated $664 million of its 2022 budget to acquire 12 new fighters for the national air force.
Although the country initially intended to purchase Chinese/Pakistani JF-17 Thunder Block III jets, it reconsidered and is currently analysing five options.
Capt Hernán Bornices, spokesperson for the Argentinian Air Force (FAA), confirmed to Shephard that the project is currently in its early stages, and a comparative study has been carried out.
As he explained, the five options were put under analysis regardless of the country of origin, with the aim being to
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal
Bell Boeing will supply 73 additional ODSSHI kits as NAVAIR prepares to introduce predictive drive-system monitoring across US and Japanese V-22 fleets.
-
AFA 2026: USAF examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics
The US Air Force is evaluating demonstrators for uncrewed cargo missions as it considers logistics requirements across the Pacific and other contested environments.
-
Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad
European counter-drone developers are securing early orders in the Middle East while slow domestic acquisition processes threaten to redirect production capacity, expertise and investment away from Europe.
-
India’s rotary-wing capability gap grows as IMRH programme delays persist
With IMRH and DBMRH potentially years from service, India faces a widening rotary-wing capability gap that could drive further foreign purchases even as HAL and Safran build the foundations of an indigenous successor.
-
AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX
Two new uncrewed aircraft concepts target very different US military requirements, from massed long-range strike to autonomous logistics. Shephard spoke with executives from Swarm Aero, Textron Aviation and Merlin Labs at this year's AFA Air, Space & Cyber conference to learn more about their capabilities.