Colombia freezes Kfir replacement programme

25th May 2021 - 15:39 GMT | by Wilder Alejandro Sanchez in Washington DC

RSS

The Colombian fleet of Kfir fighters is approaching obsolete status. (Photo: Colombian MoD)

Colombia may be left without a viable fighter fleet from 2023.

Budget constraints have prompted new Colombian finance minister José Manuel Restrepo (in post since 3 May) to place on indefinite hold the long-awaited acquisition of new multirole fighters to replace the air force’s fleet of 23 ageing Kfir aircraft.

'What is a priority and what is not?… I can tell Colombians: for those planes there is no money, they are not a priority,' Restrepo explained to Colombian media outlet Blu Radio on 5 May, adding that the Kfir replacement programme is 'postponed indefinitely'.

Instead, the Colombian government is prioritising social programmes but time is running out before the Kfirs reach

Already have an account? Log in

Want to keep reading this article?

Read this Article

Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account

Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
1 free stories per week
Personalised news alerts
Daily and weekly newsletters
Free magazine subscription to all our titles
Downloadable equipment data handbooks
Distribution rights (Corporate only)

Create account

Unlimited Access

Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.

Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
Unlimited access to all published premium news
10-year news archive access
Downloadable equipment data handbooks
Distribution rights (Corporate only)

Start your free trial

More from Air Warfare

South Korea UCAVs will team up with KF-21 fighters

South Korea continues to innovate with autonomous technology, and this includes assigning UCAVs to accompany KF-21 fighters.
Raytheon gains StormBreaker production order

Raytheon will produce StormBreaker all-up rounds and containers for the USAF.
UK-Brazilian initiative targets 2026 for low-cost military eVTOL

BAE Systems and Embraer are working on a plan to offer military users a version of a commercial eVTOL aircraft by 2026, but one major technological problem stands in the way of success.
US Army seeks additional LMAMS

Responses are due by 8 February to a Sources Sought notice for LMAMS.
Osprey flies with modified nacelle

Nacelle modifications for the CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor are intended to cut maintenance times and enhance availability of the aircraft.
OEMs embrace a tailored approach to sustainment (Studio)

At a time of rising peer and near-peer threats, enduring force readiness has never been more important for western militaries.