Colombia pauses negotiations again on Kfir fleet replacement
In the absence of a replacement, Colombia is looking to cannibalise some of its 23-strong Kfir fleet for spares to keep the remainder flying. (Photo: FAC)
Funding problems and an expired government directive mean the Colombian Air Force will have to find ways to keep its ageing IAI Kfir fleet in service for longer.
Colombia’s Minister of Defence Iván Velásquez announced on 2 January that negotiations to replace the Colombian Air Force’s (FAC’s) fleet of IAI Kfir C10/12 multirole combat aircraft have stalled. As a result, the FAC will have to continue flying its ageing warplanes for the foreseeable future.
Velásquez explained to Caracol Radio that negotiations with aircraft manufacturers Dassault and Saab, offering the Rafale and Gripen respectively, did not move forward.
A governmental directive (known locally as CONPES 4078) approved by the previous Duque administration expired on 31 December. The minister explained that a new directive needs to be approved by the current Petro
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