ABC · September 30, 2026

Argentina Receives Six More F-16s, Bringing Its Total to a Dozen Supersonic Fighter Jets

The Argentine Ministry of Defense confirmed the arrival of a second batch of six F-16 aircraft, bringing the country’s total to twelve of these aircraft purchased from Denmark in 2024, as part of an agreement for 24 units that Javier Milei’s administration described at the time as the largest military aircraft purchase since the return to democracy in 1983. The first shipment of six fighter jets had arrived in November 2025.

Defense Minister Carlos Presti emphasized that this new phase is not limited to acquiring equipment but also involves developing the operational capabilities required to support these aircraft. “Today we are building a capability,” the official said, referring to the doctrine, infrastructure, and training necessary to make the most of the system. The official plan is for the F-16s to take over the role that the Mirage jets played until 2015 as the backbone of the nation’s air defense. The plan includes simulators, engines, spare parts, and training for pilots and mechanics, as part of a framework that also provides for technological cooperation with the United States.

Via ABC