Agentina In Negotiations With France To Purchase 12 F-1 Mirage, Mirage 2000 And 20 Pucaras Aircraft

[Zarvan]

Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft
La Nacion during his visit to France Wednesday. "The transaction provides excellent value and very favourable conditions."

Argentina is reportedly in negotiations with France to purchase 12 F-1 Mirage fighter aircraft and Mirage 2000 and some engines to use for 20 Argentina Pucaras aircraft that are grounded.

The context of the acquisition evolved favourably due to the agreement between the two ministers to circumscribe the operation to a "state within state" to avoid intermediaries and take advantage of the new climate of trust established between the two countries.

"The Argentina Air Force cannot do without supersonic aircraft. Our pilots must be able to train in modern appliances," Argentinian Defense Minister Julio Martinez was quoted as saying by French La Nacion during his visit to France Wednesday. "The transaction provides excellent value and very favourable conditions."

Martinez refused however to advance amounts, modes of operation and payment deadlines because "negotiations are not finished."

He also acknowledged that even if the United States proposed the country selling their supersonic F-16, the "French option" is more consistent with the needs of the country: "The time of flight of the F-16 makes them almost prohibitively" he said.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/16..._And_20_Pucaras_Aircraft_Engines#.V2TUmyNRXqA

 

[C130]

I just don't see the need for these.

 

[Archie]

Mirage F1 is a 40 year old Airframe

don't know what Argentina will do with them
should have purchased FC1

 

[Penguin]

Aircraft inducted into the air force of Argentinia included, in the 1960s, the F-86 Sabre fighter and the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk ground-attack. During the 1970s the Air Force equipped itself with several aircraft, including Mirage III interceptors, IAI Dagger multi-role fighters (Ex-Israeli, copy of the Mirage V) and the Pucará, a counter-insurgency airplane. Sabres were phased out.

The Falklands War took a huge toll on the Air Force, which lost 60 aircraft. Afterward, the deteriorating economic situation, international opposition and political distrust of the military, denied the Air Force the resources needed to replace these losses. Coupled with diminishing budgets, this led to a period of reduced activity and growing materiel obsolescence.

The United States military sold Argentina 36 A-4AR Fightinghawks, a refurbished and upgraded version of the A-4 Skyhawks used in the Falklands war. Other equipment included 22 ex-Israeli IAI Dagger.

The FAA is seeking to replace its ageing force with a more capable and more serviceable modern aircraft. As of 2010 budgetary constraints continue, leading to reductions in the active aircraft inventory. All Mirages were officially decommissioned on 30 November 2015. This leaves FAA with an active force of only 22 A-4 Skyhawks and 32 Pucara. The A-4's were grounded as of January 2016 for lack of spares (only 4-5 were airworthy anyway, with the rest in storage). Twentytwo Pampa light attack jets are on order.

The acquisition of Spanish Mirage F1Ms, IAI Kfir Block 60s and Saab Gripen E/Fs was considered, but as of February 2015, all of those deals appear to have stalled. China has reportedly offered JF-17/FC-1 to Argentina. The two countries have formed a working group to look into the transfer of 14 aircraft, but it should be considered that - like Gripen - this is an entirely new jet (logistics) and defence relation, with possible force compatibility issues.

Given the experience of FAA pilots with Mirage 3/5 and Dagger, I am not at all surprised they are looking into F-1 and/or M-2000. FAA needs a supersonic interceptor/fighter to retain any credibility as an air force.

 

[Blue Marlin]

they need a bird that can hold the exocet

 

[yugocrosrb95]

They used up all Exocets that they had, except if France delivered them after Falklands War...

I hope Argentine gets its Islands back as rightful heir of territories that Spain had in that area.