The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Argentina of F-16 weapons, equipment and support, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 30 October 2024.
The proposed sale, which is worth an estimated USD 941 million (EUR 867 million), has been passed to the US Congress for final approval.
Argentina signed a purchase agreement to acquire 24 former Royal Danish Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM fighters on 16 April 2024 after the US State Department cleared the sale in October 2023.
The package requested by Argentina includes the following: 36 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs); two AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections; 102 MK-82 500 lb (227 kg) general-purpose bombs; 50 MXU-650 air foil groups for 500 lb GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs; 102 FMU-152A/B joint programmable fuzes with FZU-63A/B fuze systems; and 50 MAU-169L/B computer control groups.
Also included are numerous non-Major Defense Equipment items such as spares and technical documentation along with various aspects of engineering, training, logistics and programme support.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in South America,” the DSCA stated, adding that the sale “will improve Argentina’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing the additional capacity to conduct air defense, offensive counter-air and close air support operations”.
The principal contractor for the sale will be Lockheed Martin out of its facilities in Fort Worth, Texas.
