The government of Argentina has requested to buy equipment and support services for 24 F-16 aircraft in a possible US foreign military sale worth around US$941 million.
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The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to Argentina for F-16 aircraft equipment and support.
The possible sale includes equipment and services to support 24 F-16 Block 10/15 aircraft procured through third-party transfer.
The sale also includes 36 AIM-120 C-8 advanced medium range air-to-air missiles, two AIM-120 C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections, 102 MK-82 500-pound general purpose bombs, 50 MXU-650 air foil groups for 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs, 102 FMU-152A/B joint programmable fuses with FZU-63A/B fuse systems and 50 computer control groups MAU-169L/B.
The sale also includes weapons support equipment, explosive charges, devices, propellants, and components, AN/ARC-238 radios, joint mission planning systems, FMU-169D/B inert fuses; ground support system for Link-16, KY-58M and KIV-78 cryptographic devices, chaffs, and flares; practical explosive ordinance disposal system trainer; avionics support; communications equipment; precision navigation, jet fuel; aircraft ferry, aerial refuelling, and transportation 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 US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.
“The proposed sale will improve Argentina’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing the additional capacity to conduct air defence, offensive counter air, and close air support operations. Argentina will have no difficultly absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
“The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. There will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”
The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin and the implementation of the proposed sale is not expected to require the assignment of any additional US government or contractor representatives to Argentina.