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US Offers Second-hand F-16s to Argentina to Pip Bids from India and China
US Offers Second-hand F-16s to Argentina to Pip Bids from India and China
Sputnik India
The United States is urgently looking to seal a fighter-jet deal with Argentina, reportedly offering the South American nation second-hand F-16 fighter jets to outcompete bids from China and India.
2023-07-31T17:35+0530
2023-07-31T17:35+0530
2023-07-31T17:36+0530
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The United States is urgently looking to seal a fighter-jet deal with Argentina, reportedly offering the South American nation second-hand F-16 fighter jets to out-compete bids from China and India.Washington’s interest in selling fighter jets to Argentina poses a setback to China and India, both of which have also made offers to sell fighter jets to the South American nation.Russia has also reportedly offered to sell its MiG-35 fighter aircraft to Buenos Aires.While New Delhi has offered its 4.5 generation Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Beijing has pitched in with an offer of 15 JF-17 ‘Thunder Block’ jets, being jointly developed with Pakistan.Taiana told the Indian channel that LCA Tejas has 16 British parts. It remains unclear if India has offered to replace these parts.The report said that F-16 has qualified as a “more powerful aircraft”, although inducting the American-origin fighter jet would require investments in upgrading airport infrastructure.US Military-Industrial Complex Has an Edge: Ex-IAF PilotAir Marshal M. Matheswaran, an Indian Air Force (IAF) veteran, told Sputnik that the “ruthless” American military-industrial complex has an edge over other competitors because of an already “deep penetration” as far as the global arms market was concerned.According to SIPRI, the US is the biggest exporter of weapons globally, with sales topping $204 billion in 2022. On the other hand, India’s weapons’ sales hit a record of $1.93 billion in 2022-23, according to Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.The ex-IAF pilot underlined that the F-16 fighter jets were not comparable in size to either LCA Tejas or the Chinese JF-17.Argentina Faces a Tricky DecisionMatheswaran said that Argentina was now faced with a “tricky” call to choose between the Chinese or the American fighter jets.According to American think tank Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), China has overtaken the US in recent years to emerge as South America’s top trading partner. Argentina, like other Latin American nations, has sourced millions of dollars of worth of military equipment from Beijing, the CFR said.Similarly, India's ties with the region are on an upswing. now ranks as the fourth biggest trading partner of Argentina. The two countries elevated their ties to the level of ‘Strategic Partnership’ in 2019 and also signed an MoU in defense cooperation the same year.However, cash-strapped Argentina is currently also negotiating a much-needed bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
https://sputniknews.in/20230721/huge-export-potential-for-indian-defense-equipment-in-latin-america-military-veteran-3121754.html
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US Offers Second-hand F-16s to Argentina to Pip Bids from India and China
17:35 31.07.2023 (Updated: 17:36 31.07.2023) In 2021, the Argentinian defense ministry reportedly notified its decision to acquire 12 new fighter jets at an estimated price of $664 million.
The United States is urgently looking to seal a fighter-jet deal with Argentina, reportedly offering the South American nation second-hand F-16 fighter jets to out-compete bids from China and India.
According to a report in Argentinian media, the White House has urged the US Congress to approve the sale of 24 F-16 A/B Fighting Falcon, which are being operated by the Royal Danish Air Force. The US offer is valued at $700 million.
Washington’s interest in selling fighter jets to Argentina poses a setback to China and India, both of which have also made offers to sell fighter jets to the South American nation.
Russia has also reportedly offered to sell its MiG-35 fighter aircraft to Buenos Aires.
While New Delhi has offered its 4.5 generation Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Beijing has pitched in with an offer of 15 JF-17 ‘Thunder Block’ jets, being jointly developed with Pakistan.
During an official four-day visit to India this month, Argentinian Defense Minister Jorge Enrique Taiana told Indian news channel WION that the fighter jets being sought by Argentina shouldn’t have any British part because of the UK's restrictions on defense exports to the South American nation in view of the dispute over Malvinas Islands.
Taiana told the Indian channel that LCA Tejas has 16 British parts. It remains unclear if India has offered to replace these parts.
Since the Defense Minister’s visit, Argentina’s La Nación reported that the Argentine Defense Forum (FAD) has been actively “considering” bids of F-16 A/B Fighting Falcon and Chinese Chengdu JF-17 Thunder Block.
The report said that F-16 has qualified as a “more powerful aircraft”, although inducting the American-origin fighter jet would require investments in upgrading airport infrastructure.
US Military-Industrial Complex Has an Edge: Ex-IAF Pilot
Air Marshal M. Matheswaran, an Indian Air Force (IAF) veteran, told Sputnik that the “ruthless” American military-industrial complex has an edge over other competitors because of an already “deep penetration” as far as the global arms market was concerned.
According to
SIPRI, the US is the biggest exporter of weapons globally, with sales topping $204 billion in 2022. On the other hand, India’s weapons’ sales
hit a record of $1.93 billion in 2022-23, according to Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
“The US military-industrial complex is ruthless. The US might have taken its Global Strategic Partnership with India in consideration while bidding for the Argentine contract, but it won’t compromise in advancing its defense exports to other countries,” remarked Matheswaran, who is currently the President of Chennai-based think tank The Peninsula Foundation (TPF).
The ex-IAF pilot underlined that the F-16 fighter jets were not comparable in size to either LCA Tejas or the Chinese JF-17.
"The LCA and JF-17 are of comparable size, but the F-16 is more expensive and bigger,” Matheswaran said.
Argentina Faces a Tricky Decision
Matheswaran said that Argentina was now faced with a “tricky” call to choose between the Chinese or the American fighter jets.
“Argentina has been growing close to China and India as it seeks to strengthen ties with other developing nations. It is one of the nations which has been seeking BRICS membership,” the think-tanker said.
According to American think tank Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), China has overtaken the US in recent years to emerge as South America’s top trading partner. Argentina, like other Latin American nations, has sourced millions of dollars of worth of military equipment from Beijing, the CFR said.
The ‘China Policy Paper on the Latin America and the Caribbean’ released in 2016 said that Beijing would “enhance cooperation in military trade and military technology” with the continent.
Similarly, India's
ties with the region are on an upswing. now ranks as the fourth biggest trading partner of Argentina. The two countries elevated their ties to the level of ‘Strategic Partnership’ in 2019 and also signed an MoU in defense cooperation the same year.
Both India and China have supported Argentina at the UN Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24), which has called for resuming negotiations on the sovereignty of Malvinas Islands, a call resisted by the UK till date.
However, cash-strapped Argentina is currently also negotiating a much-needed bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
