Argentina receives second batch of F-16 fighter jets

Argentina has received its second batch of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets, marking the arrival of 12 out of the 24 aircraft purchased from Denmark. The six newest aircraft, consisting of four F-16AM single-seaters and two F-16BM two-seaters, landed at the Río Cuarto Material Area in Las Higueras, Córdoba, on Tuesday.

The flight from Denmark included stops in Spain and Brazil. During the transit, the aircraft were supported by two U.S. Air Force Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers for aerial refueling. The formation was observed flying over the state of São Paulo, Brazil, specifically near the Embraer factory in Gavião Peixoto, at an altitude of approximately 34,000 feet.

The arrival ceremony was attended by Argentine Defense Minister Carlos Presti, Air Force Chief Brigadier Gustavo Valverde, and Joint Staff Chief Marcelo Dalle Nogare, alongside U.S. Ambassador Peter Lamelas. Minister Presti noted that this second shipment represents a shift from receiving mere platforms to building operational capacity within the armed forces.