Argentine Air Force parades F-16 fighter jets in Buenos Aires

The Argentine Air Force celebrated its 114th anniversary with a major aerial and terrestrial parade, highlighted by the first mass public appearance of the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets. The aircraft, which Argentina began incorporating last December following bilateral agreements with Denmark and financial support from the United States, performed flyovers across Buenos Aires and the surrounding metropolitan area.

The flight paths included passes over the Obelisco, Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, Costanera Norte, and the Monumental Stadium. Other aircraft participating in the display included IA-63 Pampa III and C-130 Hercules models. The event, centered at the Morón Air Base, also featured aerobatic maneuvers, parachute jumps, and static displays of combat and transport units.

The ceremony was led by Defense Minister Carlos Alberto Presti and Air Force Chief Gustavo Javier Valverde, with participation from Malvinas War veterans. This military modernization effort aims to restore Argentina's capacity for airspace control and deterrence, addressing a structural gap left by the retirement of the Mirage system.