RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Several projects for the Argentine Armed Forces are still waiting for the green light to start or continue.
ARGENTINE AIR FORCE COMBAT AIRCRAFT: JF-17 AND MiG-35
For some time now, the Argentine Air Force has been selecting and evaluating the fighter-bomber that will make it possible to recover the capabilities lost with the retirement of the Mirage in 2015. The candidates to integrate the FAA lines are, on the one hand, the JF-17 Thunder of Chinese-Pakistani origin; and the MiG-35 of Russian origin. The final objective would be the acquisition of 12 combat aircraft.
With the first steps in negotiations, the first candidate selected was originally the JF-17 Thunder, intending to acquire ten single-seat and two twin-seat fighter-bombers. Last year, in May, a delegation from China National Aero-Technology Import & Export (CATIC) visited the country to evaluate Argentina’s possibilities for the new incorporation plan. It was then that, finally, the appearance in the Budget Law 2022 of the purchase of the JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter-bomber through a Public Credit Operation ended up generating even more controversies and unknowns regarding the Russian candidate evaluated.
Along with the evaluations for the JF-17 Thunder, during May 2021 (and at the same time of the visit of the CATIC delegation), the Argentine Air Force requested a formal quotation for the acquisition of 10 MiG-35 and 2 MiG-35D. By October of that same year, and considering the advance of interest towards the Chinese-Pakistani candidate, the Russian offer for the MiG-35 included several improvements: among them, the establishment of a local maintenance center with the training of FAA personnel by Russian technicians; in addition to a training center for the Argentine crews that will work with the fighter-bomber.
However, despite the inclusion of the JF-17 Thunder in the 2022 Budget Bill, the Ministry of Defense clarified that a specific decision on the offers has not yet been defined, and the final acquisition remains unknown.
MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS
The joint project between the Argentine Army and the Argentine Air Force to acquire six rescue helicopters to replace the AS 315B Lama was contested in the choice between four models: the H125, the H145M, the AW119M, and the Bell 407 GXi.
Finally, the offer made by Bell was superior -a total of 12 initial units together with technology transfer for the local manufacture of inputs; although it was decided to reduce the number to the six units initially thought-; although to date, the signature of the purchase contract is still awaited.
ARGENTINE ARMY WHEELED ARMORED COMBAT VEHICLE
As it is public knowledge, the acquisition of a VCBR continues to be one of the projects of the Argentine Army without firm materialization.
In total, two evaluations of the candidate belonging to the Brazilian Army from the IVECO company were carried out to demonstrate its capabilities. Argentine Defense Minister Jorge Taiana confirmed that one of the relevant programs for 2022 is the purchase of VCBRs for the Argentine Army.
However, although the acquisition of armored vehicles for the Argentine Army is part of one of the central programs, the requirements of the project are ambitious: it is planned to acquire several units to equip the regiments of the X Mechanized Air Brigade, exceeding two hundred vehicles in total (and in turn allowing the consideration of other candidates such as the Stryker and the VN-1).
The project’s future will be evaluated in 2022, subject to budget availability and political decision.
MEDIUM HELICOPTERS: S-70i AND Mi-171
Along with the acquisition plan of rescue helicopters for the replacement of the Lama, regarding medium helicopters for the Army Aviation, and the potential replacement of the Bell UH-1H Huey, the acquisition of 20 units is planned. The S-70i Black Hawk and the Mi-171Sh of Russian origin are among the candidates evaluated and offered.
The Russian offer for the Mi-171Sh to the Ministry of Defense includes opening a local maintenance center and training Argentine technicians, allowing a cost reduction. Similar to the offer made for the Russian fighter.
Regarding the proposal for the S-70i (and the financing options of the Polish Government), the acquisition of the Black Hawk corresponds to an initial phase of two units for an approximate amount of US$50 million. In contrast to the Russian proposal, two units vs. 20 units make a huge difference.
However, the project for the acquisition of the medium helicopters and the weapon systems detailed in this note still awaits the political decision that will allow the first steps to be taken. It is expected that by 2022, budget and national interest will give the green light to the plans to increase the Armed Forces’ capabilities.