Based on the latest publications from the Embassy of India in Argentina, the Asian country still advocates for its HAL Tejas fighter to equip the Argentine Air Force (FAA) in the future. This is evident from the recent meeting held between the newly appointed head of the institution, Brigadier Mayor Mengo, and the Indian Ambassador to Buenos Aires, Dinesh Bhatia.
The meeting, disseminated through the social media channels of the Embassy of India, aimed to deepen defense cooperation between the two countries in general and, particularly, between their air forces. Thus, one of the main focuses was the proposal for HAL Tejas fighters for Argentina, as opportunities for cooperation with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
In light of this, one of the most significant steps taken to date was the signing of various agreements and memorandums for the provision of various services and components for the maintenance of the Argentine Air Force’s SA315B Lama fleet. These were reflected in a direct procurement process from the Indian company for the provision of recovery services for Artouste III B/B1 engines, as well as other items, in June 2023. Additionally, a Letter of Intent for the purchase of ALH MK III (Advanced Light Helicopter) and LUH (Light Utility Helicopter) helicopters is listed.
However, from what can be gleaned from the information provided by the Embassy of India, it appears that the Asian country still advocates for its indigenous HAL Tejas fighter to equip the Argentine Air Force. While no further details were provided, one can only speculate on what may have been discussed during the meeting.
As of today, the F-16A/B MLU fighter from the Royal Danish Air Force has been selected as the future supersonic multirole fighter for the Argentine Air Force, with agreements and contracts yet to be finalized for the purchase of 24 units (18 single-seaters and 6 two-seaters).
As reported over the past few months, the HAL Tejas was evaluated by the FAA as one of the proposals received for its interceptor fighter replacement program for the Mirage. However, the presence of components of British origin, which could be subject to veto by the UK government, led to its dismissal, as indicated by the previous Minister of Defense of Argentina, Jorge Taiana, during an official visit to India last year.
Looking ahead, HAL continues to make efforts to increase the proportion of locally manufactured components and parts within the “Make in India” program to equip its LCA Tejas. However, this replacement process could take years to materialize, conflicting with the urgent requirement of the Argentine Air Force to equip itself with supersonic multirole fighters and thus recover capabilities lost over the past decade. The future will tell whether the Indian industry can overcome this obstacle in the medium term and become a viable option for Argentina in the coming decades.
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