The incorporation of the F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon fighters into the Argentine Air Force will not only require a considerable investment in logistics packages and weaponry to ensure maximum utilization of the weapons system, but also entails a planned expenditure of more than 44,000 million pesos for infrastructure modernization in preparation for the arrival of the aircraft from Denmark.
According to information from the latest decree that modified the 2024 budget, the Ministry of Defense plans to allocate $44,694,000,688 pesos for the modernization and construction of infrastructure for the integration of the multirole fighters. As previously announced months ago, the work will take place at the VI Air Brigade in Tandil, Buenos Aires province, and at the Río Cuarto Material Area in Córdoba province.
As detailed in the “Contracting of Investment Works with Impact on Future Exercises” Annex, it is expected that $9,454,500,000 will be accrued in the current year, with $11,746,500,229 allocated for each of the years 2025 and 2026, and a remainder of $11,746,500,230 accruing in subsequent years.
Regarding the projected physical progress, the Annex confirms that 21.15% completion is expected by the end of 2024, 26.28% by 2025, a similar percentage for 2027, and a remainder of 26.28% for the following years.
It is worth noting that recently, the Argentine Air Force published the specifications for a public tender aimed at constructing an Instruction Center at the VI Air Brigade. The planned works have an official budget of $3,365,045,945, with a construction period of 420 consecutive days.
The new Instruction Center will include “…a Central Space for Aircraft Instruction, 2 Classrooms for Theoretical Instruction, 2 Classrooms for Language Instruction, Library, Offices, Bathrooms, and a Storehouse…”. Upon completion, the building will add a total of 2,070 m2 to the Brigade’s infrastructure.
The modernization and construction of infrastructure are crucial as the Argentine Air Force has not undertaken an initiative of this magnitude for years. Due to disinvestment over recent decades, the Armed Forces have seen their aircraft, vehicles, and ships age, with many being decommissioned without replacement, which has also seriously impacted infrastructure. It is not uncommon to find Brigades, Regiments, or Naval Bases with buildings several decades old, where only the effort and ingenuity of personnel resolve daily challenges.
Cover image for illustrative purposes. Credits: Forsvaret.
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