As reported in the Physical Financial Execution document, the Argentine Armed Forces have executed more than 35% of the current credit for enlistment and operational sustainment by the end of the first quarter of 2024.
The report indicates that spending for the Defense function reached 27.3% of the current credit by the end of the first quarter. The “Enlistment and Operational Sustainment” for the Army had the highest execution level, representing 32.3% of the total current credit. Compared to 2023, this period saw a 183.3% increase, with an additional $161.0468 billion.
The programs aimed at readiness and operational sustainment for the General Staffs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force cover the primary activities of these institutions. The report details that as of March 31, 2024, this category had a current credit of $503.9009 billion, with an execution of $177.7777 billion (35.3%).
Here are the details of Enlistment and Operational Sustainment for each branch of the Argentine Armed Forces:
Argentine Navy: The Physical Financial Execution report notes that the goals for Technical and Tactical Air Training, measured in flight hours, and Technical and Tactical Naval Training, measured in navigation days, showed underexecution due to the rescheduling of aerial and naval activities for the Passex exercise with the French Navy and the United States Navy, as well as the Fortaleza exercise with the Argentine Army. This delay is expected to be corrected, allowing for both activities to be carried out in the second quarter.
As a counterpart, the goal for Maritime Space and Waterway Control saw a positive deviation (12.0%) due to support for the Antarctic Summer Campaign, which involved transporting JP-1 fuel to “Base Carlini” in Argentine Antarctica. The Search and Rescue Cases handling saw an overexecution (1.7%) due to increased demand for such cases.
The Navy’s Enlistment Operational Program executed a total of $50.5163 billion, representing 41.4% of the current credit. This amount was primarily directed towards Personnel Expenses (93.1%). Operational Sustainment expenses amounted to $819.2 million, executing 86.3% of the current credit.
Argentine Army: As of March 31, the measurement of Operational Training in Campaign had no execution during the quarter, as the activity days will be carried out in the second and third quarters with five and six days, respectively. Conversely, “Operational Training in Guarnición continued with the same criteria, but all activities will be conducted in the second quarter (10 days). Tactical Exercises in Terrain will be carried out in the third (2 exercises) and fourth quarters (1 exercise).“
The report highlights that the Army’s Operational Enlistment Program executed a total of $77.051 billion (32.4% of the current credit), mainly directed towards Personnel Expenses (95.4%), with 98.5% of the funding from the National Treasury ($75.928 billion). “Additionally, the Operational Sustainment Program, with a current credit of $821.8 million, had an execution of $34.8 million during the period, allocating 86.1% to Consumables ($29.9 million) and the remaining 13.9% to Non-Personal Services ($4.8 million).”
Argentine Air Force: The report shows a growing trend in flight hours executed, except for the current year. By the end of the first quarter, there was a negative deviation of -21.3% in the Air Activity Plan “due to a lack of materials to carry out the activities…”.
“…It is worth noting that the Air Force’s Operational Enlistment Program recorded an execution of $40.0365 billion (35.6% of the current credit), mainly for Personnel Expenses (71.9%) and almost entirely funded by the National Treasury (95.9%). To a lesser extent, the expenses related to Operational Sustainment amounted to $383.9 million, achieving 35.0% execution relative to the current credit…” added the report.
Cover image for illustration purposes.
You may also like: Coverage – The Argentine Armed Forces have concluded the 2023/2024 Summer Antarctic Campaign
