As reported by Zona Militar in early October and following subsequent consultations, the Ministry of Defense confirmed the signing of a Letter of Intent for the acquisition of new Scorpene-class attack submarines for the Argentine Navy. This first milestone in the negotiations between the governments of Argentina and France took place during the recent visit of Defense Minister Luis Petri to France, where he established a bilateral agenda that included meetings with France’s Minister of Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu.
The restoration of the Argentine Navy’s Submarine Force has been prioritized by the current administration at the Ministry of Defense as one of their main objectives, even above the acquisition of new F-16 fighter jets for the Air Force. This is due to the capabilities submarines—regardless of their type and propulsion—bring to naval operations, serving as ideal platforms for tasks ranging from surveillance and reconnaissance to denying sea access to potential adversaries. Historical military examples abound of the latter scenario.
Since the loss of the submarine ARA San Juan, the Argentine Navy has lacked any platform capable of projecting these capabilities along Argentina’s vast maritime coastline. Currently, the only submarine in its inventory, the ARA Salta, is no longer seaworthy and is limited to training personnel at the Mar del Plata Naval Base (BNMP).
Proposals to acquire new units have been considered by various administrations over the years, with no real results. Among the leading proposals, confirmed by the Cabinet Chief of Ministers, are France’s Scorpene-class attack submarines and Germany’s Type 209NG submarines.
Based on consulted sources and consistent with earlier reports from October, it was confirmed to Zona Militar that a Letter of Intent was signed during the Defense Minister’s visit to France for the acquisition of three Scorpene-class submarines. No further details were disclosed, and it was noted that no additional ministerial-level meetings between the two countries are expected at this time. The most recent notable contact was Minister Luis Petri’s participation in discussions between Presidents Javier Milei and Emmanuel Macron at Casa Rosada during the French president’s recent visit to Argentina.
As with similar documents signed in the past, a Letter of Intent is non-binding for the parties involved. It is merely a formal step expressing intent to deepen negotiations. For Argentina—known for signing many such documents without finalizing acquisitions—overcoming the challenge of securing funds for the operation remains critical. According to the proposed 2025 Budget, the operation would be financed through an international loan exceeding $2.3 billion.
Finally, despite various media outlets presenting speculations as facts, key aspects of the negotiations and the technical requirements of the Argentine Navy remain undisclosed. Both countries have maintained confidentiality in these sensitive discussions.
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