Why Argentina Chose Used F-16s Over Tejas and JF-17

Argentina's decision to procure used F-16 fighter jets from Denmark instead of India's LCA Tejas or China's JF-17 was influenced by a combination of factors, primarily focused on operational reliability, maintenance concerns, and perceived technological limitations of the competing aircraft.

Tejas: Concerns over British Components and Operational Readiness​

One major deterrent for Argentina regarding the Tejas was its reliance on British components. Reports highlighted potential challenges in sourcing replacements, leading to extended periods of grounding that could compromise operational readiness. For a country aiming to modernize its air force, ensuring consistent availability and quick turnaround for repairs is paramount.

JF-17: Perceived Inferiority and Maintenance Demands​

The JF-17, despite being a newer model, was viewed as the least capable option. The Chinese engine's lower Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) raised concerns about increased maintenance requirements and potential disruptions to flight operations.

Furthermore, the avionics and radar system offered on the likely export variant of the JF-17 failed to impress the Argentinian Air Force, suggesting technological shortcomings compared to the F-16s.

F-16: A Proven Workhorse with Upgrade Potential​

The F-16s, while used, presented a compelling case for Argentina due to their proven track record, widespread availability of spare parts, and potential for future upgrades.

The F-16 is a well-established platform with a history of successful operations in various air forces around the world. This familiarity and the existing global supply chain for spare parts made the F-16 a reliable choice for Argentina, ensuring minimal downtime and efficient maintenance.

The Verdict​

While the Tejas and JF-17 presented their own advantages in terms of cost and potential for collaboration, Argentina's decision ultimately hinged on prioritizing operational reliability, minimizing maintenance risks, and ensuring access to a technologically advanced platform with upgrade potential.

The F-16s, despite being used, offered a balanced solution that addressed these critical requirements, making them the preferred choice for Argentina's Air Force modernization efforts.

 

[Indeevar Sharma]

The F-16s are undoubtedly one of the better aircraft out there, but considering they are already used, the Argentine Air Force might face operational readiness issues sooner rather than later anyways. Regardless, they went with whatever deal they thought best, so good on them for that.

Even we shot down F16 with MIG 21. TEJAS could have been a better choice for Argentina, but only due to ejection seat and mid-air refueller(Cobham), Argentina opted for F16, which is decades older than Tejas.

 

[Ashish Sandhu]

If Argentina is procuring used F 16s it will be advisable for Argentina to upgrade then to get latest technologies applicable to F 16s.

 

[Avada kedavra]

And India can make spacecrafts that can reach moon and Mars but can't make an ejection seat,

india till now has only put objects in space, not proper spaceships which require whole host of systems like life support, pressure and heat management systems etc.
Ejection seat is no joke. If anything faulty happens the pilot will be on the bed for the rest of their lives.

 

[Avada kedavra]

US original is a joke, they stole engine tech from the Nazis
Even their country is stolen
So there is nothing "original" about the US.

they only took the technology of rockets from the germans. Nothing more.
Everything else is made in US.
they have been ruling the aviation market since the invention of flight itself.

 

[Avada kedavra]

Nonsensical to whine about british components when americans are the most notorious for arm twisting with their dominance over the supply chain. like how they banned the chinese from getting certain chip related components.

Its all because of the new pro NATO govt that came in power.

 

[Baka007]

they only took the technology of rockets from the germans. Nothing more.
Everything else is made in US.
they have been ruling the aviation market since the invention of flight itself.

From jet engine tech to everything they stole from Germans (Me 262)
Go sell ur lies somewhere else, Yankee bootlicker
Invention of flight itself, since the age of dinosaurs!? 😅

 

[Anant]

And India can make spacecrafts that can reach moon and Mars but can't make an ejection seat,

We can make an ejection seat. That isn't much of an issue. However, there is a reason most of the world uses Martin Baker's ejection seats: Quality and scale.

The amount of time, effort, and money that would be required to develop an indigenous ejection seat means there is a very large break-even point. That makes the entire proposal difficult to justify, which is why we haven't embarked on it in earnest yet.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Nonsensical to whine about british components when americans are the most notorious for arm twisting with their dominance over the supply chain. like how they banned the chinese from getting certain chip related components.

Its all because of the new pro NATO govt that came in power.

They are a part of security alliance with US. The Rio Pact or Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance. So its not that an issue for them to trust US. Though not as strong as NATO, they have an official security partnership

 

[Anant]

From jet engine tech to everything they stole from Germans (Me 262)
Go sell ur lies somewhere else, Yankee bootlicker
Invention of flight itself, since the age of dinosaurs!? 😅

Nonsense. The US had jets flying around while the Second World War was still going, and even the P-80, which would be America's first mass produced jet fighter, was flying by 1944-45. The P-80's development was initiated as a response to the Me-262's existence being uncovered in late 1943.

Moreover, early American jet engines were independent developments and did not steal anything from the Germans.

Granted, after the war, thanks to things such as Operation Paperclip, the Americans got a fair bit of know-how from German scientists, and these lessons were used in improving later engines, but they were still fundamentally based on the older engines. The Americans took inspiration and lessons from the German technology, and did not copy or steal them.

Here's a fact for you: Engines such as the GE J79, which were used on fighters like the F-104, F-4, IAI Kfir, etc, came through a series of developments from the GE I-A, which was America's first serial-produced jet engine dating back to 1942.

 

[Baka007]

Nonsense. The US had jets flying around while the Second World War was still going, and even the P-80, which would be America's first mass produced jet fighter, was flying by 1944-45. The P-80's development was initiated as a response to the Me-262's existence being uncovered in late 1943.

Moreover, early American jet engines were independent developments and did not steal anything from the Germans.

Granted, after the war, thanks to things such as Operation Paperclip, the Americans got a fair bit of know-how from German scientists, and these lessons were used in improving later engines, but they were still fundamentally based on the older engines. The Americans took inspiration and lessons from the German technology, and did not copy or steal them.

Here's a fact for you: Engines such as the GE J79, which were used on fighters like the F-104, F-4, IAI Kfir, etc, came through a series of developments from the GE I-A, which was America's first serial-produced jet engine dating back to 1942.

By 1944 Germany was already defeated and many scientists fled to the US fearing Russians
Then they built the P-80 using German engineers
designed developed and delivered within 140days by Superior US engineers on their own, only Yankee bootlickers would believe such stories
History is written(edited) by Victors

 

[Oleg Olkha]

If Argentina is procuring used F 16s it will be advisable for Argentina to upgrade then to get latest technologies applicable to F 16s.

It can be a piece of cake for F16 with help Israel on the most favorable terms... Regards.

 

[BCharlie]

obviously F16 is the best single engine 4th gen jet of all time, , but the point is Argentina can’t fight with UK any more with F16’s, they couldn’t have bought Tejas also because of various British parts that DRDO/HAL & CO didn’t think about making a local replacement for many decades, the best bet for them would have been J10 which was not offered, in the end Argentina made the best choice.

I thought Tejas was fully local made.. I was wrong; ..indigenous plane.. but now after doing checkouts even tires, brake pads, landing gear, windshield wipers, glass canopy, not to mention engine, latest bvr radar, ecm..s, target acquisition, jammers, cockpit, hud, target & night vision mounted helmets etc etc are imported. of course the frame, fuselage metal & fibre material is locally done.

 

[Mahipal Singh Rawat]

You can start a company for that instead of vomiting gyan here if it would have been that easy

That is the typical mindset we Indians have and for the same reason, we don't count as heavyweight in tech or growth where it really matters because we get irritated whenever we are shown mirrors. Fact remains that LCA has issues and we have terribly failed in making an aircraft. I don't think any country will buy it as our Air Force is not confident about its ability.

 

[BCharlie]

With imports comes good commissions, foreign trips.

so true, even for us.. just look, we import everything.. investigation is needed for their bank accounts in swisse, dubai, uk, france, spain banks etc;.

 

[Mahipal Singh Rawat]

We can make an ejection seat. That isn't much of an issue. However, there is a reason most of the world uses Martin Baker's ejection seats: Quality and scale.

The amount of time, effort, and money that would be required to develop an indigenous ejection seat means there is a very large break-even point. That makes the entire proposal difficult to justify, which is why we haven't embarked on it in earnest yet.

We lost the battle of making a capable flying machine in way back in 1984 when despite it's envisage we have not been able to produce an aircraft in 40 years. Thanks to DRDO, which produces nothing but few basic electronic circuits, PCBs in the name of innovation.

 

[BCharlie]

That is the typical mindset we Indians have and for the same reason, we don't count as heavyweight in tech or growth where it really matters because we get irritated whenever we are shown mirrors. Fact remains that LCA has issues and we have terribly failed in making an aircraft. I don't think any country will buy it as our Air Force is not confident about its ability.

Sirji, we are working on it & soon hopefully & desperately praying to get our Tejas fly worthy combat ready & tested in air combat against F-16s, J-10CEs, F-31s etc. as you know that in 1983, the Government of India established the LCA Tejas project with the initial goal to develop a new light combat aircraft to replace the ageing IAF fighters, especially the MiG-21 variants, which had been the mainstay of the IAF since 1963. So, its been only 40 yrs or so.. we will be there soon.

 

[Pink Panther]

I thought Tejas was fully local made.. I was wrong; ..indigenous plane.. but now after doing checkouts even tires, brake pads, landing gear, windshield wipers, glass canopy, not to mention engine, latest bvr radar, ecm..s, target acquisition, jammers, cockpit, hud, target & night vision mounted helmets etc etc are imported. of course the frame, fuselage metal & fibre material is locally done.

Around 40% of the equipments are imported.

 

[BCharlie]

Around 40% of the equipments are imported.

Yes sir agreed, but those are key components to make it fly, leave aside successful combat worthy, without which its just a mockup plane.

 

[White T POISON]

The F-16s are undoubtedly one of the better aircraft out there, but considering they are already used, the Argentine Air Force might face operational readiness issues sooner rather than later anyways. Regardless, they went with whatever deal they thought best, so good on them for that.

It will take a decade for the.tejas to even match the flexibility of the f-16. Our product is just that mature.

 

[Man-ju]

Thank God, had they selected Tejas then our beloved HAL would take atleast 4-5 (that too if no delay happens) years to deliver them to Argentina.