Central/South American Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

TerraN_EmpirE said:

A twitter posting so consider it rumor, not confirmed says that Argentina is about to pull the trigger on new fighters for its Air Force. The choice indicated is The Republic of Korea’s FA50. That is a multi role combat rated version of the T50 Golden Eagle developed by Korea Aerospace Industries and Lockheed Martin.

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Hello TerraN,

An update two years later. The deal for the FA-50 was canceled last year by the new “horrible” socialist regime and the government is no looking to get completely in bed with the Chinese. It appears that the JF-17 is back on the table with 24 unit being discussed. This will most likely be reduced to 12 units. The country needs a minimum of 36 to 48 to properly control the airspace.

I’m happy to have returned after a four-year break.

Miragedriver said:

Hello TerraN,

An update two years later. The deal for the FA-50 was canceled last year by the new “horrible” socialist regime and the government is no looking to get completely in bed with the Chinese. It appears that the JF-17 is back on the table with 24 unit being discussed. This will most likely be reduced to 12 units. The country needs a minimum of 36 to 48 to properly control the airspace.

I’m happy to have returned after a four-year break.

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Welcome back Miragedriver!

Equation said:

Welcome back Miragedriver!

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Thanks buddy!

Earlier this year China and Argentina announced for the first time their formation of a joint working group to assess the integration of Chinese-made fighter aircraft into the Argentine Air Force, which would upgrade its antiquated and deteriorating fighter fleet. This group was tasked with exploring Argentina’s purchase of at least 14, but potentially as many as 20 FC-1 (the country needs as a minimum 36 FC-1 to properly control its airspace) manufactured by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of defense conglomerate Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

China’s co-production with Pakistan of the FC-1, an inexpensive multirole combat aircraft, is of interest to Argentina’s defense industry, which has valued direct industrial participation in defense procurement. As the FC-1 is less expensive than other international multirole combat aircraft it would likely be a worthwhile purchase for Argentina only under coproduction terms.

Argentina has also explored aircraft purchases from France, Israel, Spain, Sweden, and Russia, but has announced prospective deals only with China to date, which may ultimately be fulfilled is unclear.

Argentina’s recent budget deficits and tenuous relations with international creditors, highlighted by a controversial “selective default” in June 2014, may limit its ability to afford these purchases.

Argentina will reportedly require funding through commodity-backed loans from China to buy the FC-1 aircraft, the first time it will have borrowed on such terms.

Mexico is the biggest spender among the 39 Latin American and Caribbean countries that purchase military vehicles and aircraft from the United States, spending one-fifth of its defense budget on those purchases.

Purchases for this year include 3,335 Humvees, worth US $556 million, 23 Blackhawk helicopters for $905 million and an undisclosed number of Beechcraft T-6C Texan II training/light attack aircraft for $480 million.

China has been Venezuela’s other major financial crutch. It views the socialist regime in Venezuela as a geopolitical ally and an important trading partner. Over the past decade, Beijing has lent Caracas some $70 Billion US dollars, mostly for development projects, in exchange for future oil shipments.

Analysts estimate the Maduro regime owes China about $13 billion alone in military equipment purchases, spare parts and training. China is behind only the United States and India as an importer of Venezuelan crude. However, President Xi Jinping has thus far refused to restructure Venezuela’s outstanding loans, and some experts suggest China could shift its support to Guaido if he were to guarantee full repayment of Chinese loans.

While Beijing has continued its support for Maduro in recent years, its loyalty largely depends on Caracas’s capacity to pay its debts. In recent years, China has grown increasingly wary of Venezuela defaulting on its payments, and it has opened channels with the opposition.

What this means is that we will not be seeing Maduro purchase more equipment for its armed force, which could have the effect of turning the military sour to his regime. We need to wait and see.

The economic collapse of Latin America, starting with Venezuela

Venezuela is an OPEC member, which was once among the world’s largest oil exporters, is now on the verge of collapse after decades of corruption and malfeasance by the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela. The state’s potential to implode is accelerating because of strict U.S. sanctions, weaker oil prices, and the near failure of its economic backbone the petroleum industry. This confluence of events has triggered a deep seemingly irreversible economic crisis for Venezuela which has been described as the worst economic collapse outside of war. It is causing immense suffering for the Venezuelan people with it estimated that more than 90% are living in poverty and that over five million have fled their country, mostly settling in nearby nations notably Colombia, creating what is the world’s second-worst humanitarian disaster. That massive influx of economic and political refugees into neighboring countries, notably Colombia, is exacerbating existing social turmoil in the region. In Colombia alone, those refugees are competing for work in a country with a double-digit unemployment rate, where more than 50% of the population works informally and approximately 40 live in poverty.

It makes you wonder if a revolution starts and there is a civil war, what will be the military ramifications with the support of “freedom fighters” and other anti-government forces. Could it destabilize South America?

Miragedriver said:

Earlier this year China and Argentina announced for the first time their formation of a joint working group to assess the integration of Chinese-made fighter aircraft into the Argentine Air Force, which would upgrade its antiquated and deteriorating fighter fleet. This group was tasked with exploring Argentina’s purchase of at least 14, but potentially as many as 20 FC-1 (the country needs as a minimum 36 FC-1 to properly control its airspace) manufactured by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of defense conglomerate Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

China’s co-production with Pakistan of the FC-1, an inexpensive multirole combat aircraft, is of interest to Argentina’s defense industry, which has valued direct industrial participation in defense procurement. As the FC-1 is less expensive than other international multirole combat aircraft it would likely be a worthwhile purchase for Argentina only under coproduction terms.

Argentina has also explored aircraft purchases from France, Israel, Spain, Sweden, and Russia, but has announced prospective deals only with China to date, which may ultimately be fulfilled is unclear.

Argentina’s recent budget deficits and tenuous relations with international creditors, highlighted by a controversial “selective default” in June 2014, may limit its ability to afford these purchases.

Argentina will reportedly require funding through commodity-backed loans from China to buy the FC-1 aircraft, the first time it will have borrowed on such terms.

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Where does this come from? Is this actual news or a regurgitation of existing rumours?

We've discussed this in the JF-17 thread in the past. Argentina's air force is non existent. Partly due to intense British lobbying, and also the fact that they're broke.

Argentinians although South American are ethnically European. They consider themselves white surrounded by non whites. Not different to the mindset of Australia or Israel.

Although there's talk about JF-17s every few years I believe there is an inherent reluctance to induct aircraft from a non western country.

Abominable said:

Where does this come from? Is this actual news or a regurgitation of existing rumours?

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He is right. This was also discussed on this forum.

There was also a Chinese delegation who visited Argentine and toured its production facilities in order to see in whay extend they could localise some JF-17 items

AFAIR Argentine wants a mix of JF-17 Block 2 and Block 3 plus Chinese financing by soft loans.

IMO China will agree to these terms as it wants to enter the Latin America arms market and Argentine would be a good showcase for its aerospace products

Overbom said:

He is right. This was also discussed on this forum.

There was also a Chinese delegation who visited Argentine and toured its production facilities in order to see in whay extend they could localise some JF-17 items

AFAIR Argentine wants a mix of JF-17 Block 2 and Block 3 plus Chinese financing by soft loans.

IMO China will agree to these terms as it wants to enter the Latin America arms market and Argentine would be a good showcase for its aerospace products

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What I was asking was whether there were any new developments.

This gets brought up every few years but when it comes to signing on the dotted line the Argies don't for whatever reason.