Another chapter in the novel for the Argentine fighter
After the formal request of the Ministry of Defence for the analysis of FA-50 KAI and Aermacchi M-346 presented at the end of June. Air Force commissions travel to South Korea and Italy to analyze in search aircraft proposed as the new fighter-bomber for the Air Force Argentina, during the first days of September.
The two aircraft in question are a single seat version of the T-50 "Golden Eagle" in its variant FA-50 and single seat version of the M-346, would have the responsibility to assume the functions of air power in replacement of the Mirage system and the soon to be decommissioned A-4AR "Fightinghawk" which is at the end of its useful life.
FA-50
While there were proposals from Israel to provide the support necessary to operate them until the year 2022, they were rejected in our country. The A-4AR have severe structural and logistical problems, added to the budget crisis and financial normalization which even the FAA is implementing. Since the change of government and the re-composition of financial links with the United States and Europe, new jobs have been filed with government support in most cases to solve quickly the failure of the Air Force fighter problem.
M-346
Apart from the existing inquiries and proposals for the F-16, Mirage F-1CR and IAI Kfir C10, the proposals that have excelled are those of the Korean and Italian appliances. Even worth mentioning a "third parties" with a surplus of aircraft MIG-29 ex Belarussian Air Force, which have already been discarded due course.
Both aircraft derived from advanced training devices, of which only the FA-50 has capacity, have a very flexible and attractive financing proposals for support as deadlines. They represent a most important leap to full level for the Air Force in the demand for the training of its staff, the support structure, as modern structures and sensors compared with devices to replace, designed and produced with technologies than half a century ago.
This is obviously a benefit, also for the detractors of this operation is the most important obstacle, considering that although the fact of the formal step in the process of formal notice and contact the FAA has strong budgetary constraints that would deepen even more the next year 2017 with a cut approximately one billion pesos on the budget this year.
A strong argument against those who today demand higher performance aircraft and higher operating costs or necessary reforms of the Force, for example, criticism biggest against the Lockheed Martin F-16. This would leave even race to the Mirage F-1CR and Kfir C10 analysis, which could be induced to service in Argentina at a much lower cost comparatively contemplating the necessary adjustment in tooling, infrastructure and technical staff without burnening an already overtaxed and exhausted defense system, an item of expenditure should take to replace in the medium term.
For now only hope that this is not just another staging and demand of military and political officials, the decision on a renewal process and return to Argentina ability of air power, which has been suffering for almost four decades.
