This post is to respond to several inquiries regarding the Gripen interest by the FAA. Let me see if I can explain this entire aircraft purchasing and lack of foresight in the FAA, but I'll try again. Argentina is not and will not buying Gripens. It is probably more seriously considering the F-17/FC-1, but they will not buy and JF-17/FC-1 and they are certainly not buying any Flankers. Argentina has a history of announcing they are doing this and that, but the end products always fails to materialize.
The reason why is not money and also not the economy. The reason is the current left wing government which absolutely hates the military as an institution and where part if the resistance against the military junta of the 1980s. Their solution, to remove the military as a threat to their (Leftist progressive agenda) power is to basically gut it by defunding it. Tiny budgets are announced and half the time they are not fully spent even then.
The lack of military spending is an active and ongoing policy even during periods of economic boom. There's a lack of everything, fuel, weapons, training...the FAA has basically no programs and in its inventory there are on minuscule quantities of AAM and other weapons.
There is much talk about buying Chinese and Russian equipment. However, acquiring non-western equipment would require a massive overhaul in everything. New infrastructure would have to be built, new equipment purchased, budgets drastically revised.... Frankly the military desperately needs investment. Most major pieces of equipment are at least 30 years old and at retirement age. Without new aircraft and soon, all there will be left to fly are Pampas and Pucaras. The Mirages are no longer flying, except for air shows and only 18 of the 30 A-4AR are operational. The navy is in a similar state, the ship are well cared for in that they are Bristol and look new. However they are not mechanically maintained since there is no money. Hence they barely sail and most (if not all the) ordinance has been expended or expired.
As mentioned, Argentina doesn't spend money on its military even in times of boom. Right now with massive inflation and economic contraction, it's simply not happening. Two things are basically required. A new administration with new ideas and an economic upturn. Fortunately, in Argentina these two things historically go hand in hand.
If I sound sarcastic and cynical that is because after a while this becomes a joke and a game to try and read between the lines of official releases. Sometimes one tries to think of the most ridiculous thing that can be announced and see who is closest.
We will revisit this topic in 2015 when the government announces their new hair brained scheme to acquire some J-10s.
These will soon be the only aircraft the FAA will be flying:
IA-58 Pucara
IA-62 Pampa
I will now get back to bottling my Malbec
