The advantages of the F16 purchased by the government

The The first six F-16AM/BM Block 15 MLU They arrived at the Río Cuarto base in Córdoba with a flyover over Buenos Aires and a ceremony presided over by President Javier Milei. According to former Air Force chief Mario Miguel Callejo, these modernized aircraft with the “Have Glass V” stealth coating, replacing the retired Mirage, represent a leap in the country’s strategic capability Fontevecchia modeon Net TV, Radio Perfil (AM 1190), stated: “Supersonic capability is directly linked to sovereignty”

Military man Mario Miguel Callejo is a retiree with the rank of brigadier general in the Argentine Air Force and a veteran of the Malvinas War. He served as a fighter pilot in the VI. Air Brigade and flew the Mirage Dagger weapon system from San Julián military airfield. Between July 2013 and January 2016, he was Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Air Force, making him one of the highest authorities in this armed force. He currently leads the Air Battle for Our Malvinas Islands (BANIM) Commission, dedicated to collecting testimonies from veterans.

It seems to me that no one has more competence to explain to us in a didactic way whether the F16s acquired by the Argentine government are really useful. What restrictions are there on possible use in the Malvinas area? At the same time, the technological comparison with the F18, with which the US armed forces flew over the Gulf of Maracaibo in Venezuela last week, is also interesting. That’s why we listen carefully to them from a strategic and technical perspective.

The Incorporation of the F16 into Argentina It means restoring the supersonic capacity that we had until we had the Mirage. Supersonic capability is directly linked to sovereignty; It is the response to any kind of threat in space. The F16 is a fourth-generation, combat-proven aircraft; Thousands of aircraft are manufactured and has proven to be effective in every area of ​​application of the world. The fact of having it incorporated means a very important step, in addition to the fact that they are already equipped with a half-life test carried out, the famous MLU, with a half-life that makes this possible estimate its use until 2040.

As for the difference to the F18, this is a different type of aircraft. The majority of the airborne material with which the United States Navy is equipped is embarked aircraft replaced the F14 Tomcat what they had until not so long ago. They are aircraft of different capacities, since the F18 has two engines, which gives it a little more carrying capacity, but has the characteristics of an onboard aircraft, which gives it a different design.

I think the Brigadier froze as he explained to us, despite our differing military knowledge, that one thought it was the F18 and the other thought it was 14 as if they were car models. The 18 is newer than the 14, but in this case one is a ship’s aircraft leaving an aircraft carrier and the others are coming from land, like the Mirages you refer to. It would be the brigadier. I apologize if I’m technically wrong, but I imagine it must be something similar to the Falklands War, the Super Étendard, which were naval aircraft.

You had already explained the difference to the F18. I have made my own technical ignorance clear. From the perspective of the actual conflict that Argentina is facing, which is located in the southern zone with the rest of the islands of the South Atlantic archipelago, the use of these aircraft against, for example, a NATO member is not prohibited. I’m wondering if they work for a certain type of defense but not for another.

No, I spoke to the current chief general about this and There is no document penalizing the use of the aircraft as a system, still with weapons. Of course, this is one of the first steps of equipment, but there are no restrictions related to the UK or any other country. In this sense, Argentina is sovereign to dispose of the weapon system that it acquires from the United States, with all the terms and conditions of its use.

Brigadier, could you compare these aircraft to the Mirage or the Super Étendard from the Malvinas era?

We’re talking about the first generation, the Korean War, in which almost only cannons were used. The second generation, during the Vietnam War, already had the Phantom and the A4 and other models. The first intelligent missiles appear and the modernization of weapons is being implemented. The third generation were our Mirages, with Guided missiles and supersonic capability; This is where the idea of ​​the multi-purpose aircraft begins, because even before that, in World War II, there were large aircraft, bombers and fighters that were intended for specific tasks. The concept of a multi-role aircraft with the capability for air-to-air combat and attacks with significant weapons is emerging.

Air traffic controllers will strike during the holidays and thousands of flights could be affected

Then comes the fourth generation aircraft in which the F16 appears, which represented a revolution in the aviation world, especially in combat aviation, with the famous wired controls. The entire dynamic part of the aircraft is controlled by a computer, which makes this possible great freedom of action for the pilotwithout having to worry about the limitations of the aircraft or engine. For example, with the Dagger and the M5 we had limitations in maneuvers; If the speed fell below a certain level, we had to use the motor channel to prevent it from switching off. The dynamics of the F16 are Computer commandedwhich frees the pilot. In addition, the design is revolutionary: the hydraulic actuators have been replaced by electric cables, making it very maneuverable and with excellent air-to-air performance.

Later, in Fourth generation aircraft intelligent weapons are integrated; in the fourth and fifth generation aircraft with a tilting exhaust pipe that enables advanced maneuvers, such as the R35 in the US fleet. At the same time, all laser-guided and intelligent weapons are being perfected.

MV/ff