CÓRDOBA.- THE PRESIDENT Javier Milei led the presentation of the in Las Higueras, in the south of Córdoba six F-16 fighter jets acquired from Denmark and took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of the appointment to the Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Presti And criticize Kirchnerism and at the same time reevaluate the concept of “sovereignty”. “The only way to be a sovereign country is to build wealth and defend it,” he said.
Milei claimed that the F-16s were a “symbol” of the country’s reconstruction: “Today, more than ever, we can say that the forces of heaven accompany us.”
“Kirchnerism demonized our armed forces (…) They had left us defenseless. Today we once again give the role of homeland defense the place it deserves“, he explained.
He described the integrated aircraft as “the new guardians of Argentine airspace. From today, each of us will be a little safer.”
Regarding Presti, he said: “He is a person who is ready to do the right thing for the country,” and criticized the political sectors that questioned his appointment. He highlighted his career and pointed out that no one knows more about defense than a soldier.
He thanked Luis Petri –“Leaves a great legacy”–who was just a few meters away from him during one of his last activities in defense, since he will hold his seat as a national deputy from the 10th. He was responsible for purchasing the aircraft – there are 24 operational aircraft and one for training – for $301.2 million in five interest-free annual installments from Denmark.
His sister came with the president Karina Milei; And the leadership of the air force. In The delegation also includes Chief of Staff Manuel Adornis; the interior ministers, Diego Santilli and the economy, Luis Caputo and the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Martin Menem. Apparently the people of Cordoba joined in, led by Gabriel BornonoriHead of the libertarian bloc.
Governor Martín Llaryora did not attendwho is recovering after planned surgery. The vice-governor Myrian Prunotto represented the province.
The half dozen F-16s They landed in the Río Cuarto material area yesterday afternoonwhere they gathered despite the great heat Hundreds of people to observe the aircraft that took off from Vojens (Denmark) on November 28th and made stopovers in Zaragoza and the Canary Islands (Spain). Today they took off to fly over CABA and returned to Córdoba.
One of the training pilots, Gaston Etchercomes from Las Higueras, the town next to the Río Cuarto where the military installation is located. Before the event began, as they positioned themselves outside the hangars, the F-16s made airstrikes several low flights, a spectacle that was very well received by the audience.
The national government is considering “a strategic milestone consolidating the restoration of supersonic cruise capability and strengthens the defense of the national airspace” the purchase of four two-seat F-16BMs and two single-seat F-16AMs, fourth-generation fighter units, whose flight-hour cost for fuel, maintenance and operating costs is estimated at approximately US$20,000.
In her report to the Chamber of Deputies just over a month ago, Luciana Carrasco, Petri’s chief of defense staff, said that “every peso invested underlines a clear political message: national defense is not an expense, but an investment in sovereignty, freedom and the future.” Petri had already said that purchasing modernized F16s equipped with technological advances was an aviation purchase.most important since 1983“.