UK Defence Forum

ArmChairCivvy wrote:

abc123 wrote:I'm glad to see that someting is moving in Argentina

It was meant to be something else (when the IMF gave them $51 bn ); how do you reconcile your statement with rationale for those monies?
"The Argentine authorities’ economic plan backed by the SBA aims to strengthen the country’s economy by restoring market confidence via a consistent macroeconomic program that lessens financing needs, puts Argentina’s public debt on a firm downward trajectory, and strengthens the plan to reduce inflation by setting more realistic inflation targets and reinforcing the independence of the central bank. Importantly, the plan includes steps to protect society’s most vulnerable by maintaining social spending and, if social conditions were to deteriorate, by providing room for greater spending on Argentina’s social safety net."

And what would $ 51 bn make?
- by coincidence: 38.62 bn GBP... does that number ring a bell?

Considering current state of Argentinian Navy, I don't really see nothing wrong with buying of 4 OPVs. Maybe they should buy some cheaper OPV, like that Chilean/Colombian OPV, but they do need new ships...

abc123 wrote:they do need new ships...

I wonder why the IMF that is "generally" considered a reactionary/ fiscally conservative organisation prioritised the spending on social safety nets?

More specifically, if you take UK's share of IMF capital ('quotas') and multiply the £ 38 620 mln with it, you get £ 1637 mln... whch is the amount we underwrite/ guarantee when it is raised from the international capital markets
Hey! That's what we should do, to get the T31 budget up from £ 1250 mln

ArmChairCivvy wrote:

abc123 wrote:they do need new ships...

Hey! That's what we should do, to get the T31 budget up from £ 1250 mln

Not a bad idea.

Super!

https://en.mercopress.com/2019/04/20/fi ... -argentina

Wonder how long they’ll be serviceable for?

Qwerty wrote:Super!

https://en.mercopress.com/2019/04/20/fi ... -argentina

Wonder how long they’ll be serviceable for?

Why does the article state that the French are being generous in selling these air frames and the OPVs? Surely it's just business, or are the French selling at knock down prices?

They should last quite a while, and they will be by far the most advanced jets in service in Argentina. Their original Super Etendards are truly worn out but have give good service. Five jets is only a token force though, no matter how capable.

dmereifield wrote:selling at knock down prices?

More than the 5 planes, already refurbed: Navy sources advanced they are hoping to recover with the coming spares some of the[ir own] decommissioned aircraft.
AND
The 13 million Euro purchase also includes a flight simulator, engines and spares

Then again, our Harriers went for a song (as most of the parts were compatible with the US 'B'-models)... that deal could even prolong the life of the Spanish Harrier (Matador) fleet "once the US takes these STOVL aircraft into service, it could hand over a few of them to Spain until the Spanish economy improves enough to allows the purchase of an F-35B package of its own".
- wings over Gibraltar

Lord Jim wrote: Five jets is only a token force though, no matter how capable.

The thing is that the pilots will only need conversion training as they retired their own last few a/c so recently
- a further saving (es. with the simulator thrown into the deal)

Yes it is a good deal for Argentina, far better than obtaining second hand Mirage F1s. As you say they know the aircraft and the Pilot can easily convert to it. I am sure they will appreciate its improved capabilities over the version they used to operate. Do we know if they also got any targeting pods for example?

Argentina getting 35 year old South Korean frigate (actually corvette class) for free. However, all missiles will be lost, and will be equipped only with guns.

As it is the same age as the MEKO350 and 140 they have, it is a bit surprising. But, I guess, South Korean navy was "properly" doing maintenance so their frigate is in "better" situation than Argentina's?
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/argenti ... uth-korea/

Kership Starts Construction Work for Argentina’s first OPV

Construction of the first of three new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) ordered by Argentina just started at the Piriou shipyard in Concarneau, France. A first block is already assembled while official delivery of the vessel is expected for March 2020.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... first-opv/

Sometimes I feel we missed a trick by not offering to build OPVs for Argentina in the UK.

Repair some relations, get some light orders, and know exactly what you're giving them.

RetroSicotte wrote:Sometimes I feel we missed a trick by not offering to build OPVs for Argentina in the UK.

Repair some relations, get some light orders, and know exactly what you're giving them.

Christina “The Bitch” Kirchner place a policy of not sourcing from the U.K.
This included components and sub-systems.

Which is why their JAS39 Gripen deal fell through (among hundreds of other reasons)!

Qwerty wrote:Christina “The Bitch” Kirchner place a policy of not sourcing from the U.K.
This included components and sub-systems.

Which is why their JAS39 Gripen deal fell through (among hundreds of other reasons)!

The 'veto' might have been the other way round?

ArmChairCivvy wrote:

Qwerty wrote:Christina “The Bitch” Kirchner place a policy of not sourcing from the U.K.
This included components and sub-systems.

Which is why their JAS39 Gripen deal fell through (among hundreds of other reasons)!

The 'veto' might have been the other way round?

Indeed. The UK instituted an export ban on all military and dual-use technology for use by Argentina in 2012. That ban was modified last year to only banning the export of equipment that is judged to enhance Argentine military capability.

Argentine Navy OPV Program Progressing Well

The head of the Argentine Navy (Armada de la República Argentina) visited Toulon Naval Base in Southern France to see the progress on the L'Adroit OPV and the overall program.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... sing-well/

Argentina selects Korean FA-50 fighter

Gareth Jennings, London - Jane's Defence Weekly
https://www.janes.com/article/89974/arg ... 50-fighter



The Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina - FAA) has selected the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 Fighting Eagle to be its new interim fighter aircraft, Jane's has been told.

An informed source said that the supersonic, twin-seat light fighter and attack aircraft has been selected following an evaluation that Jane's first reported in September 2016.

The source said he expects the government to sign off on the planned procurement "in the near future", with deliveries to commence shortly after. Argentina has national presidential elections at the end of October, and the source noted that these may slightly prolong the timeline, but that he still expects the deal to go through.

While Jane's was not told numbers, Argentine national media has reported an anticipated deal for 10 aircraft.

The FAA has a pressing need to acquire a new fighter type to replace the Dassault Mirage III and Mirage 5 fleets that were retired in late 2015, and the ageing Douglas A-4R Fightinghawk fleet that is proving increasing difficult and costly to maintain.

An Argentine delegation first visited the Republic of Korea Air Force's (RoKAF's) 16th Fighter Wing at Yecheon on 7 September 2016, when an FAA pilot tested a TA-50 Golden Eagle operational trainer variant of the FA-50.

Other aircraft types that the FAA has reportedly considered include the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Kfir, the Dassault Mirage F1, the Alenia M-346FT, the Aero L-159 ALCA, the CAC FC-1/PAC JF-17 Thunder, the Saab Gripen, early-model Eurofighter Typhoons, and the Sukhoi Su-24 'Fencer' (although this is widely believed to have been a hoax).

Has it already been mentioned on here that Brazil are giving Argentina two of their 206 type Submarines?

Lord Jim wrote:Has it already been mentioned on here that Brazil are giving Argentina two of their 206 type Submarines?

What's the source for this? Does it mention, by any chance, the two countries joint prgrm for a nuclear sub?

BTW, Argentina's peso is a good indicator for how many of these prgrms will come to pass
- though R4 news of yesterday had picked up from options market that for the next two months the implied uncertainty about the currency is surpassed by the good ol' £ (you know: used to be a reserve ccy that others could trust)

Slight error on my part. The transfer is for two Tupi class (Type 209/1400) submarines, agreed in a meeting between the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his Argentinian counterpart Mauricio Macri as reported in Jane's Navy International. The deal includes a full support and training package with the two boats to be delivered this year and for them to enter service in 2020. Brazil as also offered these Submarines to Peru who currently does not operate any submarines. These two boats will supplement Argentina's remaining TR1700 boat currently undergoing an upgrade and is due to return to service in 2021.

xav wrote: Argentine Navy OPV Program Progressing Well

The head of the Argentine Navy (Armada de la República Argentina) visited Toulon Naval Base in Southern France to see the progress on the L'Adroit OPV and the overall program.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... sing-well/

What happened to Argentina being part of the Frassmer 80 OPV program a long with Chile and Colombia

Tempest414 wrote: Frassmer 80 OPV program a long with Chile and Colombia

Isn't there one in construction, in Columbia , that is BMT hull... but Saab for all intents and purposes; as a warship

Naval Group starts Training of Argentine Navy OPV Crew

French shipbuilder Naval Group started training the first crew of the future Argentine Navy OPV A.R.A Bouchard. Bouchard is the former L’Adroit which was produced by Naval Group on its own funds and used by the French Navy from 2011 to 2018.

The crew consisting of 32 sailors will be trained over a period of 2 months. The vessel is set for delivery in mid-December. After which, the vessel will sail to its homeport: Mar del Plata in Argentina.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... -opv-crew/

The second of the four Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPVs) ordered for the Argentine Navy (Armada de la República Argentina) has been launched at Piriou’s Shipyards in Concarneau (Brittany, France).

Meirda... UK says no to the export of the Korean KA-50 to Argentina. The aircraft has UK components, including MB ejection seats.