I think if Argentina actually increased its def budget as suggested and was realistic about modernizing it s air forces then one of the first things that would have to go would be the Navy’s SuEs and Trackers. They are a very expensive thing to have and, again realisticaly, Argentina is not going to get another aircraft carrier. They should also accept the premis that they will probably only be able to afford two “fighter” sqdrns. (my pref would be Grippen) The fact that they are apparently going to get KC390 is very good news indeed, and I would hope that they would have at least four of them equiped with the tanker package. For everything else IMHO it would seem wisest to see what sort of deal Embraer could give them for transports and MPAs.

wilhelm you may want to read up on Pakistan’s Mirage Rebuild Factory.

Oh, and no the Mirages are not all being retired in 2 years.

Everything Iv heard and read has said the PAF intends to phase out their Mirage III/Vs by 2015. Has this changed?

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They have a fast jet capability right now. The A-4AR has been their best equiped a/c for the past 15 years.

Nice selection of weapons on these A-7s.

355th1 Thats my dad’s old unit1

I remember in 4th grade (1978) my class went on a field trip to Davis Monthan AFB where my dad flew these ugly little planes. We got to sit in the cockpit of one of them for a very brief time, but I recall it was one of the better outings we had.

From what I can gather, Argentina has expressed interest in 6 aircraft, which was announced by Embraer.

In context of this thread, one would think that the selection of a common platform to perform AEW, ECM/ELINT, Maritime Patrol/ASW, Airborne Refuelling, and Transport would make sense from a training, maintenance, and spares point of view.

Even looking at their current reduced and old inventory, and in the hypothetical scenario of this thread, it would amount to at least 30 airframes, probably more.

My initial post in the thread was along these lines, in attempting to completely renew the airforce, and reduce the hotch-potch number of aircraft types being fielded.

2 combat jet types
1 common platform type (KC-390)
1 jet trainer/LIFT type
1 turboprop/basic trainer type
1 medium helicopter type
1 light helicopter type

Compare that to the current disparate types operated.

For the inevitable one off, specialised or ancilliary roles, limited numbers of different types can be purchased, and perhaps operated in mixed squadrons, as is done by other airforces.

I tend to agree with most of your post but I would try to get it to a single combat type (Gripen being my prefered as probably most afordable unless the US would agree to F-16) in two batches. The first would replace the Mirage interceptors and the second would replace the Skyhawks. Also I would see two types in the transport/MPA/ELINT/tanker role…….KC-390 as a tanker/airlifter and ERJ-145/E-99/R-99/P-99 in the personel transport, AEW/ELINT, MPA role.

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