Comparing F-16 Block 50/52+ or F-18E/F to Rafale/Typhoon is like comparing an upgraded F-4 Phantom with F-15E. Of course they lost — they’re fundamentally older and inferior platforms. Take politics and value-for-money out of the game (as MMRCA Phase I did) and the older jets — incl. MiG-35 — don’t stand a chance.

AFAIK the USA does not recognise any Antarctic claims, & I think that is also true of China, Russia & many other countries.

Even more reason to have the ability to back one’s claims with military capabilities. Obviously this is hardly a pressing issue, I merely suggest it as a long-term consideration for Argentinean force planning.

Since 2009, SIPRI shows transfers to Sri Lanka of —

2 x Y-12 light transport aircraft (China)
2 x Bell 412 helicopters (USA)
6 x Super Dvora fast patrol boats (Israel)

I don’t see any basis in that, or specifically invoking India to make that conclusion, both of them were qualifying contenders (the only qualifying contenders), and Rafale won on L1 basis.

That’s the official story, sure.

One Argentine interest not given much attention here is the Antarctic, which could well become a point of economic (and therefore political) interest over the course of the century.

Integration means the beginning of the end. Just look at the EU. I’m only talking military alliance & cooperation.

Nic

So … basically you want a South American NATO despite the complete absence of a military threat to justify it?

The real external problems for the region (which are dwarfed by internal problems as everywhere else) are economic predations from international corps in USA, China, Europe etc. and all of that sort of thing is best addressed by ongoing integration projects such as UNASUR.

EDIT: If you’re merely suggesting that South American nations cooperate on development, acquisitions and maintenance facilities and so forth, then sure, and that stuff is already going on. Look at KC-390, Argentine/Brazil cooperation with A-4 Skyhawks, etc.

Brazil is already the regional power, what else do you want ?

Nicolas10 is right there — USA is still the regional power in South America.

Seems to me this is an historical/political/cultural question more than a military one. Probably more to be folded into questions regarding the potential furthering of South American integration extending UNASUR, e.g. common currency, etc.

That is where you are so very wrong.
What you are saying is the new politically correct bs that politicians who do not fight in wars use.

The point of war is, always has been and always will be to kill as many enemies as possible, as quickly as possible, so they can never attack again.
Failure to do that means the war is never over and will never be won.
History since WWII proves this out.

You’re a ******* moron.