Chinese media states the JF-17 is one of the top choices that could win the Argentina fighter deal over other competitors. This is the conclusion from the Global Times saying the recent meeting with several Argentinian officials to cooperate with national defense buying military hardware from China.

The JF-17 Top Contender for the Argentina Fighter Deal

Sabino Vaca Narvaja, Argentina's Ambassador to China, talked about the possible purchase of the JF-17 Thunder while attending the Chinese Airshow in Zhuhai in 2022, reported The Eurasian Times. He opened that possibility with an official from the China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corp.

Argentina looking to buy new fighters, has attracted interest in offering defense hardware like India. The HAL Tejas is one of these competing against the Chinese offering.

A visit to Denmark by a top Argentine Air Force mission was done recently to check used F-16 jets, which are F-16 A/B MLU fighters. Brigadier Diego Garcia was responsible for acquiring military hardware that their group would assess.

The Argentinian air force has been looking to update its capabilities for a long time, but finance with a British blockade has made it hard to buy the military equipment.

Recently the Argentine president, Alberto Fernandez postponed the procurement of planes because of more urgent national expenses, noted Yahoo Finance.

JF-17 Thunder Probable Option to Second-Hand Western Fighters

The defeat of Buenos Aires during the Falkland Islands War in 1982 led to the United Kingdom keeping its forces from modernization. One is imposing a ban on any sale of military hardware to Argentinians.

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Britain has intentionally prevented the purchase of a new fleet by limiting parts made in the UK.

But the US is talking to the UK to allow the export of Danish F-16s as an option to Argentina. But China is gaining more ground that can break in its Thunder jets which the US does not welcome.

Is the JF-17 Thunder a better option?

Chinese analysts on March 15 informed that the Thunder is an optimum choice for Buenos Aires due to its availability and performance.

 Military aviation expert Fu Qianshao explained the Argentinians want a new fleet with pertinent capabilities to match. An old fleet that needs help to maintain is one of the problems. This is due to the UK not allowing anyone to sell to Buenos Aires is aggressively blocked.

These embargoes have kept even the Swedes and Koreans from selling their aircraft. But the Chinese say it refutes what London says about Buenos Aires and supports Argentinian claims.

Qianshao added that the Thunder is easily acquirable for the Argentines with a choice of variants; Blocks 1, 2, and 3 are options for interested buyers.

Block 3 has advanced avionics, flight control systems, and AESA radar, with a combo of missiles for several ranges, which is the most expensive option. Block 1 and 2 are cheaper and with a commendable performance.

Another alternative is the Indian Tejas, China-Pakistan's JF-17, and the US F-16 for Buenos Aires, per Air Force Technology. Take note the F-16 has no AESA radar, but the Thunder has mid-refueling equipment.

Chinese media reports the JF-17 Thunder could end up winning the Argentina Fighter deal that still needs to be done.

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