Argentina evaluates Korean FA-50 fighter
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
09 September 2016



The Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina - FAA) is evaluating the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 Fighting Eagle as a potential new platform, IHS Jane's has learned.

An Argentine delegation visited the Republic of Korea Air Force's (RoKAF's) 16th Fighter Wing at Yecheon on 7 September, according to the Facebook page of one of the FAA pilots who was also photographed taking-off in a TA-50 Golden Eagle operational trainer variant of the FA-50.

The FAA has a pressing need to acquire a new fighter type following the retirement of the Dassault Mirage III and Mirage 5 fleets in late 2015, and the subsequent grounding of the Douglas A-4R Fightinghawk fleet.

Although billed as a 'light' fighter, the FA-50 has a potent air-to-air and air-to-surface capability. According to IHS Jane's All the World's Aircraft: In Service , the type carries AIM-9L/M/N/P/S Sidewinder missiles and is equipped with an internal cannon for the former role, and for the latter it is cleared to carry the AGM-65A/D/G Maverick; Mk 82, Mk 83, Mk 84 and BLU-109 general purpose bombs; GBU-31, -32 and -38 guided weapons; CBU-52/58/71, CBU-103/104/105 and Mk 20 Rockeye II cluster munitions; LAU-68/131 and LAU-3A/5003 rocket pods; and the Textron Defense Systems CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon. The type has already been fielded by South Korea and the Philippines, with Iraq set to receive its first aircraft shortly and Peru considering an offer of the aircraft also.

Besides the FA-50, the FAA is considering the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Kfir; Dassault Mirage F1; Alenia M-346FT; and Aero L-159 ALCA as possible fighter platforms. IHS Jane's understands that the service is looking at between 10 and 12 new aircraft to field a credible combat capability.

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