Purchase Chinese Fighters in Doubt After Budget Publication

China’s hopes for a multi-role fighter deal may have fallen through, after Argentine President Alberto Fernandez announced his $664 million defense budget.

The JF-17 fighter was thought to be one of the front runners for the country’s upcoming fighter purchase, which would allow China to establish a foothold for its aerospace export products in South America for the first time. The Chengdu FC-1/JF-17 Thunder was thought to be a prime contender to replace Argentina's retired Dassault Mirage IIIs after they left service in 2015. The joint Chinese/Pakistani effort remains competitive on cost and support, but Prensa said that a fighter buy would be more wasteful than it's worth. 

In his remarks on the missing purchase in the budget, he said that the country has to allocate its funds on "things more important than military aircraft". Alluding to the financial difficulties rife throughout the region, Prensa added "we are a "very unequal continent, but there's no war, because we seek unity among our countries." The turn is a surprise, given last year's budget. In 2021, Argentina's Ministry of Defense had acknowledged preliminary reports of a possible purchase, adding that the Chengdu was only one of 5 possible aircraft under research. Alternatives would have been the MiG-35, the Indian Tejas, and used F-16s from the Danish Air Force.

For now, at least, a deal is on the backburner, in all likelihood, awaiting improved economic conditions.

FMI: www.scmp.com