Following the international uproar generated by the mention of the JF-17 Thunder in the budget proposal for fiscal year 2022, presented last week before the Argentine Congress, the The Argentine Ministry of Defense issued a statement indicating that it has not yet taken a position on the next Argentine supersonic fighter.
First published by Aviacionline, the budget proposal clearly indicates that the requested funding of $664 million is for the acquisition of the JF-17 Thunder Block III weapon system. In the same note, we clarified that this information (dumped in an official and public document) should be taken into account only as a purchase intention on the part of the FAA, and of its predilection for the Sino/Pakistani model, since that model is specifically mentioned. But that did not mean that it was a «closed case», since there is still room to negotiate other options, and the budget proposal may undergo modifications, before its eventual approval.
However, some journalistic media implied that the negotiations were concluded and that the purchase of the JF-17 Thunder Block III for the FAA (Argentine Air Force) was a done deal.
Officially, the Argentine Air Force is still in the technical-economic and financial evaluation stage of five alternatives for its next supersonic fighter. The budget request of US$ 664 million speaks of the FAA’s concrete purchase intention and sets a clear frame of reference that will guide the negotiations with the five bidders.
