A delegation from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Indian ambassador met with senior Argentine military officials to explore cooperation on the LCA Tejas fighter aircraft and various helicopter options.
In continuation of the joint working agenda to strengthen bilateral strategic relations, Indian Ambassador to Argentina, Dinesh Bhatia, and a delegation from Indian aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited met with senior officers of the Argentine Air Force and Army to promote Indian defense products to meet the requirements for renewal of the supersonic multi-role fighter and helicopter fleets.
Amb @dineshbhatia joined the @HALHQBLR ???????? delegation to meet Brig Gen Xavier Isaac, Chief of Argentine ???????? Air Force and @FuerzaAerea_Arg technical team, to discuss cooperation in #Tejas Combat Aircrafts and a variety of helicopter options manufactured by HAL @makeinindia pic.twitter.com/ajwAQcpo0K
— India in Argentina (@Indembarg) June 5, 2023
LCA Tejas
Brig Gen. Xavier Isaac, Chief of the Argentine Air Force (FAA) and his technical team received the Indian diplomatic delegation and the envoys of the HAL company, with whom they discussed the possibilities of incorporating the Tejas Mk-1A light combat aircraft as the new fourth generation supersonic multirole fighter.
Although Argentina had made its interest in the Indian fighter official in August 2022, this option was not mentioned again by the FAA leadership in 2023, focusing its attention on the Sino-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter and the U.S. offer for 32 second-hand ex-Denmark F-16AMs.
However, Denmark recently expressed its willingness to cede its F-16s to Ukraine as part of a coalition of European countries seeking to equip the Ukrainian Air Force with these fighters so that they can better engage the Russian Air Force.
For this reason, the U.S. offer for second-hand F-16s may no longer be on the table, which would improve the chances of the Tejas, which could be presented as a politically neutral option in Washington, which in no way wants Argentina to acquire the Chinese fighters.
Made in India Helicopters
Broadening the cooperation agenda between Strategic Partners – India ???????? & Argentina ????????, Amb @dineshbhatia & @HALHQBLR delegation, met General Guillermo Pereda, Chief of staff of @Ejercito_Arg at @MindefArg to present opportunities for collaboration in @makeinindia helicopters pic.twitter.com/0ylX9oyJ9B
— India in Argentina (@Indembarg) June 5, 2023
In addition to the LCA Tejas, the Indian delegation also presented its line of helicopters (developed and manufactured by HAL) to the Air Force Chief of Staff and General Guillermo Pereda, Chief of Staff of the Argentine Army.
One of its products, the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) MK-1, was already tested by an Argentine military delegation in October 2022, which was looking for a replacement to replace the old SA-315 LAMAs. Finally, the Argentine Ministry of Defense opted for the purchase of six Bell 407GXi. But while waiting for the arrival of the Bell 407GXi, in February this year the FAA signed an agreement with HAL for the supply of spare parts and engine repair of the SA-315 LAMA helicopters.
Other helicopter models that could have been offered are the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-DHRUV), a new generation twin-engine, multi-role, multi-mission aircraft weighing 5.5 tons, of which more than 336 units were produced in different versions (mainly for the Indian Armed and Security Forces); and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), a light combat helicopter that is entering service with the Indian Army and Air Force.
