Argentina cancels acquisition of Kfir jets at last minute
Defense Minister cancels agreement to receive 14 Kfir C10 combat jets due to opposition during country's recent elections.
Argentine Defense Minister Agustin Rossi recently cancelled, at the last minute, an agreement his government signed to buy 14 Kfir C10 combat planes for $360 million.
The Kfir was manufactured by Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) from the mid-1970s to the middle of the 1980s, and was sold to a number of foreign air forces and was even in use by the US Navy for a short period.
Today the IAI is offering jets that are out service in the Air Force, that have been renovated to "0 flying hours" in terms of wear and tear, and that have been equipped with an advanced Elta radar system and air-to-air missiles manufactured by Rafael. The upgrade gives the plane capabilities a modern fighter jet offers but at much lower cost.
The Argentine Air Force, which previously acquired Mirage aircraft made in Israel, was to receive in the coming year a part of the revamped Kfir aircraft following negotiations that lasted for two years and after considering at the same time the acquisition of F-16s and used Mirage jets. However, according to reports abroad, Argentina's opposition was angry that the deal was signed just before the country's elections. In light of the controversy raised, the defense minister decided to postpone the signing of the deal until a new government is established.
IAI did not respond to this incident.
