DefensePeru denies F-16 selection for fighter replacement program
The Peruvian government has denied that the Lockheed Martin F-16 has been selected for the country’s long-running fighter replacement program, countering recent rumors that the US-built aircraft was already favored in the process, according to statements reported by La Republica.
Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez said the acquisition of up to 24 new combat aircraft for the Peruvian Air Force (FAP), backed by a budget of about $3.5 billion approved by Congress, would be shaped by geopolitical considerations linked to the United States’ current global leadership. He said the decision involved not only defense needs but also foreign policy and economic factors tied to changes in the international environment.
Peru is seeking to replace its aging fleet of Mirage 2000, MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft. Studies conducted by the air force previously identified three candidates that meet operational requirements: the Dassault Rafale F4, Saab Gripen E/F and the F-16 Block 70.
US officials have proposed supplying 12 F-16 Block 70 aircraft while the FAP requirement calls for 24 fighters. The reported US offer is valued at about $3.42 billion, and there has been no indication that it has been revised to match the full quantity sought.
Álvarez’s remarks triggered questions inside Peru’s defense establishment. Sources quoted by the newspaper said key institutions involved in the acquisition process, including the armed forces procurement agency and the national audit office, were not aware of any political decision to select a specific model.
The prime minister said the fighter acquisition should be viewed as part of a long-term national policy rather than a conventional procurement, citing technology transfer and offset obligations that could require the supplier country to invest in economic and social projects in Peru.
Peru’s selection process takes place as other South American air forces move ahead with fleet renewals. Brazil is inducting Saab Gripen fighters, the same model chosen by Colombia, while Argentina has agreed to acquire 24 second-hand F-16 fighters from Denmark.
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