By Girish Linganna
Feb 17: President Javier Milei's new government in Argentina is still deciding which fighter jet to choose for its air force. One option being strongly promoted is India's Tejas multirole fighter jet.
On February 6, India's ambassador to Argentina and Uruguay, Dinesh Bhatia, had a meeting with Air Force Brigadier Mayor Fernando Luis Mengo in Argentina. They talked about Argentina possibly buying Tejas fighter jets and helicopters made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a company in India. This was mentioned in a statement from the Indian embassy in Buenos Aires. The Tejas jet, made in India by HAL, has not been sold to any other country yet.
India is in a tough spot in Argentina's decision on which fighter jet to buy, facing competition from both the US and China. The US is hoping Argentina will pick used F-16 jets from the Royal Danish Air Force, while China is suggesting the JF-17 Thunder, a jet developed jointly with Pakistan. Meanwhile, Argentine media has been buzzing with the possibility that Buenos Aires might choose to purchase up to 18 Tejas jets from India if they decide to accept India's offer.
It's not certain how the Tejas stands among the choices for Argentina's Air Force, but there have been several discussions lately. In July last year, Jorge Taiana, who was Argentina's Defense Minister at the time, went to New Delhi. There, he signed an agreement with HAL, the company that makes the Tejas, to update Argentina's military helicopters.
Buenos Aires is keen on working together to produce HAL's Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). When Taiana visited India, he also toured the HAL facilities where they build the Tejas jet. Similarly, in March 2022, the Air Force commander at the time, Brig. Gen. Xavier Julián Isaac, made a trip to India and visited HAL's production sites.
Recently, in June, a team from HAL went to Buenos Aires. They were there to discuss the possibility of Argentina buying Tejas fighter jets, and they met with the top officials of the service, including Isaac.
Argentina stopped using its Dassault Mirage jets in 2015 and has been looking for a new fighter jet since then. The government under President Alberto Fernández, which lasted from 2019 to 2023, did not sign any deals to buy new main combat planes or to start making HAL helicopters together. Now, questions remain about the future steps. The new president, Milei, who took office in December, has stated that there isn't enough money for big military purchases. However, the recent meeting between Bhatia, India's ambassador, and a top Air Force official shows that India is still trying to win over Buenos Aires.
One project to update the Air Force is still progressing: On February 5, the Air Force got the first of two Embraer ERJ 140 LR transport planes. This aircraft, called "Vuelo del Pampero" with the tail number T-95, and its upcoming partner "Paloma Gaucha" (T-96), will join Squadron II of the Aerial Transport Group 1.
India has hardly made a mark in the defense market of Latin America. In 2008, Ecuador bought seven HAL Dhruv utility helicopters, but four of them crashed, with at least one crash leading to deaths. By 2015, the remaining helicopters were not in use. Also, following a trip to India in January 2023, the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, mentioned plans to purchase one or two HAL Dornier 228 aircraft for various uses. Yet, a year has passed, and there's still no official agreement.
India's notable achievement in Latin America's defense sector involves Chile. In 2021, the Chilean Navy acquired the Anchor Handling, Towing, Supply, and Standby Vessel (AHTSSV) named Janequeo (ATF-65). This vessel, built by Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding in India, is now part of Chile's operations in Antarctica.