Government Extends Military Secrecy on Argentina's F-16 Jet Program

The Argentine government has expanded military secrecy surrounding its acquisition of F-16 fighter jets from Denmark. A new decree, published in the Official Bulletin, establishes specific protocols to protect information linked to the potential export of weapon system components for maintenance and revision.

This decision, formalized by Decree 735/2026, applies to the export of various materials associated with the 24 F-16 aircraft purchased in 2024. These include integral parts of the aircraft, engines, spare parts, real and training ammunition, and other related equipment. The decree aims to create a protective framework for operations where materials must be sent abroad for tasks such as maintenance, repair, or upgrades.

The F-16 weapon system commenced flight operations in the Río Cuarto Air Base on March 30, 2026. The decree emphasizes the need for mechanisms that allow export operations without compromising information deemed "sensitive." This extends the secrecy previously applied to various stages of the F-16 program's integration.

Previous decrees had already classified the acquisition contract, infrastructure works, and import of sensitive material as military secrets. The government views information about the capabilities, characteristics, and components of these systems as potentially impacting national defense. The current decree arrives as the first six F-16s, delivered last December, now require maintenance and upgrades involving international suppliers and specialized centers, necessitating the temporary export of certain components.