The launches conducted in Río IV mark the beginning of flight operations of the Argentine Air Force’s new weapon system, while a $33.2 million contract expands pilots’ preparation for operational transition.
The Argentine Air Force has stopped its flight operations this Monday, March 30, 2026 F-16-Fighter jets taken from Área Material Río IV. According to the Argentine Ministry of Defense, two launches marked 09:28 a.m. and 09:31 a.m. “the beginning of a new stage“ for the weapon system in the country, as part of the training program for Argentine pilots and with technical support from the company Top Aces.
The start of flights comes just a few months after the operational presentation of the first six received from Argentina F-16which took place on December 6, 2025 at the Río Cuarto complex in Córdoba. At the time, the Argentine government said the arrival of the first batch marked a leap in Fuerza Aérea Argentina’s operational and deterrence capability, while restoring supersonic capability lost since the Mirage was retired in 2015.
In parallel, Top Aces announced on March 16 a multi-year contract worth $33.2 million to provide F-16 pilot training for the Argentine Air Force. According to the company, the agreement was awarded by the 338th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron and is being held by U.S. Air Force Security Assistance Training Squadron managed. The aim is to accelerate Argentina’s transition to F-16 operations while the fleet acquired from Denmark enters service.
The program provides full combat aircraft training, from basic qualification courses to mission training, squad leader qualification and instructor training.
Top Aces explained that the contract covers two years of training, with the option to extend for a third year. The activities will be carried out at Argentine Air Force bases themselves, using the country’s own F-16 and combining classroom teaching, advanced simulators and real flights.
The new phase also relies on the infrastructure created to support the operation of the model. On March 19, the Argentine Air Force announced the inauguration of the Centro de Instrucción y Capacitación de Mantenimiento de F-16 in Tandil, a facility dedicated to technical training and reducing external dependency in order to maintain the operational readiness of the fleet.
With the first flights already carried out and a structured training program for pilots and maintenance personnel, Argentina is making progress towards the effective integration of the F-16 as the main carrier of its combat aviation.
This move consolidates a new stage in the modernization process of the country’s air defense and expands its ability to respond and monitor airspace.
Source and images: Ministry of Defense of Argentina / @MinDefensa_Ar. This content was created using AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
