The South American nation weighs the pros and cons of the U.S.-made F-16 Fighting Falcon, the Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen, and the French Dassault Rafale as viable purchases.
Colombia is currently exploring which of the three fighter aircraft to adopt to replace its aging Israeli-made Kfir aircraft.
“This is an issue of sovereignty,” explains Colombian Minister of Defense Pedro Sanchez, who previously served as a general of the Colombian Air and Space Forces (FAC).
“We cannot leave Colombia unprotected in this capacity.”
Bogotá has not confirmed how many aircraft it now seeks to acquire or what it intends to spend, but as Reuters reported, “the government said in 2013 it had a $3.65 billion budget to purchase some sixteen planes.”
Sanchez stressed internal threats as driving Colombia’s need for the new aircraft.
“Armed groups like the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels, re-armed members of the demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and the Clan del Golfo crime gang have strengthened militarily and expanded territorially amid peace efforts,” Reuters added, citing Sanchez.
The American Fighter is Likely a Long-shot
The bad news for Lockheed Martin, which continues to manufacture the F-16 for foreign military sales (FMS), is that the Fighting Falcon is probably the dark horse of the three, driven by Washington’s gradual withdrawal of military aid to the South American country. The aerospace and defense giant had been looking to close a deal.
Still, with the potential threat of the United States pausing or cutting funding, which could limit the F-16’s capabilities, Bogotá may explore other options.
Last year, the U.S. approved an FMS of twenty-four F-16 Block 10/15 Fighting Falcons from Denmark to Argentina, while Lockheed Martin will oversee the fighters’ modernization. However, as previously reported, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) partly supported the sale to ensure Buenos Aires didn’t look to Beijing for its aircraft.
If Colombia opted for a French or Swedish aircraft, Washington may have fewer concerns.
The Euro Fighters: Dassault Rafale vs. Saab JAS 39 Gripen
Dassault’s Rafale has become one of the most “in-demand” fighters with clients in Africa and the Middle East, but that could work in Saab’s favor. Colombia needs new aircraft soon, and even as Dassault ramps up production, it could be several years before the first Rafale lands in South America.
Moreover, Brazil has adopted the JAS-39 Gripen, and even though that has resulted in a U.S. Department of Justice investigation over allegations of corruption, the Swedish-made fighter could be well-suited to operations in Colombia.
It is equipped with reinforced landing gear that positions the airframe high above the ground to prevent any debris from being sucked into the jet engine’s air intake. The JAS 39 was also developed with low maintenance requirements and wouldn’t require the same infrastructure as the F-16 or the Rafale.
That fact also explains why Peru has been showing interest in the Gripen. Peru operates around a dozen French-produced Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters, Russian-made Sukhoi Su-25, and Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters.
Santiago, like Bogotá, is now looking to modernize and expand its fleet of aircraft, and the JAS-39 Gripen could be seen as a cost-effective aircraft that is well-suited for the region.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites, with over 3,200 published pieces and over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author at [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock/ Kostas Alkousis.
