The aircraft is among six expected to reach Argentina in December 2025, while the remaining 18 are to be delivered by 2028.
The Argentine Air Force’s (Fuerza Aérea Argentina) first operational ex-Danish F-16B MLU (Mid-Life Upgrade) Block 15, a twin-seat jet, has been unveiled at Denmark’s Aalborg Air Base, showed images emerged on social media on Sep. 19, 2025, and shared by Argentine Defense Minister Luis Petri. The aircraft, tail number M-1001, is part of the first six of 24 airframes, expected to arrive at Río Cuarto (Rio IV Material Area of the FAA) by December.
Deliveries of the rest of the F-16s are planned to be made between 2025 and 2028. The aircraft M-1001 bears full FAA markings in a dark grey paint scheme, with Petris saying the F-16s are “being prepared to fly to Argentina.”
“The Defense Maintenance Service (FVT) has completed the painting and preparation process for the first 6 aircraft destined for the FAA,” said Petri. “With modernized systems, surface treatments, and standardized paint according to NATO specifications, the F-16s, acquired by decision of President Javier Milei, will soon soar through our skies.”
En Dinamarca, los F-16 se preparan para volar a la Argentina.
El Servicio de Mantenimiento para la Defensa (FVT) completó el proceso de pintado y puesta a punto de las primeras 6 aeronaves destinadas a la @FuerzaAerea_Arg. Asimismo, un equipo multidisciplinario integrado por… pic.twitter.com/7oBiWeH3fI
— Luis Petri (@luispetri) September 19, 2025
In April 2024, Argentina and Denmark inked a $300 million contract to buy 24 second-hand former RDAF F-16A/B MLU jets under the Peace Condor program. The program was green lit by Washington the previous year, and also included four flight simulators, engines and spares for the aircraft over five years. The U.S. approved another $941 million package in October that year for weapons and spares.
Flight to Argentina and preparations
Regarding the aircraft’s flight to Argentina, Petri said that the effort has been led by a multidisciplinary team of FAA’s personnel from the F-16 Program and the DALO (Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization). Petri additionally said “the USAF is planning the transfer of the planes, which will have support from KC-135R refuelers and a C-130 Hercules.”
This suggests the aircraft would fly on its own power, with the KC-135 Stratotanker from the U.S. Air Force refueling them along the way. The C-130 could be from the FAA, meant to carry the aircraft’s spares and service personnel, for the roughly 11,000 km (7,326 mile) journey.
📍Aalborg, #Denmark (🇩🇰)
The first official images of the @FuerzaAerea_Arg’s (🇦🇷) first flying unit have been unveiled at Aalborg Air Base.
The F-16B MLU (#: M-1001) is a 2-seat trainer and will be one of the first to arrive in December. https://t.co/bXHJrNhy1h pic.twitter.com/is6l2MfY3e
— SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) September 19, 2025
A joint delegation of the USAF’s AFSAT (Air Force Security Assistance Training Squadron), part of the AETC (Air Education and Training Command), private ADAIR (Adversary Air) services provider Top Aces and DALO also visited Argentina “to inspect facilities, infrastructure, and procedures of the Argentine Air Force (FAA),” Zona Militare reported on Sep. 11. This was in preparation for the “upcoming incorporation of six F-16AM/BM fighters planned for December and the start of the transition course scheduled for January 2026 in Río Cuarto,” the report added.
Zona Militar also revealed that Argentina and the U.S. signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) that covered the services of Top Aces “to train Argentine pilots” on the F-16s and its weapons systems. Buenos Aires is also signing agreements with other air forces to recruit foreign instructors in the future for exchange programs.
Hoy visitamos la base logística de Aalborg, en Dinamarca, donde se alistan los F-16 que pronto integrarán la @FuerzaAerea_Arg. Supervisamos los trabajos sobre los primeros seis cazas que llegarán en diciembre y analizamos cada aspecto logístico de la operación de transferencia.… pic.twitter.com/Se2zUoVSni
— Luis Petri (@luispetri) June 24, 2025
On Jun. 24, Petri also shared images and videos of him visiting Aalborg Air Base, where at least two other former RDAF F-16s are seen undergoing conversion. On Jun. 25, Petri signed an agreement with Terma Global, to “provide fundamental improvements in Electronic Warfare systems, and hardware updates, mission planning tools, support equipment, and technical assistance.”
Infrastructure work
The report of Zona Militar also touched upon the role of AFSAT, Top Aces and DALO. AFSAT is responsible for coordinating with the FAA on the training curriculum for the F-16s. The Top Aces team toured units like the 6th Air Brigade in Tandil – learning about the DART tactical training system, the 4th Air Brigade in Mendoza -to observe “tactical flights” with the IA-63 Pampa, and the Military Aviation School – where the Texan II Ground-Based Training System (GBTS) is based.
In the Río IV Material Area, they “inspected facilities and procedures, and verified pilot training and English proficiency.” DALO meanwhile is validating the F-16-related infrastructure and maintenance systems, beside flying the F-16s from Denmark to Argentina.
Firmamos un acuerdo clave para avanzar en la modernización y preparación operativa de los 24 F-16 adquiridos a la Real Fuerza Aérea de Dinamarca, con el objetivo de que estén listos para volar y adaptados a las necesidades de nuestra @FuerzaAerea_Arg.
La empresa @Terma_Global… pic.twitter.com/IPGZitfBHE
— Luis Petri (@luispetri) June 25, 2025
DALO “surveyed the runway works, installation of braking systems and tasks carried out by the National Airport System Regulatory Agency (ORSNA) at Río Cuarto Airport and Tandil Air Base.” The work on the 2,260 meter runway at Río Cuarto includes “resurfacing, conditioning, and friction and braking distance measurements,” as well as braking zones and overrun zones with the BAK-12 system.
The Argentine MoD told the Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies in a written response about teams of technicians and mechanics in the U.S., and pilots in Argentina who would move to Denmark by October to continue the rest of the training. The FAA is also preparing to receive the “initial support package” from Denmark via the sea route in October and coordinate “additional C-130 flights to transport sensitive material between October and December.”
Argentina’s Peace Condor program
The FAA received its first F-16B MLU (Mid-Life Upgrade) Block 10, a twin-seat variant, on Dec. 16, 2024, in a disassembled state aboard the service’s KC-130H Hercules at El Palomar. The aircraft departed from Denmark’s Aalborg Air Base, and was later transported to Tandil Air Base.
The FAA’s VI Brigade then unveiled it with full service markings, livery and tail number M-1210, on Feb. 24, 2025, at Tandil. This aircraft however is not a flying airframe, and would only be employed for training purposes. The aircraft was previously numbered ET-210 while in Danish service, and was coincidentally involved in the operationalization of RDAF’s (Royal Danish Air Force) F-35s, flying as chase plane at Edwards AFB, California, during testing.
The FAA has been without a supersonic fighter since 2015, after retiring its last Dassault Mirage IIIs. The service has relied, since then, on the older generation A-4AR Fightinghawk, with around 30 jets bought from the U.S. in 1983 after the Falklands War.
