Despite government calls to delay the acquisition and two ministers resigning, Peru appears to have already committed funds for the acquisition of 12 F-16 Block 70 fighters.
Peru has selected the F-16 Block 70 as its next multirole fighter, marking a major step in the modernization of the Fuerza Aérea del Perú (FAP). However, the acquisition has triggered a political crisis and tensions within the government.
Lockheed Martin confirmed on Apr. 23, 2026, that Peru intends to procure an initial batch of 12 aircraft. The selection concludes a long-running competition for the replacement of Peru’s current fleet of Mirage 2000s and MiG-29s, which included the F-16 Block 70, the Saab Gripen E and the Dassault Rafale.
The selection
The competition was launched in 2024, followed a year later by the request to the Swedish government to authorize the sale of Gripens and a U.S. Foreign Military Sale (FMS) authorization for the sale of the F-16 Block 70. The latter, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), was worth up to $3.42 billion.
“Peru’s choice of the F-16 underscores the aircraft’s unmatched operational performance and combat record, as well as its ability to meet the most pressing defense requirements,” said Mike Shoemaker, Vice President of Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin. “We are proud that the most advanced F-16 ever produced will help protect Peru’s national sovereignty while strengthening the enduring partnership between our nations.”
Initial reporting suggested uncertainty over the timing of the acquisition, however the U.S. Embassy in Peru shed more light on the deal on Apr. 22. According to the statement, the Peruvian government requested U.S. officials and Lockheed Martin representatives to not speak about the acquisition process publicly at any point, with the only official statements being released after the confirmation of the selection.
However, there were some additional hiccups that caused additional delays:
“On April 14, Lockheed Martin was informed in writing of its selection, with a technical signing scheduled for 7:00am and a ceremonial signing for 5:00pm on April 17. The U.S. team, both government officials and high-level Lockheed Martin executives, were ready to report to Las Palmas Air Base and the Presidential Palace as requested. The United States learned the signing was postponed via national radio. There is a correct way to do serious, credible business. A technical signing between authorized parties took place on April 20, 2026, with full awareness from the highest levels of the Peruvian government.”
Political crisis
According to Reuters, the signing on Apr. 17 was reportedly cancelled by interim President Jose Balcazar, citing concerns over tying the next government to a major defense commitment. He thus publicly stated that financial commitments related to the deal should be deferred to the next administration, which is expected to take office later this year.
As a consequence, Defense Minister Carlos Diaz and Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela resigned, citing Balcazar’s handling of the deal as one of the causes. “A strategic decision has been taken in the area of national security with which I have a fundamental disagreement,” Diaz said in his resignation letter.
U.S. officials were left baffled by the situation. Possibly referring to the cancelled signing on Apr. 17, U.S. Ambassador Bernie Navarro posted on X that if parties negotiate “with the U.S. in bad faith and undermine U.S. interests,” he would use, on behalf of U.S. President Donald Trump, “every available tool to protect and promote the prosperity and security of the United States.”
If you deal with the U.S. in bad faith and undermine U.S. interests, rest assured, I, on behalf of @POTUS Trump and his administration, will use every available tool to protect and promote the prosperity and security of the United States and our region.
— Embajador Navarro (@USAmbPeru) April 17, 2026
The Embassy also warned against further delays:
“The F-16 Block 70 is one of the most technically advanced and complex fighter aircraft ever built — including cutting-edge avionics, radar, weapons systems, and flight controls into a single, highly agile platform. In the case of Peru’s F-16 Block 70 jets, the United States offered to include two weapons systems that have never been placed on an F-16 to meet Peru’s specific requirements. Regarding arguments about postponing a decision: when a manufacturer plans for the delivery of a product of this caliber, there is no such thing as a small and inconsequential delay. There are hundreds of stakeholders, supply chain considerations, and detailed work that is put in motion to make this possible for Peru. Supplier contracts maintain cost for a finite period, then costs go up. Currently, each delay results in significant additional cost for industry partners. The same package will not be available in a couple months, or even a couple of weeks, due to increased supplier costs and interest from other countries given the dynamic context of the global world we all live in.”
First payment and the program
Peru’s Ministry of Economy and Finance and Ambassador Navarro later confirmed that the country had transferred $462 million to Lockheed Martin, described as a first payment for the new fighters. Navarro additionally said that the first aircraft are expected to be delivered between 2029 and 2030.
The 12 aircraft appear to be only the initial phase of the acquisition. In fact, according to reports, Peru intends to acquire up to 24 aircraft to fully replace the MiG-29s and Mirage 2000s.
So far, only the initial batch appears to have been authorized. It is unclear whether discussions are already in progress for the remaining 12 fighters or if this has been postponed to the new administration.
According to the DSCA notice, the deal includes ten single-seater F-16Cs and two twin-seater F-16Ds, powered by F110-GE-129 engines and thus qualifying as Block 70. In fact, Block 72 aircraft are powered by F100-PW-229 engines.
The deal also includes AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AN/ALQ-254 Viper Shield electronic warfare systems, AN/AAQ-28 Litening targeting pods and Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems II (JHMCS II) helmet-mounted displays. The DSCA notice also mentions an unspecified Infrared Search and Track system, while the U.S. Embassy said the deal also includes two unspecified weapons “that have never been placed on an F-16.”
