MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peruvian navy interested in Argentine manufactured sea-air missiles

Peruvian Admiral Rolando Navarrete Salomón

The Peruvian Navy expressed interest in the acquisition of Argentine manufactured missiles currently under development, basically a version of the sea air Aspide, according to a Monday release from the Argentine Defence ministry.

“We have an interest in the possibility of acquiring naval missiles manufactured by the Argentine defence industry”, said the commander of the Peruvian Navy Admiral Rolando Navarrete Salomón currently visiting Argentina.

During a meeting with Argentine Defence minister Nilda Garré the Peruvian officer thanked the Argentine Navy for having provided technological support and for the technical staff exchange program between the two countries. Defence cooperation in the region was another of the issues addressed.

However the recovery and reconditioning of missiles currently undertaken by the Argentine Navy with the Argentine Defence Scientific and Technical Research Institute was of particular interest to the Peruvians.

“The program has enabled the reconditioning of the sea-air Aspide missile with which the (Argentine) MEKO 160 and 340 frigates are equipped”, points out the Defence Ministry release recalling that work is also advanced in other missiles such as the Magic and Exocet.

As part of his round of contacts Admiral Navarrete Salomón is scheduled to visit Puerto Belgrano the seat of the Argentine Navy and its main air-naval base.

Aspide is an Italian missile system developed from the US AIM-7E Sparrow medium range air-to-air missile. It is suitable for both air-to-air and surface-to-air applications such as Spada, Skyguard, Albatros and Aramis air defence systems.

Aspide missile entered service in 1987 with the Italian Armed Forces. According to specifications the Aspide has a diameter of 210 mm; length 3.7 metes and one metre width. It has a maximum weight of 220 kg with a 33 kg warhead. Performance details: ceiling 3,500 m (11,483 ft); max range 20,000 m (65,617 ft); min range 750 m (2,461 ft) and top speed 650 mps (Mach 1.96).

Argentina and Peru have close defence links dating back in history based on their rivalry with neighbouring Chile.

During the Falklands conflict it is claimed Peru supplied Argentina with a few Exocet missiles it had, following the rejection of a Peruvian peace initiative. Similarly there are claims Chile provided Britain with logistic support during the 1982 conflict.