MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile receives first F-16 fighter bomber

Chilean Defence officials participated in Fort Worth, Texas, of the roll-out ceremony for the first of ten F-16 fighter bombers built by Lockheed-Martin and to be incorporated to the Chilean Air Force.

The Chilean delegation was headed by Defence Secretary Jaime Ravinet; Chilean ambassador in USA Andres Bianchi; Air Force Commander in Chief General Osvaldo Saravia and the Deputy Carmen Ibañez from the Lower House Defence Committee.

Mr. Ravinet underlined that Chile is a peaceful country, open to the world, with a vibrant democracy and solid economy as well as a decreasing poverty index. Following a complex transition to democracy in 1990, Chile has strengthened its democratic institutions and democratic governance, "with no territorial claims over any or our neighbours".

However in this context Chile has a defence policy based on two pillars: a credible dissuasion capability; secondly the willingness to cooperate in the face of international security problems, be it global or regional, "that is why last year we sent personnel from the three services to participate in the United Nations peace efforts in Haiti", added the Chilean Defence Minister.

At hemispheric level Chilean military forces are involved in an agenda of cooperation that includes a growing number of military bilateral and multilateral exercises, for example the Panamax exercises for the protection of the Panama Canal or the international coalition Air Forces exercises in the north of Chile last year.

"We are also developing mutual confidence building with the Armed Forces of Argentina and Peru. In 1997 Chile published the region's first Defence Book and in 2003 the second generation defence book. In 2001 we agreed with Argentina a common methodology to measure our respective defence expenditures, an experience we're currently developing with Peru".

Mr. Ravinet finally underlined the crucial role to be played by the new fighter bombers in the modernization process of the Chilean Air Force, in the efficiency and money value of Chilean defence expenditure as well as for Chilean defence industry, all of which "legitimizes Chile's defence policy, and fortifies defence links with United States".

The first F-16 still has to undergo flight trials in Texas by Chilean pilots and ground support crews before it actually leaves for Chile.