MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile to increase F16 fighter bombers wing to 44

Chile is interested in purchasing another batch of refurbished F 16 fighter bombers for the Air Force, according to diplomatic sources in Santiago which was partially confirmed by Defence officials.

The new fighters to be purchased from Holland would replace the ageing F-5 Tiger III to be decommissioned next year. Chile currently has 28 F-16 fighter bombers, of which ten model C/D Block 50 were purchased brand new in 2002 as part of the free trade agreement signed with United States. Total cost 660 million US dollars. Three years ago Chile incorporated 18 A/B MLU F16 from the Dutch Air Force costing 180 million US dollars. They replaced ageing Mirage 5 Elkan and Mirage 50/Panther. The second batch totalling 16, model MLU, plus spares and support equipment, would have a cost of 170 million US dollars and would be delivered next year. When all are delivered Chile's Air Force will have 44 F16, probably the strongest and most modern in the continent. More over the new fighter bombers would be stationed in the south of the country a move which has been criticized by some Chilean congress members who feel this is contrary to the cooperation and integration spirit with Argentina and could be interpreted as "unfriendly". According to Santiago press reports the Chilean Armed Force still have savings of almost three billion US dollars for the purchase of military equipment such as anti-aircraft systems, deep sea sonar, early warning aircrafts and unmanned surveillance aircrafts. The fund for military equipment purchases in Chile is financed with a percentage of copper windfall earnings and supported by legislation dating back to the Pinochet years. The bill is to be amended following a political agreement reached in Congress to review legislation inherited from the military regime and considered non democratic. Eduardo Santos a military affairs analyst estimated the fund currently has 2.9 billion US dollars and is expected to increase in the coming months. In the last ten years Chile acquired two specially built conventional Scorpion submarines from France and Spain; 350 German Leopard 1 and 2 tanks from Germany and Holland; 28 F-26 from United States and Holland and eight refurbished frigates from Holland and United Kingdom. Recent purchase include 100 Marder combat vehicles from Germany; 12 Bell 412 helicopters from United States; three marine patrol aircrafts CASA C-295 from Spain; ten Super Puma AS535 helicopters from France and 12 training and attack turbo Super Tucano from Brazil.