MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile completes modernization of air power with 44 F16s

General Ricardo Ortega says the country has the power to hit back and strongly

Chilean Defence minister Francisco Vidal and Air Force Commander General Ricardo Ortega announced this week that Chile had completed the renovation of its air power with the purchase of 18 F-16s from Holland, 12 Brazilian Super Tucano for training purposes, three KC 135 transport aircrafts and 12 Bell 412 helicopters.

“All those who are looking at us know we have a strong military presence and the capacity to hit back and hard”, said General Ortega who nevertheless insisted Chile was not involved in a regional arms race.

The aircrafts are scheduled to begin arriving in mid February, the first of which one of the KC 135 that will be used for re-fuelling combat aircrafts in the air. Following that will begin to arrive the Super Tucanos and the rest of the helicopters (six are already in Chile).

With the refurbished F16s from Holland, the first six expected next October, the Chilean Air Force will have a total fleet of 44, a few purchased directly from the US while the rest decommissioned mostly in Europe.

The 18 F-16s from Holland involved 270 million US dollars according to Santiago press reports.

Chile’s first line of combat made up of the 44 F-16s and another 16 F-5s “has Chile with a potential and deployment capacity among the top places in Latinamerica, in power, technology and modernization”, said Minister Vidal.

“We have the capacity to hit back and strongly so it’s better they leave us quiet”, added General Ortega.

“Chile has grown, we are stronger economically and we have to guarantee security to Chileans so we can continue to grow and expand, and the modernization program is part of that process and the Air Force’s contribution” said Ortega.

The general anticipated that a new review of equipment and capability is planned to take place in 2015.