MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine navy admits testing refurbished Exocet missiles and torpedoes last February

Drummond class corvettes and Meko/140 frigates, and the submersible ARA San Juan which tested the SST-4 torpedo were involved in the summer exercise.

The Argentine ministry of Defense has confirmed that the Navy was involved in military exercises in the high seas last February including firing an upgraded version of MM38 Exocet missiles and trials with a refurbished torpedo from a submarine, reports the Buenos Aires media.

 The admission follows the ongoing controversy about the UK forces in the Falkland Islands announced planned military exercises, including Rapier missiles, which started on 19 October and are scheduled to continue until 28 October, with warnings for maritime traffic, and which the Argentine political arch has strongly condemned. They particularly question that the exercises follow on an Argentina/UK joint statement released last month with the purpose of improving bilateral relations with a constructive spirit.

The joint statement has also been exposed to an ongoing heavy flak especially a chapter on the South Atlantic which refers to the economy of the Falklands and sanctions imposed during the Kirchner administrations, air links and efforts for the DNA identification of remains of Argentine combatants buried in Darwin cemetery with the support from the Red Cross.

But the overblown row over the British military exercises, even when all sides (Argentina, UK and Falklands' government) coincide they are no surprise since they have been “routine” during the last two decades, led some Islanders to circulate in the social networks news about the Argentine exercises last February

But Argentine sources indicate that the several days naval display somewhere off Bahía Blanca took place in Argentine sovereign waters, while those in Falklands and surrounding waters are disputed since they are “legitimately” Argentine and mean the “militarization” of the South Atlantic. It was also revealed that the Foreign Office was aware of the Argentine navy actions but never protested or mentioned a word.

According to the Buenos Aires media the scarce information on the four-day events indicate that at least six missiles were fired against a decommissioned vessel ARA Ingeniero Julio Krause. Vessels involved included Drummond class corvettes and Meko/140 frigates, and the submersible ARA San Juan which tested the SST-4 torpedo. Accordingly for the Argentine navy after eight years of non action, the February tests were described as a “historic day” and the domestically refurbished weapons tested included missiles SAM Alenia Aspide of Italian origin and the French manufactured SSM MDBA MM38/MM40 Exocet missiles. Five apparently responded as expected but one exploded in flight.

The reports also indicate that president Mauricio Macri administration is drafting a onetime special US$ 2bn fund to invest in military re/equipment between 2017 and 2019. Since before the end of the South Atlantic conflict, Argentina has not made any major acquisition of military hardware, but there is the intention of boosting the navy and air force. It is no wonder then than US, Israel, Italy, Spain, China, Russia and lately Brazil have been offering to supply the Argentine forces.

Apparently the latest strong offer is form Brazil for 24 Tucano training and combat aircraft, and probably the joint manufacturing of the Gripen fighter which is originally Swedish but without the 30% British avionics component. The immediate shopping list includes short range land-air RBS 70NG Saab missiles, indicate the reports.

The Argentine Air Force with the decommissioning of the last Mirage fighters is virtually grounded be it not for a limited transport and training capacity. Something similar can be said of the Navy and Coast Guard, which even have problems complying with fisheries patrolling in the South Atlantic.