Falklands' war Peruvian air force Mirage on exhibition in Cordoba

Friday, August 25th 2017 - 12:05 UTC

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One of the ten Peruvian Mirage exhibited at the Velez Sarfield Plaza in downtown Cordoba

One of the ten fighter bombers donated by Peru to Argentina during the 1982 South Atlantic conflict is being exhibited in the Velez Sarsfield Plaza, at the heart of Cordoba City, as part of the 105 anniversary celebrations of the Argentine Air Force.

The Dassault Mirage originally from the Peruvian Air Force arrived at the Tandil VI Air Brigade from the La Joya base in Arequipa, Peru in May 1982, and the donation is considered one of the “greatest solidarity gestures” Argentina received during the Falklands/Malvinas war.

Despite the arms supply embargo imposed on Argentina during the conflict, Peru provided the Argentine Air Force with ten Mirages --and missiles--, similar to those flown by Argentine pilots.

The Peruvian president of the time Belaúnde Terry was attempting, together with the US Department of State, to mediate in the conflict born out of the Argentine invasion of the Falklands, but negotiations fell through, and Peru consequently decided to provide Argentina with the aircraft, in what was described as “a expression of fraternity between the two countries”.

Argentina and Peru are long standing allies since they both have had border area differences with Chile.

Besides the Mirage exhibition, the city of Cordoba authorities has organized a program of activities, films, conferences, videos, in coordination with the Air Force school of non commissioned officers, the Argentine factory of aircraft, the Peruvian consulate, and the Cordoba branch of Malvinas and South Atlantic veterans.

Categories: Politics, Argentina, Falkland Islands, Latin America.

Tags: Argentina, Argentine Air Force, Falkland War, Mirage, Peru.

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Clyde15
How did it escape being mauled by the Sea Harriers.
Aug 25th, 2017 - 12:18 pm +3
golfcronie
They all lived happily in the FALKLANDS long before a large military presence, it is only because Argentinas colonial attitude that there is a substancial military presence there. Anyway doesn't matter as long as the FALKLANDERS wish to remain a BOT ( British Overseas Territory )
Aug 29th, 2017 - 05:56 pm +3
darragh
Clyde

According to Santiago Rivas the Mirages didn't actually arrive at Tandil until 4/5 June. However Argentina declined Peruvian air/ground crews and the aircraft were also missing important details like appropriate comms equipment and therefore were not available for combat operations and were returned to Peru after the Argentine surrender never having been used for anything other than lollygagging.
Aug 25th, 2017 - 12:54 pm +2

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