Argentina has confirmed the purchase of 16 second hand Mirage F-1 decommissioned from the Spanish Air force in an operation valued at 170 million Euros. The expenditure is contemplated in the 2014 budget bill approved in the Lower House and which awaits debate in the Senate.
The British press has picked on news from Spain and Argentina to state that the government of President Cristina Fernandez is about to sign an agreement to purchase refurbished Mirage F1 decommissioned by the Spanish Air Force, which could become potentially a major threat for the Falkland Islands and another reason for escalating the ever sensitive Argentina/UK relations.
Argentine jet trainer manufacturer FAdeA has been banned from installing a British made ejection seat in a new version of the Pampa by the government of President Cristina Fernandez, according to company boss Raul Arganaraz.
Defence Minister Arturo Puricelli assured that the Argentina government will reiterate its claims over the UK militarization at the Malvinas Islands and highlighted the backing of Latin American countries in the struggle fight for sovereignty over the archipelago.
Cancellations and more delays persisted Tuesday at Buenos Aires main airports as Aerolineas Argentinas flights suffered further setbacks to the service. The administrators of metropolitan Aeroparque and Ezeiza international airport, Aeropuertos Argentinas 2000 said that flights were resuming, albeit slowly.
International flights by state-run carrier Aerolineas Argentinas resumed Monday after a weekend disruption over a labour dispute with comptrollers which the government of President Cristina Fernandez resolved by ordering the Air Force to take control of air operations.