Weather Delays Argentina's Second Batch of F-16 Jets in Canary Islands
Argentina's second batch of six F-16 fighters from Denmark is waiting at Gando air base in Gran Canaria because of bad weather. The jets were expected in Córdoba province, but their arrival was postponed and the window now runs through September 30. Once they arrive, Argentina will have 12 of the 24 F-16s it purchased, and public welcome events were canceled.
Argentina has lacked supersonic fighters since retiring French Mirages in 2015. In 2024 it agreed to buy 24 used Danish F-16s for roughly US$301 million, described as its largest air-force acquisition in decades. The current six—four single-seat and two two-seat—left Denmark on 22 September, stopping in Zaragoza before reaching Gando on Gran Canaria.
They are meant to bring Argentina to 12 of 24 purchased jets. Three U.S. Air Force tankers support the Atlantic crossing. The next leg to Natal, Brazil, remains weather-dependent; no confirmed landing date exists, and it is unclear whether President Javier Milei will attend. Planned Río Cuarto welcome events were canceled.
The delayed arrival may mainly affect people in Córdoba and Río Cuarto, where canceled welcome events could disappoint residents and reduce any short-term local spending tied to visitors. For the wider public, the jets may symbolize a long-awaited air-force upgrade, though the US$301 million purchase could also prompt debate about budget priorities. Because civilian flights are unaffected, day-to-day travel at Gran Canaria and in Argentina may see little disruption. The uncertainty over timing may keep attention on weather and logistics rather than ceremony.