Posted on 08/11/2017 9:39:52 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Argentina has grounded all the fighter jets in its air force - meaning it is being defended by just a few dozen propeller fighters first built in the 1970s.
Thirty-five years after the country's military invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands, the economically beleaguered South American republic now has a worse air force than it did under dictator Leopoldo Galtieri in 1982.
It was confirmed that all of its Lockheed Martin A-4AR Skyhawk jets - which are adaptations of the 1956 fighters it used in the Falklands War - had been grounded as the air force's working hours are cut to five hours a day while staff are set to stop working on Mondays and Tuesday.
Its Mirage fighters - also used in the war - were retired two years ago.
First line of defence: The Argentinian FMA IA 58 Pucará propeller aircraft, of which the country is believed to have 32
Pictured: The Lockheed Martin A-4AR Fightinghawk, which have been grounded amid concerns over finances in the economically beleaguered country
Because its IA 63 Pampa jets have also been grounded, according to the UK Defence Journal, it leaves Argentina with just 32 FMA IA 58 Pucará propeller planes to act as its combat aircraft.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4774354/You-air-force-Argentina-grounds-fighters.html#ixzz4pVr1VCRW Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Falkland Islanders most affected.
So...
...were the US 1/1000th the “imperial power” Michael Moore et. al. say it is, we’d be invading tomorrow looking to bring some truth to Obama’s claim of 57 States.
But...
...last I checked, we’re kinda...not, are we.
Maybe Falkland island will soon invade them.
The new pres is trying to set the country right
The Brits should triple the Typhoons on the Falklands and make Argentina spend more money they don’t have.
Maybe Argentina can try crowdfunding.
iirc they have some of the last A4s ever made
“They lost pilots, too. You don’t need that.”
“Need a pilotless plane in my opinion.”
Just don’t wash it.
The Argentine air force was the only branch of the Argentine armed forces to come out of the Falklands War with any sort of honour, they put up a brave and determined assault and came within an ace of winning the war.
The Argentine Navy on the other hand were dreadful cowards and fled the scene back to base after losing the Belgrano, leaving the sea to the British and forcing the Argentine pilots to operate from mainland bases 800 miles from the battlefield.
I think it is no coincidence that during the Dirty War in Argentina the Air Force took little or no part, preferring to stick to professional training while the Navy took a leading role getting involved in all sorts of obscenities from torture and rape to stealing babies to order.
“The Brits should triple the Typhoons on the Falklands and make Argentina spend more money they don’t have.”
By spending money THEY don’t have either?
Well as long as they don’t bother the Falklands they don’t really need an air force....
This kind of puts a kink in their Falkland Islands Reconquista plans.
My thoughts as well. If it is called “Air Defense” the first question is “Who is gonna invade Argentina?” I suspect nobody.
As long as they don’t run into a cranky cub scout with a pellet gun they should be able to hold out.
“dictator Leopoldo Galtieri”
We didn’t call him that when we needed his help protecting the “southern cone” from communism during the Cold War (along with Pinochet in Chile); the worst he was called then was one of a group of military officers (the “junta”) that ruled Argentina after saving it from communism.
How times have changed...
What? They can’t even afford fuel and spare parts?
Must suck to be losers like them.
“The Argentine Navy on the other hand were dreadful cowards and fled the scene back to base after losing the Belgrano, leaving the sea to the British and forcing the Argentine pilots to operate from mainland bases 800 miles from the battlefield.”
This is where technology made all the difference. The Argentine navy was essentially ready to fight a World War Two style battle. The Brits had deployed a nuclear sub that had the capability of sinking the entire navy. The Argentinians understood that and chose not to sacrifice the men and ships for nothing. The air force was modern.
“The Argentinians understood that and chose not to sacrifice the men and ships for nothing”.
Yes, that’s true, but with all the macho-Latino nonsense of the Argentines their navy should have stood their ground and gone down fighting if necessary.
This was the fight they had been preparing for for their entire history, if not now then when? The hated Ingleses were in their sovereign waters trying to recapture the beloved Malvinas, this was the time to prove that all their death-or-glory rhetoric meant something.
Turns out it meant nothing, they retreated back to base in the face of the enemy, to protect their clapped out aircraft carrier, which could actually have done some damage to the Brits if someone with cojones was in charge, and if it was sunk in the process then so be it, a glorious way to go.
But no, the navy after 10 years of raping and torturing left-wing students and stealing babies from pregnant women who were then murdered hadn’t the guts or bravery to fight a real war, they left it to the air force, a more courageous and honourable service, who sacrificed men and planes in the national cause.
There is no excuse for how the Argentine navy behaved, they were a disgraceful bunch, who deserve nothing other than contempt.
President Horacio Cartes of Paraguay covets an outlet to the sea and a port. Having no air defense makes his expansion thoughts into Argentina viable.
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