via the Mirror.
Argentina has launched a new round of sabre-rattling against Britain by buying a squadron of warplanes to be based within striking distance of the Falklands, the Sunday People has revealed.Talk to any Brit about the Falklands and he'll dismiss the threat without serious thought. Well it might be time to get serious now.
President Cristina de Kirchner – who wants the UK to hand over the disputed islands – personally agreed the £145million deal to buy 20 second-hand Mirage F1 jets from Spain.
The 1,453mph aircraft carry a fearsome array of weaponry including smart bombs.
Argentina’s move could force the Ministry of Defence to bolster Britain’s presence in the south Atlantic, even though its budget is to be slashed by £875million in 2015.
Senior officers believe Argentina could now begin a campaign of “pester patrols” – flights towards the Falklands to test RAF responses.
Kirchner is thought to be trying to boost her nation’s military capability in a show of strength before elections which are due in 2015.
But last night a senior RAF source said: “If the Argentines start playing games and escalate the tension, we will see more RAF aircraft being deployed to the Falklands.”
The French-built Mirage F1 has a range of 500 miles – the Falklands are 400 miles east of Argentina.
Proper intel, a surprise attack, long range missiles and the right flight profile and you could literally catch those vaunted Typhoons sitting in their hangers.
After that bit of work is done then its a simple matter to destroy the British version of the LCS that patrols the waterways and you wouldn't have a thing to worry about until a Type 45 shows up to crash the party.
Seriously though the main concern should be the mini alliance that is forming between Spain and Argentina. The connection seems to warrant further investigation to see exactly how deep the defense ties actually are.
Especially when viewed in connection with the Spanish sabre-rattling in relation to Gibraltar.
ReplyDeleteI also hear Argentina is looking into buying and producing the JF-17 Fighter that Pakistan has. So how dose the Mirage F-1 and the JF-17 stack up against the Typhoon.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it's possible for that sale to go through. The US would throw a fit if China starting getting involved in South America. From what I hear though, the JF-17 is highly comparable to the F-16 in terms of performance. It probably is not at good as the Typhoon, but it would probably be close enough in terms of performance to be formidable. Considering that the British armed forces are getting harsher defense cuts than we are, this could be a legitimate problem for them if things keep progressing in this direction.
DeleteRussia is all over S. America so i don't see us raising a stink if the Chinese want to sell there...additionally some of those countries are downright hostile to the US so our opinion wouldn't matter much to them.
DeleteFrom what I have been hearing, is that Argentina is looking to buy and produce the JF-17 because of concerns of their current Air force and the sad state it is in. They want a mix that is similar to Mirages and A-4's. With the JF-17, it would be a low cost sanction proof aircraft.
DeleteHere's the article
http://www.janes.com/article/25070/argentine-air-force-officials-cautious-of-chengdu-fc-1-co-production
The Argentine AF would LOVE a sanction proof 4th gen jet.
DeleteThe only way the Argentine AF can get a sanction proof 4th gen fighter is if they avoid getting hardware from America and get hardware that is not made from America. They would have to stock up on non-American hardware and look towards Israeli, Russian or Chinese hardware and weapons. As far as the JF-17, that is their long term goal and the Mirage F-1 is a Gap filler until the JF-17 comes online. The Mirage F-1 is a 60's/70's tech and would be surpass by anything the British throws at them. I would not be surprise if China offers them the J-10 as well. That would be a game changer and would make Russia try to sell their gear a lot harder.
DeleteGeez. A mini alliance between Spain and Argentina, after the Argentines nationalized an energy company last year that a Spanish firm had a majority stake in? Spain and Kirchner must have made up awfully fast.
ReplyDeletetoo be honest mirage F1 is a 60's era design, for a light air superority fighter.
ReplyDeletei don't see 20 of them ever trying anything even against the 5 or so typhoons stationed there.
not saying they are not a threat, but it be suicide, attrition would be at least 4 to 1.
anotherthing, we'd have home court advantage being able to chase and kill while they have only a few minutes over the Falklands to do they're worst.
The Daily Mirror in the UK has around the same gravitas as the "National Enquirer" here
ReplyDeleteThe Spanish F1s are around well over thirty years old. It seems that this is more a interim replacement for their current ancient fleet of Mirage 3/5 derivatives. Brazil did something similar when they got Mirage 2ks from France to fill a gap pending their long awaited purchase of Rafales.
ReplyDeleteI agree with NIcky - long term they will start to locally produce Chicom stuff like the FC-17. They are already building Z-9s and have purchased Chicom APC for work in Africa.
Like I said, I would not be surprise if the Argentina makes a deal with China to produce and operate the JF-17 and J-10. It would give Argentina something to stand on when they can't get good western fighters.
DeleteAt the current level a commando team could land covertly via sub or swim vehicles, sneaky pete to the hangers and do to the Typhoon's what was done to USMC Harriers in Afghanistan.
ReplyDeleteThe Mirage's would fly a distraction raid as cover just as the infiltration and attack is being finished in a ToT just sitting in hides on the beach with MANPADS at the end of the airstrip would do.
Short Time over target means more dispersal type weapons such as the cluster bombs that become mines dropped on the airfield and flight areas.
A sub can mine the waters around the Falklands and then sit and sink the mine sweepers while awaiting the Fleet to sail in.
Both Nations have a long supply line to guard.
Please, don't make me laugh! They have neither the capability or serious intent to launch any serious attack against this British soveriegn territory. Anyway, once Her Majesty's SSN's start sending Tomahawks into downtown Buenos Aries I think you will see just how passionate our Argentine friends are for the 'Las Malvinas'. Having seen the Brits fight in Afghanistan I think I know who to put my money on......
ReplyDeleteWhile I admire our soldiers, sailors and airmen. I do not hold our spineless politicians in any kind similar regard.
DeleteIt won't take long for a British SSN to send the Argentine back to the Docks. On top of that Just wait until they sending Tomahawks into downtown Buenos Aries. That will be very interesting. That's the Brit's should park an SSN in the Falklands. That alone would scare the Argentinians from attempting a naval invasion.
DeleteOnce the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force start laying waste to their troops and assets (again), they're lose their taste for fighting just like last time. You would think that little historical lesson would still be fresh in their minds. Some people never learn. Everyone around the world has seen time and time again that our British friends dont back away from a fight. They never have and they never will.
ReplyDeleteAmigos, no se preocupen, Organizar "Una Fuerza Expidicionaria", Cuesta muchos $$$$$, Mas Facil, Con Misiles....pero No es Esa la idea, NO ES BUENO DESTRUIR LO QUE ES DE UNO, Y CAUSAR "daños Colaterales", y Pregunto: Los Derechos de "Autodeterminacion", de los Habitantes de DIEGO GARCIA? Donde estan? NO MEZCLEMOS LAS COSAS,,,,ARGENTINA TIENE "TODO EL DERECHO", A "RECUPERAR EN PARTE SUS CAPACIDADES MILITARES", lo que no quiere decir que se prepare Ataque ATAQUE ALGUNO, POR TANTO RELAX....vengan a Comer un Buen Asado, con Buen Vino Cuando quieran,,, !! relax....
ReplyDelete