Peru purchases 24 F-16 fighter jets!
Lima, Apr 22 (EFE).-
Peru’s Prime Minister Luis Arroyo confirmed on Wednesday that the Peruvian government acquired a fleet of F-16 Block 70 jets manufactured in the United States for its air force.
He also confirmed that the agreed-upon schedule had been met, despite interim president José María Balcázar’s desire for the next government to decide on the transaction.
“It is important to have new equipment and strengthen our armed forces,” said Arroyo, a retired military officer. Consequently, the National Security and Defense Council (COSEDENA) approved the purchase of the jets for a total of 3.5 billion dollars.
“This decision is of a strategic nature, and it is the government’s responsibility to comply with and enforce the agreements issued by this governing body,” Arroyo noted hours after Balcázar recommended that the next government, which will take office in July, decide whether to execute the acquisition.
Arroyo added that the decision to acquire the fleet is strategic and that it is the government’s responsibility to comply with and enforce the agreements issued by COSEDENA.
Furthermore, Arroyo clarified that they have fulfilled the commitments outlined in the contract to avoid contract violations that would result in penalties and damage the country’s image.
“The contracting process for the acquisition of F-16 jets, independently of the economic and legal issues involved, obeys pre-established commitments concerning national defense that demand respect for the presidential figure, who is also the supreme head of the Armed Forces,” Arroyo said.
As of Wednesday, the president of Congress Fernando Rospigliosi announced that the Ministry of Economy would execute the first payment for the purchase of the jets, valued at two billion dollars.
One hour before Rospigliosi’s announcement, Balcázar addressed the nation, reiterating his decision to defer the acquisition to the next government, set to take office in July.
Earlier that day, the ministers of foreign affairs and defense resigned due to discrepancies with Balcázar.
However, they confirmed that the contracts for purchasing the aircraft were signed on Monday.
Balcázar’s decision, announced on Apr. 17 in a radio interview, prompted a negative response from the US ambassador, who threatened retaliation against Peru if it did not comply with the agreement supposedly signed in secret with the previous interim president’s administration, led by José Jerí (2025–2026).
The process to acquire 24 combat aircraft, in which the US F-16 Block 70, the Swedish Gripen, and the French Rafale competed, was declared secret under Jerí’s administration.
At that time, the agreement with the US was supposedly signed, even though, according to local media, the US’s initial offer only contemplated 12 aircraft. EFE
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