An internal report by the Argentine Air Force (FAA), described as "extremely harsh," exposes an infrastructure and logistics crisis that seriously compromises the operation of the country's air bases, which could leave the 24 recently acquired F-16 fighter jets virtually inoperable . The warning focuses on the obsolescence of the equipment, the lack of budget for basic maintenance, and the shortage of funds to guarantee the necessary flight hours .

The document, revealed by iProfesional and La Política Online , highlights the inability of the Palomar Logistics Area Construction Group, responsible for maintaining runways and hangars, to maintain the operational conditions of the bases. The division is operating at only 50% of its capacity due to a prolonged period of underinvestment .

Obsolete Machinery and Operational Risk

The report details that essential machinery for runway maintenance has an average age of 30 years . Equipment such as motor graders, trucks, vibratory rollers, and bulldozers show advanced wear, resulting in high maintenance costs and reduced production capacity.

The Construcciones Group is responsible for an infrastructure that includes 25 runways (3,750,000 m²) and 15 heliports (29,452 m²) across the country. According to the internal report, obsolete machinery prevents the repair of damage to aprons and taxiways, restricting takeoffs and landings and directly affecting training, supply, and aerospace control missions .

"Deteriorated infrastructure contributes to operational inefficiency and increases the risk of incidents. National security is directly impacted," the FAA technical assessment states. The report proposes an infrastructure and logistics recovery plan to be implemented by December 2028 to restore safe operating conditions.

F-16 Fighters: Two Hours of Flight Time Per Year?

The infrastructure crisis is compounded by a severe budget constraint affecting operating expenses, calling into question the sustainability of the purchase of F-16 fighter jets from Denmark (managed under the U.S. FMS program).

Military sources consulted by La Política Online warn about the critical situation of the Defense budget, which is concentrated by more than 95% on salaries and current expenses in the 2026 Budget. A senior officer indicated that "there is no budget for flights," and that the average operating cost of each F-16 flight hour is around $10,000 to $12,000 .

In the current scenario, the warning is stark: "If we had 24 F-16s today, each could fly barely two hours a year." This extreme limitation would render the new fleet of fighter jets virtually inoperable for effective defense and training missions.

Divestment context and contradictions

The critical situation at the FAA is part of a broader crisis at the Ministry of Defense, led by Luis Petri. Other recent events contextualize the problem of the lack of state priority in investment:

1. Underfunding: The 2026 Budget provides for the elimination of the Armed Forces Equipment Fund (FOFES) , which allocated 0.8% of national revenue to military reequipment. This further compromises the ability to finance both the maintenance of the F-16s and the infrastructure necessary for their operation.

2. Frozen Projects: The continuity of the construction of the Integrated Naval Base (BNI) and Antarctic Logistics Hub in Ushuaia , a geostrategic project valued at $300 million dollars for the projection on Antarctica and the South Atlantic, is in a state of virtual budgetary paralysis.

3. External Investment vs. Internal Spending: Recently, the government of Javier Milei authorized by DNU the "Operation Trident" , a joint military exercise with United States troops, allocating more than $60 million pesos from the Navy budget to cover the stay and logistics of the foreign force in sensitive bases such as Ushuaia, Mar del Plata and Puerto Belgrano. This expenditure contrasts with the lack of resources for the operating expenses of the forces themselves and the underfunding of the IOSFA social work, which has caused an exodus of experienced personnel.

4. Acquisition Controversy: The purchase of the F-16s also generated controversy due to the secrecy of the agreement and the lack of specific funds for payment. Furthermore, it has been pointed out that the United Kingdom has been granted the right not to incorporate radars that would allow surveillance of the South Atlantic and the Malvina Islands, limiting its ability to defend sovereignty in the area.

In short, the Air Force report exposes a lack of comprehensive planning: the acquisition of defense material is carried out without the necessary infrastructure or operational financing, leaving Argentina's true capacity for aerospace deterrence and control in suspense.