As the first anniversary of the signing of the agreement between the Ministry of Defense and the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency approaches, the Argentine Navy is in the final phase of preparations to receive its first patrol and surveillance aircraft P -3C Orion.
The acquisition of four aircraft, three Charly and one November , was established with the signing of the agreement in October 2023 . In an interview with Zona Militar , Rear Admiral Carlos María Allievi, Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Navy, shared that the Naval Aviation Command is close to receiving the first copy.
The incorporation process of the new Orions has had obstacles related to the payments agreed to in the agreement signed by former Minister of Defense Jorge Taiana and Magnus Hansvold, Head of Department D3 of the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency (NDMA) . It was only in December, with the change of ministerial authorities headed by Luis Petr i, that the Argentine Navy confirmed the payment of the first installment for the aircraft that previously served in the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
Despite this progress, additional steps had to be taken to ensure that the planes came equipped with everything necessary to carry out the maritime patrol and surveillance tasks for which they were acquired. Specifically, clauses have been promoted to ensure the operation of the Raytheon AN/APS-137B(V)5 radar , a crucial element for the surveillance and control of the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone . These efforts focused on preventing the Orions from being incorporated by naval aviation without having this essential tool for their long-term operability.
