{"id":40989,"date":"2026-05-15T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/?p=40989"},"modified":"2026-05-15T13:39:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T12:39:02","slug":"argentina-retires-a-4ar-fighting-hawk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/argentina-retires-a-4ar-fighting-hawk\/","title":{"rendered":"Argentine Air Force retires last A-4AR Fighting Hawks with F-16 arrival"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Yesterday, the Argentine Air Force (<a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/tag\/fuerza-aerea-argentina\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/tag\/fuerza-aerea-argentina\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Fuerza A\u00e9rea Argentina<\/strong><\/span><\/a>) announced that it has officially retired its A-4AR Fighting Hawk. The retirement comes as the country&#8217;s fleet of 24 ex-Danish F-16 Fighting Falcons enters service. <\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading-two\">Argentina finally retires A-4AR Fightinghawks<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>According to the open-source South American military aviation account, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SA_Defensa\/status\/2054949057362084089\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SA_Defensa\/status\/2054949057362084089\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SA Defensa<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, Argentina originally purchased the F-16s to replace its aging Mirage fighter jet. Recently, the Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Air Force said they would also replace the A-4ARs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udccd<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Argentina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Argentina<\/a> (\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf7)<br><br>The <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FuerzaAerea_Arg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@FuerzaAerea_Arg<\/a> has announced today they have officially retired the A-4AR Fightinghawk.<br><br>Argentina was one of the last Air Force operators of the type, now leaving only the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/marmilbr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@marmilbr<\/a> (\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddf7) as the final operator. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uWAmOZ1vis\">https:\/\/t.co\/uWAmOZ1vis<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8XZEpnTrUl\">pic.twitter.com\/8XZEpnTrUl<\/a><\/p>&mdash; SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SA_Defensa\/status\/2054949057362084089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 14, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>The A-4AR Fightinghawks are a major upgrade of the McDonnell Douglas A-4M Skyhawks that served in the Falklands War. They were developed for the Argentine Air Force, with the first examples entering service in 1988. The original Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was a light attack aircraft that first flew in 1954.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zona-militar.com\/2026\/05\/14\/la-fuerza-aerea-argentina-anuncio-de-forma-oficial-el-retiro-de-sus-cazabombarderos-a-4ar-fightinghawk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zona Militar<\/a><\/strong><\/span> reported the news broke after the Argentine Air Force Chief of the General Staff, Brigadier General Gustavo Javier Valverde, &#8220;personally informed the members and personnel of the V Air Brigade, the last home of the weapons system and the &#8216;Cradle of Hawks.'&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-4AR-Fightinghawks-flying-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A-4AR Fightinghawks flying\" class=\"wp-image-40990\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-4AR-Fightinghawks-flying-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-4AR-Fightinghawks-flying-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-4AR-Fightinghawks-flying-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-4AR-Fightinghawks-flying.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>He personally communicated the definitive decommissioning of the combat aircraft to V Air Brigade personnel. It is unclear when, or if, there will be a ceremony to commemorate the aircraft&#8217;s final retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The publication points out that the has not been any recorded flights by the V Air Brigade for almost two years since an A-4AR crash in July 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/defence-aviation-news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Get the latest aerospace\u00a0defence\u00a0news here on AGN.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading-two\">Argentine transition to F-16s\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Introducing 24 older F-16s will restore a basic level of fighter jet capability to the Argentine Air Force. <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/argentina-receives-its-first-f-16-a-non-flying-instructional-airframe\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/argentina-receives-its-first-f-16-a-non-flying-instructional-airframe\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Six have so far been delivered<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, with 18 more expected to be delivered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udccd<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Argentina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Argentina<\/a> \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/UnitedStates?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#UnitedStates<\/a> (\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf7\/\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8)<br><br>In a recent interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PucaraD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@PucaraD<\/a>, Chief of the General Staff of the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FuerzaAerea_Arg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@FuerzaAerea_Arg<\/a>, Brig. Gen. Gustavo Valverde, confirmed a Letters of Acceptance (LOA) for the KC-135.<br><br>They will be transferred &quot;when they become available.&quot; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tQualdVRw7\">pic.twitter.com\/tQualdVRw7<\/a><\/p>&mdash; SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SA_Defensa\/status\/1996609859890913347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 4, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>AGN previously reported that the United States Air Force <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/first-argentine-f-16s-ferry-home\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/first-argentine-f-16s-ferry-home\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>provided its KC-135 tanker aircraft to help form a bridge to ferry the F-16s<\/strong><\/span><\/a> from Europe to Argentina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This helped highlight a refueling gap in Argentine capabilities. Reports emerged that Argentina is seeking to purchase two ex-USAF KC-135 tankers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The July 2024 crash ended Argentina&#8217;s efforts to extend the service lives of the aircraft and restore up to a full squadron. Budget cuts and prioritization of the F-16s saw the effort canceled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">Los F-16 comenzaron su actividad de vuelo en el \u00c1rea Material R\u00edo IV, operando en sectores autorizados.<br><br>Nuestros pilotos contin\u00faan su familiarizaci\u00f3n con el sistema de armas.<br><br>Esto reafirma nuestro compromiso con la defensa aeroespacial integral. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/lExbKUIwS1\">pic.twitter.com\/lExbKUIwS1<\/a><\/p>&mdash; FuerzaA\u00e9reaArgentina (@FuerzaAerea_Arg) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FuerzaAerea_Arg\/status\/2038640371131965782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 30, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>The force also operates IA-63 Pampa advanced jet trainers built by Argentina&#8217;s Fabrica Argentina de Aviones in partnership with Germany&#8217;s former Dornier.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div class=\"flex flex-wrap items-center justify-start -mx-2 mt-6\">\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/us-aircraft-export-vetoes\/\"  class=\"btn-stealth  mx-2 my-2  flex items-center flex-row \">\n                                        <span class=\"sr-only\">How US export rules quietly control the world\u2019s fighter jets and commercial aircraft<\/span>\n                    <span>How US export rules quietly control the world\u2019s fighter jets and commercial aircraft<\/span>\n                <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        \n\n<h2 class=\"heading-two\">The long shadows over the Argentine Air Force<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>The Argentine Air Force continues to live under the dual long shadows of the Dirty War (1976-1983) and the Falklands War (1982). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/555th-Expeditionary-Fighter-Squadron-fighter-pilot-conducts-preflight-procedures-in-an-F-16C-Fighting-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron fighter pilot, conducts preflight procedures in an F-16C Fighting\" class=\"wp-image-35005\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/555th-Expeditionary-Fighter-Squadron-fighter-pilot-conducts-preflight-procedures-in-an-F-16C-Fighting-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/555th-Expeditionary-Fighter-Squadron-fighter-pilot-conducts-preflight-procedures-in-an-F-16C-Fighting-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/555th-Expeditionary-Fighter-Squadron-fighter-pilot-conducts-preflight-procedures-in-an-F-16C-Fighting-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/555th-Expeditionary-Fighter-Squadron-fighter-pilot-conducts-preflight-procedures-in-an-F-16C-Fighting.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: US Department of War<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The United Kingdom continues to place an arms embargo on Argentina due to the Falklands War and its continuing claims to the Falkland Islands. For decades, Britain vetoed Argentine purchases of aircraft like the Korean KAI FA-50 light fighter, the Saab Gripen, and others through export licensing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The British embargo was unable to stop France from shipping Dassault-Breguet Super \u00c9tendards to Argentina. However, Britain refused to supply the gas cylinders needed for the ejection system. Those aircraft were delivered, but never entered service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A breakthrough finally came when the US mediated Argentina&#8217;s purchase of ex-Danish F-16s, and Britain dropped its objections. These jets are considered outclassed by Britain&#8217;s Eurofighters and F-35Bs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/RS273269_DP168303-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Eurofighter Typhoon flies with APKWS for the first time\" class=\"wp-image-39232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/RS273269_DP168303-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/RS273269_DP168303-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/RS273269_DP168303-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: BAE Systems<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The other long shadow is that of deep distrust in the Argentine miltiary by both Argentine society and the civilian government. The years of repression and &#8220;Dirty War&#8221; by the Argentine military junta that left up to 30,000 dead or disappeared remain fresh in memories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Financing a strong air force has not been a civilian government priority for decades, while recurring economic crises have only exacerbated the issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Featured Image: Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why Argentina is finally retiring the last of its Falkland War-era A-4M Skyhawks (upgraded as the A-4AR Fightinghawk). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":40991,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[84,29,9631],"tags":[2526,5333,8361,7359],"class_list":["post-40989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-defence","category-defence-security","category-delivery-delays","tag-argentina","tag-fighter-jets","tag-fuerza-aerea-argentina","tag-lockheed-martin-f-16"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Argentina retires A-4AR Fighting Hawk as F-16s enter service<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Argentine Air Force has retired the unreliable A-4AR Fighting Hawk as its new F-16 fleet becomes operational.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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