Argentina: Maritime surveillance with Norwegian P3 Orion

The Argentinian navy has already been able to significantly expand its maritime surveillance capabilities with the purchase of the four French Adroit OPVs alone. In order to complete this further, Argentina is now purchasing four Lockheed P-3C/Ns that have been decommissioned in Norway for around 60 million euros. The P-3N, which is equipped more for Norwegian SAR tasks, differs from the three P-3C sub-hunting aircraft in terms of the sensors installed - but none of them will be allowed to keep their NATO-compatible data link systems. Argentina hopes to be able to procure such systems elsewhere. The USA agreed to this transfer, just as it agreed to the transfer of 24 Danish F-16 Fighting Falcons for the Argentinian air force. Even though the Argentinian payments will have to be significantly extended over time, Buenos Aires intends to purchase an additional six Leonardo AW 109 helicopters from American stocks. Although their financing is still a long way from being finalised, the pilots are already undergoing training in the USA and the donor nations. Technical equipment, spare parts and testing facilities for the Orions are also on their way to the southern hemisphere.