Argentina To Procure Four P-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft From Norway
The Argentine government has decided to purchase four old P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft for $67 million from the Norwegian Ministry of Defense in order to improve its surveillance and search and rescue capabilities in the South Atlantic. The agreement was signed during an official ceremony onboard the ARA “Presidente Sarmiento” frigate museum ship in Buenos Aires. The ceremony was also attended by Argentine Defense Minister Jorge Taiana, Argentine Naval Forces Commander Admiral Julio Guardia, Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency (NDMA) Director Magnus Hansvold, and Norway’s Ambassador to Argentina Halvor Sætre.
According to the Argentine Ministry of Defense, the agreement includes three P-3C variant aircraft equipped to perform maritime surveillance, anti-submarine and surface warfare (ASuW) missions, and one P-3N variant aircraft configured for search and rescue (SAR) operations. The purchase also includes the complete maintenance system, as well as accessories, spare parts, and aircraft components. The defense ministry additionally stated that the procurement will be financed by the Argentine National Defense Fund (FONDEF in Spanish).
In a statement, Argentine Defense Minister Jorge Taiana said, “the acquisition of these aircraft constitutes a great contribution to strengthening the policy that we are developing to improve the surveillance and control of our waters.” US Ambassador to Argentina Marc Stanley also made a statement saying: “congratulations to the Argentine Navy for acquiring the US-produced P3 Orion aircraft. These will facilitate the Argentine forces’ surveillance and control of illegal fishing and search and rescue operations in the South Atlantic. We’re proud to see more US aircraft in Argentina!”
Argentina began negotiations with Norwegian authorities in March 2019 to replace its P-3B fleet, which it purchased from the US Navy at the end of the 1990s and retired the majority of in 2019, with P-3C aircraft. Norway, meanwhile, selected Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft over the outdated P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft that the Royal Air Force had operated for 57 years before decommissioning them in June. The US State Department then approved the transfer of second-hand P-3Cs from Norway to Argentina, and there were no obstacles to signing the final agreement. During the same time period, the US State Department also authorized the transfer of second-hand F-16s from Denmark to Argentina.
Currently, Argentine Naval Aviation pilots and technicians are receiving training on four ex-Norwegian aircraft at a US facility. Following training, the first of four P-3s currently in the United States is expected to arrive in Argentina later this year, with the rest arriving in 2024. The aircraft will most likely be based at Argentina’s Almirante Zar Naval Air Base in Trelew. P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, which will be in service with the Argentine Air Force for at least 15 years, will revitalize the country’s long-range search capability and increase its presence in maritime areas of interest, including Argentine Antarctica.