Aircraft

Chile’s air force transformation programme took a significant step forward on 24 January, when the service took delivery of its first two of 10 F-16C/D fighters from US manufacturer Lockheed Martin (pictured below).

Acquired under a "Peace Puma" armaments package worth almost $550 million, the aircraft will be armed with US weapons including Raytheon AIM-9 and AIM-120 AMRAAM short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles, Paveway laser-guided bombs and Boeing JDAM GPS-guided weapons.

Deliveries of Chile’s remaining Block 50 aircraft – another two two-seat F-16Ds and six single-seat C-models – will conclude before year-end.