The Peruvian Air Force is looking to replace its aging fleet of MiG-29s and Mirage 2000s. French Dassault Rafale and South Korean KF-21 ‘Boramae’ are locked in a dogfight, but American Lockheed Martin’s F-16 could ‘shoot down’ their chances of winning the tender.
Peruvian Minister of Defense Walter Astudillo has informed the country’s Congress that the draft 2025 military budget has an allocation for the purchase of 24 fighters for the Peruvian Air Force.
The Peruvian Air Force (FAP) has been looking to overhaul its combat fleet. General Carlos Enrique Chávez Cateriano, the commanding general of the FAP, announced on July 8, 2024, that the force had concluded a comprehensive market study for new fighter jets. The study has resulted in shortlisting of three international manufacturers that meet the selection criteria of FAP.
The French Rafale and Korean KF-21 Boramae from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) are in the running. The third frontrunner is the American F-16. Other options, such as the Swedish Gripen E/F, the European Eurofighter Typhoon, and the American F/A-18 Super Hornet, are also being considered.
The Rafale, manufactured by the same company as the Mirage-2000, has been considered to be the natural successor. However, it seems the US still has a few aces up its sleeves.
Peru’s Air Force has identified the need for cutting-edge fighter jets that can provide superior performance in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The selection process will consider various factors, including interoperability with existing systems, maintenance and operational costs, and potential for technological upgrades.
In June, the US Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team performed a combat air display at the air show in Peru. The display was aimed at demonstrating the F-16 Fighting Falcon’s extensive aerial operability.
“The importance of the F-16 Demo Team being here is to display and show the combat capability of the F-16 Fighting Falcon and what it offers, but also show the commitment and the relationships that we have with Peru,” US Air Force Col. Barton Kenerson, the senior military official representing SOUTHCOM said at the event.
If the purchase of F-16 materializes, it would signify Peru’s return to ‘American-made’ after over 45 years of divergence, in which French and Russian technology dominates its military.
On September 6, the 2024 US-Peru Defense Bilateral Working Group (DBWG) met under the chairmanship of US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs Jana Nelson and Peruvian Minister of Defense Astudillo at the Peruvian Army Headquarters in Lima, Peru. This was the first US-Peru DBWG held since 2011. The two sides discussed foreign military sales and other defense issues.
Peruvian Mig-29s need urgent replacement, and the Mirages are already 40 years old.
There have been reports about the possibility of Peru joining the KF-21 development program. A 5th generation aircraft, KF-21, will be a technological leap for the FAP, but it will require major investment.
The Peruvian government is already in negotiations with South Korea and Korea Aerospace Industries to purchase between 20 and 24 KAI FA-50 light combat aircraft. The deal amounting to US D780 million is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.
Media reports have indicated that the agreement will entail the off-the-shelf purchase of 20 aircraft, whereas 16 will be locally assembled by the FAP’s Maintenance Service (SEMAN) at the Las Palmas Air Base.
Hence, the South Korean government suggests that Peru join the KF-21 5th generation fighter program as Indonesia is reducing its involvement, which is affecting the program financially. While the F-16 seems to be the front-runner, participation in the KF-21 development program is seen as a long-term investment.
This would help the financial viability of the KF-21 development program and thus increase its competitiveness in the global market. The KF-21’s design focuses on stealth and advanced avionics. The future iteration of the aircraft is expected to have internal weapon bays.
Swedish Saab has also been growing confident of its toehold in the Latin American market after delivering its first planes to Brazil and starting negotiations in Colombia. It sees Peru as another potential market.
The Swedish manufacturer signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Brazilian firm Embraer to expand the Gripen program in Latin America. Brazil would be the center for the development and production of aircraft purchased by air forces in the region. The fighter’s Brazilian assembly line was inaugurated on April 27th.
The FAP’s combat fleet also includes around 40 Sukhoi Su-25 jets and the veteran Cessna A-37 Dragonfly. Saab contends that its “versatile” Gripen fighter jet could take on the roles of all these aircraft.
The ongoing war in Ukraine means the Peruvian air force cannot go to Russia for its fighter jet requirement. In 2024, the Peruvian government had to cancel its planned acquisition of the Yak-130 Mitten, a subsonic jet trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Yakovlev Design Bureau.
