Argentina has rejected reports claiming that it is going to buy JF-17Thunder aircraft from Pakistan.
The statement comes days after a number of media outlets reported thatArgentina was planning to buy a dozen fighter jets, being jointlymanufactured by Pakistan and China.
Reports claimed the Argentine government had allocated $664 million in itsbudget for fiscal year 20211 to buy 12 JF-17 ‘Block-III’ fighters. TheJF-17 Block-III is the latest variant of the type and features newelectronically scanned radar and also more advanced electronics.
However, the Argentine ministry of defense issued a statement on Tuesday,stating: “The Argentine Air Force had not selected a preferred fighter yet”.
Read Top Stories
The statement said that the ministry has requested the inclusion of fundsfor the acquisition of multipurpose fighter aircraft, for the surveillanceand control of the airspace in the budge.
The ministry further clarified that nothing has been issued regarding thepurchase of supersonic aircraft of any origin and is in thetechnical-economic and financial evaluation stage of five alternatives.
