SOURCE: API
Sabino Vaca Narvaja, Argentina’s ambassador to China, met with a delegation from the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation in November 2022. (CATIC). According to reports, the ambassador discussed the possibility of purchasing the JF-17 fighter.
Chinese designation referred to JF-17 as AVIC FC-1 Xiaolong and offered it with Chinese-made WS-13 engines and Chinese-origin Ejection seats along with a production line to develop more customisable fighter jets for the airforce.
But the latest Argetinan media reports indicate that much more was discussed since its closest rival India also has made a similar offer to the Argetina on the sale of its LCA-Tejas fighter jets and many claimed matched Chinese offer which was tilting the balance towards LCA-Tejas due to Argeitnian preference for American engines and due to lack of prior expertise in operating Chinese jets with Chinese engines.
Chinese state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) seems to have made an interesting offer that could rejuvenate Argentina’s aerospace sector by saying that the FC-1 production line in the country will also be used for the export of the jets to potential new customers and very much intends to replace Pakistan in the co-production process by working directly with China and establishing the national assembly of the aircraft.
Argentina’s economy is not doing very well and further friendly prices and other factors might drive FC-1 into pole position but there is considerable pressure from the American establishment to go for Second hand Danish F-16 or some other jets that are not Russian or Chinese.