U.S. Approves $3.42B F-16 Sale to Peru
The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of 12 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets and associated equipment to Peru in a deal valued at $3.42 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced. The package, approved under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, now heads to Congress for final review.
According to the DSCA statement, the deal includes 10 single-seat F-16C Block 70 aircraft and two twin-seat F-16D Block 70 jets, along with 14 F110-GE-129 engines, AN/APG-83 SABR AESA radars, AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles, electronic warfare systems, targeting pods, and helmet-mounted displays. Spare parts, training, maintenance, and logistics support are also part of the package.
The proposed sale, U.S. officials said, would enhance the Peruvian Air Force’s ability to defend its sovereign airspace, secure territorial borders, and carry out precision air-to-ground operations in counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism missions. DSCA emphasized that the sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.” The equipment approved for sale includes the following:
- 10 F-16C Block 70 aircraft
- 2 F-16D Block 70 aircraft
- 14 F110-GE-129 engines
- 14 Improved Programmable Display Generators
- 14 AN/APG-83 SABR AESA radar
- 12 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air to air missiles
- 12 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder air to air missiles
- 12 M61A1 anti-aircraft guns
- 52 LAU-129 guided missile launchers
- 14 Embedded Global Positioning System Inertial Navigation Systems
- AN/ALQ-254 Viper Shield or equivalent electronic warfare systems
- AN/AAQ-28 Litening targeting pods
- Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems II (JHMCS II) helmet-mounted displays
- AN/APX-127 advanced identification friend or foe or equivalent
- AN/ALE-47 airborne countermeasures dispenser systems
- AN/ARC-238 radios
- pylons, launcher adapters, weapon interfaces, and bomb and ejection racks
- fuel tanks
The statement indicates that the proposed sale increases the Peruvian Air Force’s ability to control its sovereign airspace, defend its territorial borders, and conduct precision air-to-ground strike operations in support of ground forces during counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism missions.
Peru has been seeking to modernize its aging fighter fleet, which currently includes Soviet-era aircraft such as the MiG-29. Alongside the U.S. offer, the country has also been evaluating other options, including Sweden’s Saab JAS-39 Gripen E/F and France’s Dassault Rafale F4. Saab, for example, has promoted shorter delivery times and potential industrial offsets to strengthen its bid.
The deal would reinforce U.S. security ties with a key South American partner and reflects Washington’s push to expand its influence in Latin America amid global competition. For Peru, the purchase represents a major step forward in airpower, boosting both domestic security and external defense.
While DSCA maintains that Peru can readily integrate the new systems, experts point to challenges in pilot training, logistics, and sustainment. Congressional approval remains pending, where costs and regional implications may shape the outcome.
