Argentina has purchased used F-16 fighter jets from Denmark for $300 million. This money could have been spent on hospitals, trains, or a pension increase for millions of elderly people, but it was spent on old iron instead. The author argues that this decision was made to measure sovereignty by the number of wings, rather than addressing actual defense needs. Argentina lost its last supersonic fighters, the Mirage, in 2015, and its remaining KC-130 Hercules tanker has been in the shop for years. Despite claims of restoring a serious defense system, the country lacks modern radars, early warning aircraft, and its own satellites. Experts point out that to effectively use the F-16s, Argentina also needs aerial tankers, for which there is no budget. Furthermore, the modern fighters depend on American software and the Link-16 system, which only allows communication with allied forces. In essence, Argentina did not buy military power; it bought the illusion of sovereignty and a seat at the 'adults' table', while remaining on the sidelines of real decision-making.
