Regardless of authorities calls to delay the acquisition and two ministers resigning, Peru seems to have already dedicated funds for the acquisition of 12 F-16 Block 70 fighters.
Peru has chosen the F-16 Block 70 as its subsequent multirole fighter, marking a significant step within the modernization of the Fuerza Aérea del Perú (FAP). Nevertheless, the acquisition has triggered a political disaster and tensions throughout the authorities.
Lockheed Martin confirmed on Apr. 23, 2026, that Peru intends to obtain an preliminary batch of 12 plane. The choice concludes a long-running competitors for the substitute of Peru’s present fleet of Mirage 2000s and MiG-29s, which included the F-16 Block 70, the Saab Gripen E and the Dassault Rafale.
The choice
The competitors was launched in 2024, adopted a 12 months later by the request to the Swedish authorities to authorize the sale of Gripens and a U.S. International Navy Sale (FMS) authorization for the sale of the F-16 Block 70. The latter, in keeping with the Protection Safety Cooperation Company (DSCA), was value as much as $3.42 billion.
“Peru’s alternative of the F-16 underscores the plane’s unmatched operational efficiency and fight document, in addition to its capability to satisfy essentially the most urgent protection necessities,” stated Mike Shoemaker, Vice President of Built-in Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin. “We’re proud that essentially the most superior F-16 ever produced will assist defend Peru’s nationwide sovereignty whereas strengthening the enduring partnership between our nations.”
Preliminary reporting instructed uncertainty over the timing of the acquisition, nonetheless the U.S. Embassy in Peru shed extra mild on the deal on Apr. 22. In line with the assertion, the Peruvian authorities requested U.S. officers and Lockheed Martin representatives to not communicate concerning the acquisition course of publicly at any level, with the one official statements being launched after the affirmation of the choice.
Nevertheless, there have been some extra hiccups that prompted extra delays:
“On April 14, Lockheed Martin was knowledgeable in writing of its choice, with a technical signing scheduled for 7:00am and a ceremonial signing for five:00pm on April 17. The U.S. group, each authorities officers and high-level Lockheed Martin executives, have been able to report back to Las Palmas Air Base and the Presidential Palace as requested. The US discovered the signing was postponed through nationwide radio. There’s a right solution to do severe, credible enterprise. A technical signing between approved events passed off on April 20, 2026, with full consciousness from the best ranges of the Peruvian authorities.”
Political disaster
In line with Reuters, the signing on Apr. 17 was reportedly cancelled by interim President Jose Balcazar, citing issues over tying the subsequent authorities to a significant protection dedication. He thus publicly said that monetary commitments associated to the deal ought to be deferred to the subsequent administration, which is anticipated to take workplace later this 12 months.
As a consequence, Protection Minister Carlos Diaz and International Minister Hugo de Zela resigned, citing Balcazar’s dealing with of the deal as one of many causes. “A strategic choice has been taken within the space of nationwide safety with which I’ve a elementary disagreement,” Diaz stated in his resignation letter.
U.S. officers have been left baffled by the scenario. Presumably referring to the cancelled signing on Apr. 17, U.S. Ambassador Bernie Navarro posted on X that if events negotiate “with the U.S. in unhealthy religion and undermine U.S. pursuits,” he would use, on behalf of U.S. President Donald Trump, “each obtainable software to guard and promote the prosperity and safety of the USA.”
In the event you cope with the U.S. in unhealthy religion and undermine U.S. pursuits, relaxation assured, I, on behalf of @POTUS Trump and his administration, will use each obtainable software to guard and promote the prosperity and safety of the USA and our area.
— Embajador Navarro (@USAmbPeru) April 17, 2026
The Embassy additionally warned in opposition to additional delays:
“The F-16 Block 70 is likely one of the most technically superior and sophisticated fighter plane ever constructed — together with cutting-edge avionics, radar, weapons methods, and flight controls right into a single, extremely agile platform. Within the case of Peru’s F-16 Block 70 jets, the USA provided to incorporate two weapons methods which have by no means been positioned on an F-16 to satisfy Peru’s particular necessities. Concerning arguments about suspending a choice: when a producer plans for the supply of a product of this caliber, there’s no such factor as a small and inconsequential delay. There are tons of of stakeholders, provide chain issues, and detailed work that’s put in movement to make this attainable for Peru. Provider contracts preserve value for a finite interval, then prices go up. At the moment, every delay ends in important extra value for business companions. The identical bundle will not be obtainable in a pair months, and even a few weeks, due to elevated provider prices and curiosity from different nations given the dynamic context of the worldwide world we all stay in.”
First cost and this system
Peru’s Ministry of Economic system and Finance and Ambassador Navarro later confirmed that the nation had transferred $462 million to Lockheed Martin, described as a primary cost for the brand new fighters. Navarro moreover stated that the primary plane are anticipated to be delivered between 2029 and 2030.
The 12 plane look like solely the preliminary section of the acquisition. Actually, in keeping with studies, Peru intends to accumulate as much as 24 plane to totally exchange the MiG-29s and Mirage 2000s.
To this point, solely the preliminary batch seems to have been approved. It’s unclear whether or not discussions are already in progress for the remaining 12 fighters or if this has been postponed to the brand new administration.
In line with the DSCA discover, the deal contains ten single-seater F-16Cs and two twin-seater F-16Ds, powered by F110-GE-129 engines and thus qualifying as Block 70. Actually, Block 72 plane are powered by F100-PW-229 engines.
The deal additionally contains AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AN/ALQ-254 Viper Defend digital warfare methods, AN/AAQ-28 Litening concentrating on pods and Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Methods II (JHMCS II) helmet-mounted shows. The DSCA discover additionally mentions an unspecified Infrared Search and Observe system, whereas the U.S. Embassy stated the deal additionally contains two unspecified weapons “which have by no means been positioned on an F-16.”
