Colombia Planning Acquisition of F-16 Fighters to Replace Ageing Israeli Kfir Jets

<p >The Colombian Defence Ministry has intensified negotiations for the acquisition of F-16 fighter aircraft from an undisclosed third party, with the Air Force planning a $600 million acquisition of eight second hand aircraft which would benefit from a mid-life upgrade. The deal would see F-16s acquired to replace Colombia’s ageing Kfir fighters, the first of which were acquired from Israel in 1989-1990. The Kfir is a third generation fighter design derived from the French Mirage 5, which was enhanced to a third generation standard with new avionics and an American General Electric J79 turbojet engine. Even by the standards of its generation, however, its capabilities are very limited compared to high performing rivals such as the F-4E and MiG-23ML. The Kfir was the last fighter produced by Israel, with the immense costs and technological requirements of fourth generation fighters having ended the country’s brief effort to produce a successor. The fighter was considered obsolete very shortly after entering service in 1976, and was accordingly operated only very briefly by the Israeli Air Force. The fighters were acquired by Colombia from the Israel Defence Forces’ surplus stock, after Israel <a href=" target="_blank">replaced the older jets</a> with American F-16s.  </p><img src=" title="Colombian Air Force Kfir Fighter"><p >Although the United States Air Force ceased F-16 acquisitions in 2005, the fighter has remained in production for foreign clients, with the <a href=" target="_blank">F-16 Block 70/72</a> targeting both less developed countries that are unable to afford the new <a href=" target="_blank">F-35 fifth generation fighter</a>, and parties such as the Republic of China Air Force which for political reasons cannot acquire F-35s. The costs of new F-16 variants are nevertheless prohibitively high for clients in Latin America, leading Washington to support efforts by Colombia, and in future possibly Argentina, to acquire second and F-16s from older production blocks which use avionics that are today considered obsolete. Colombia has a long history of supporting the United States militarily, with its forces having fought under U.S. command during the Korean War, while <a href=" target="_blank">contractors</a> from the country have participated in multiple American-backed war efforts in theatres ranging from Yemen and Ukraine to Sudan. </p>