UK Bars Sale of South Korean Fighter Jets to Argentine Air Force

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The United Kingdom has effectively barred the sale of the FA-50 Fighting Eagle to Argentina, with the South Korean manufacturer informing Buenos Aires that it is unable to supply the light fighter and strike jet since it has British-made parts.

In a letter dated 28 October, a senior official at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) told Argentina’s ambassador to the Republic of Korea Alfredo Carlos Bascou that the FA-50 cannot be exported due to the UK government’s arms embargo on the country. The FA-50 includes six major components that are sourced from the UK.

“It is our regret to inform you that the UK export license issue is not resolved to date. Although KAI did not yet find a solution, KAI is making a reasonable endeavor to resolve this UK export license issue,” the letter posted online said.

In Argentina Defense minister Agustín Rossi, admitted that the British government had objected to the FA-50 operation with South Korea. Rossi described the situation as another display of “imperial arrogance” by the UK.

Following the 1982 South Atlantic conflict, the UK imposed an arms embargo on Argentina extensive to procurements which have minimum components of British origin; this is the case with the South Korean FA-50, having six UK-made components.

Something similar happened when Argentina approached Brazil, which has made a significant purchase of Swedish jet fighters, most of which are to be assembled in Brazil. However most of the Saab Grippen avionics is of British origin.

The Argentine air force is almost grounded since it has been unable to replace the fifty-plus aircraft lost during the Falklands conflict, be it for financial reasons or the UK embargo. According to Argentine media, the country is now considering an approach to China or Russia for the supply of jet fighters.