Argentina’s Falklands-era fighter to retire this year
Argentina has announced it will permanently retire its Super Étendard aircraft by the end of 2026. This brings more than four decades of service to a close.
The decision also formally ends efforts to revive the five ex-French Navy Super Étendard Modernisé (SEM) jets which were delivered to the country in 2019. They never entered operational service after Argentina was unable to obtain key components for their Martin-Baker ejection seats.
Argentina finally gives up on its Super Étendard Modernisé
Argentina has formally said it will retire its naval Super Étendards in 2026, as well as its single Eurocopter AS555 Fennec 2 helicopter in 2027, its Beechcraft B-200s after the Beechcraft B-360s arrive in 2027, and its SH-3 Sea Kings from 2031.
It said, “The withdrawal of the Super Étendard this year formally ends more than four decades of service, including its prominent role during the 1982 Falklands War.”
The @MindefArg of Argentina (🇦🇷) has officially decided that they will no longer attempt to recover the Super Étendard Modernisé.
— SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) May 18, 2023
The 5x aircraft were delivered from France (🇫🇷) in 2019, however never took flight due to lack of ejectors because of the British (🇬🇧) embargo. pic.twitter.com/rXHcNYrRUp
The legacy (pre-1982) Dassault Super Étendard has a distinguished place in Argentine military history. They sank HMS Sheffield and the logistics vessel Atlantic Conveyor during the Falklands War using the AM39 Exocet missiles.
Post war, the Super Étendard was affected by UK export restrictions on military equipment.
British embargo meant new Super Étendards never flew
By the 2000s, the original fleet of 14 was suffering from aging airframes, very limited flying hours, and dwindling spare parts. In 2018, Argentina purchased five more ex-French Navy Super Étendard Modernisé (SEM). The aircraft were delivered to Argentina in 2019 but they never flew in Argentine service.
The issue was the British-built Martin-Baker Mk.6 ejection seats, which required new pyrotechnic cartridges and rocket motors that could not be obtained because of UK export restrictions.
Argentina tried to find a workaround but eventually admitted that British seat components and various aging French parts could not be sourced economically. The Argentine Navy abandoned plans to return the aircraft to service in 2023, before announcing their retirement this year.
In June 2024, reports suggested Argentina’s president Javier Milei was considering a proposal under which the aircraft would be returned to France for refurbishment and possible transfer to Ukraine.
Argentina’s ‘new’ air force
After decades of British restrictions on defence exports, Argentina was able to purchase 24 ex-Danish F-16s. These started arriving in Argentina in 2025, and are expected to replace the A-4AR Fightinghawk fleet.
Argentina is now considering purchasing two ex-USAF KC-135 tankers. It has also purchased four retired P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft from Norway. These are refurbished in the US and are being delivered.
The first two Orions were delivered in 2024 and 2025, and the remaining two are scheduled to be delivered in 2026.
Argentina’s prolonged economic issues have complicated efforts to modernise the force.
