Argentine Air Force F-16 Programme Restores Runway Maintenance Capability

The programme to bring F-16 fighter jets into the Argentine Air Force is intended not only to restore a crucial national capability, but also to support a range of measures designed to recover and modernise other operational functions. Among them is a project to reinstate runway and helipad maintenance capabilities within the Grupo Construcciones (Construction Group), part of the Palomar Logistics Area.

Argentine Air Force runway maintenance capability

A recently released assessment report sets out significant details of the project, which is directly linked to the arrival of the Danish F-16s. The initiative is driven by the fact that the Construction Group within the Palomar Logistics Area “…faces serious operational difficulties due to its inability to properly maintain the runways at Argentine Air Force bases…”.

This shortfall is particularly significant because the unit is tasked with constructing, repairing and maintaining 25 runways and 15 helipads nationwide.

The condition of its existing equipment also reflects years of insufficient investment and neglect. The report describes the state of the machinery as follows: “…Graders, heavy transport trailers, trucks, vibrating rollers, bulldozers, and tampers have an average age of 30 years, resulting in high maintenance costs and low productivity due to technical obsolescence…”.

The assessment further notes that “…The Palomar Logistics Area is operating at only 50% of its capacity… which illustrates the magnitude of the challenges the Construction Group faces in maintaining the runways in proper condition according to regulatory timelines (Comprehensive Renewal every five years)…”.

Material shortages and budget constraints have prevented the Argentine Air Force from maintaining its runways adequately, with serious operational repercussions. The report concludes: “…Deteriorated runways impose restrictions on flight operations, limiting aircraft activity and affecting takeoff and landing capabilities. This problem impacts not only transport and supply missions but also aircraft availability, as the air bases cannot guarantee safe and operational infrastructure for aircraft and helicopters…”,

Restoring capabilities or outsourcing

To address the need to restore the Construction Group’s capabilities, two potential approaches were put forward and evaluated:

1. Purchase of road maintenance equipment.
   Under this approach, the required roadwork machinery would be acquired, allowing the Construction Group to maintain runways and helipads independently. “…The main advantage of this option is operational independence. In a context of armed conflict, having this capacity is essential to ensure the continuity of air operations…”

2. Outsourcing maintenance services.
   This option would involve appointing an external specialist provider to maintain runways and helipads. “…This option could be implemented more quickly in the short term but carries the disadvantage of losing autonomy in managing critical infrastructure…”

The first alternative was ultimately selected because it provides operational autonomy, a quicker response in critical circumstances, long-term savings and economies of scale when using Air Force personnel.

Material requirements for the Construction Group

The Argentine Air Force’s Construction Group was assigned the following equipment requirements:

Road machinery: Caterpillar D7R bulldozer, joint cutter, 25-ton transport trailer, line-marking machine, motor grader with front dozer and scarifier, gasoline-powered vibrating engine, 3.8 HP compactor, front-end loader, self-propelled vibrating roller, pneumatic pavement hammer, portable air compressor, 252-bar pressure washer, vibrating screed.

Power supply equipment: 5,500W portable generator and 56,000W three-phase generator.

Vehicles: Truck (Daily 70-170 type), truck (Stralis type), pickup (Amarok TDI 4×2 type), van (Sprinter 416 CDI type), and a 4-axle 10.8m trailer with a tilting gate.

Investment in Argentine Air Force construction equipment

According to the technical report, the Total Investment Value would be $36,000,000,000.