DefenseThe Colombian Air Force is expected to announce its new fighter jet within months, said Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The South American country is embroiled in controversy over the replacement for the IAI Kfir fighter jets, which are about to reach the end of their service life.
Sanchez said that the situation has benefited illegal military groups, which are strengthening themselves amid peace negotiations.
Colombia has not revealed how many aircraft it intends to acquire or what the budget is. It is known, however, that the Lockheed Martin F-16, Dassault Rafale and Saab Gripen fighter jets are in the running.
The Swedish aircraft was even mentioned by a radio station in the country, but there was never any confirmation from the Colombian government.
Rafale chosen
The current president, Gustavo Petro, announced the Rafale as the next Colombian fighter as soon as he took office. However, his government intended to place orders in small batches due to limited resources. This alternative was rejected by Dassault.
The Air Force currently has 19 Kfirs that were upgraded by the Israeli IAI, but they will not be able to be operated for much longer due to the limitations of their airframes.
The time it takes for the first new fighter jets to be delivered could leave the country without a supersonic interceptor, as is the case with Argentina.
The South American nation only closed a purchase of 24 second-hand F-16 fighters from Denmark in 2024. Since 2015, the Argentine Air Force has been without a supersonic fighter, a gap that will only be resolved next year.
