BUENOS AIRES,Argentina. August 12- Conflicting reports have surfaced regarding Argentina’s rumored plan to supply Ukraine with five retired Dassault Super Étendard single-engine attack fighters. Initially, InfoBae claimed that Argentine President Javier Milei had approved the transfer of these aircraft to aid Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia. However, the Argentine defense outlet Zona Militar refuted this claim, asserting that the Argentine Naval Aviation intends to refurbish and retain the jets for its own use.
The Super Étendard, a French carrier-based strike fighter, gained notoriety during the 1982 Falklands War, notably damaging British forces by sinking the destroyer HMS Sheffield and the transport ship Atlantic Conveyor. The aircraft is a single-seat design, measuring 47 feet in length with a 31-foot wingspan, and capable of reaching speeds of 733 mph. It is armed with a double-barrel DEFA 30 mm cannon and can carry various additional weapons, including bombs and anti-ship missiles. Despite the uncertainty surrounding this potential deal, Argentina’s military capabilities have recently been enhanced by the acquisition of 24 F-16 fighter jets from Denmark, supported by the United States.
