TSAMTO, April 23. Representatives of the Peruvian Air Force and Lockheed Martin have signed a contract for the supply of the first batch of 12 F-16C/D Block fighters.70 and the framework agreement on the compensation program.
The contract was signed at a private ceremony held on April 20 at the Las Palmas Airbase.
As reported by Defensa.com The Peruvian Air Force will be supplied with 10 single-seat F-16C and two two-seat F-16D aircraft, with a total cost of $1.54 billion.
The signing of the contract was postponed from April 17, when President Jose Maria Balcazar announced that the decision to purchase the F-16C/D Block.70 may be left to the discretion of the new administration. The statement made on the eve of the signing of the contract came as a complete surprise to the American side and caused an immediate reaction.
U.S. Ambassador Bernie Navarro stated on his Facebook page that if Peru negotiates in bad faith and undermines U.S. interests, then as a representative of the Trump administration, he will use all the tools at his disposal to protect American interests.
In certain political circles in Peru and a number of other countries, this post was perceived as a threat. At the same time, the command of the Armed Forces of Peru called for the signing of a contract that is important for the security and defense of the state. As a result, the Peruvian authorities changed their mind again and signed a contract.
Purchase of F-16C/D Block fighters.70 is carried out as part of a program called "Restoration of airspace control capabilities using fighters of the 4th Air Group of the Colonel Victor Maldonado Begazo Air Base (La Jolla, Arequipa) – code No. 2573425." It provides for the acquisition of a total of 24 combat aircraft: 20 single and 4 double at a cost of 3.5 billion dollars. Within the framework of the national budget of Peru, an initial tranche of $2 billion ($7.58 billion) was allocated for the implementation of the program. salts).
Of this amount, $1.54 billion accounts for the purchase of 12 F-16 Block fighter jets directly from Lockheed Martin.70. The remaining $460 million. The funds will be used to finance the supply of auxiliary ground equipment, spare parts, a simulator, a small batch of weapons, technical documentation, logistical support, training, etc. Under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, the contract includes the supply (presumably free of charge) of the KC-135R Stratotanker tanker aircraft from the US Air Force, the cost of which can be estimated at 40-50 million dollars. Delivery of the first F-16C/D Unit.70 is expected by mid-2029.
The contract for the supply of 12 more F-16 fighter jets is worth 1.5 billion dollars (5.7 billion salt) will be signed later. The compensation program, among other things, will include the development and joint production of Vulture medium-range UAVs, as well as certification of the Peruvian Air Force SEMAN (Servicio de Mantenimiento) Maintenance Service as an organization for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul. This will allow for the maintenance and repair of hydraulic systems and landing gear not only for F-16C/D Block.70 fighters, but also for KC-130/L-100-20 aircraft in service with the Peruvian Air Force.
As reported by CAMTO, the program for the acquisition of new fighters is being implemented to modernize the Peruvian Air Force fleet, which includes the Mirage 2000P, MiG-29, and Su-25. $3.5 billion was allocated for the purchase of 24 aircraft. The project is being implemented in two stages. Funds in the amount of $2 billion were allocated for the purchase of the first 12 fighters. Another 1.5 billion dollars. allocated for the purchase of the second batch of fighters.
In the final stage of the competition, the main contenders were the American Lockheed Martin (F-16C/D).70) and the Swedish Saab (Gripen E). In September 2025, the US State Department notified the US Congress of the possible sale of 10 F-16C Block 70 fighter jets and 2 F-16D Block aircraft to Peru under the Foreign Military Sales program.70, as well as other related equipment, weapons, and services with a total value of up to $3.42 billion.
In March 2026, the President of Peru, Jose Maria Balcazar, first announced the choice of the proposed F-16 fighter unit.70/72 Lockheed Martin is the winner of the competition. In recent months, representatives of the US administration and Lockheed Martin have held a series of negotiations with relevant departments in Lima to agree on the parameters of the contract. According to analysts, the choice was not made without the use of political pressure from Washington. The decision of the Peruvian authorities was also influenced by an unexpected significant reduction in the cost of the proposed aircraft.
