Subsonic South: Air Forces of Latin America are getting tired of being treated like poor relation dressed in castoffs from rich uncle. With military aircraft averaging 18 years old, they want more modern combat planes, like U.S. first-line supersonic jet fighters. Instead, Uncle Sam offers re-modeled trainers and transports.
Typical attitude of U.S. was expressed recently by William E. Lang,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.
“Primary mission of the Latin American (air) forces,” he said, “can
be met by two basic aircraft. One is an inexpensive and simple counter-
insurgency (COIN) airplane. The second is a good, inexpensive medium
transport with which the Latin American air forces can help open the frontiers (of their countries).” Presumably, planes he referred to are Cessna AT-37D, North American OV-1 OA, Lockheed C-130, and Fairchild F-27
and F-227 STOL transports.
U.S. view is that countries of South America need to spend money on improving welfare of their people, not on high-performance aircraft. If one country should get modern fighter planes, U.S. reasons, its neighbors would be forced-for prestige, if not defense-to buy some, too. Resulting arms race would further depress living standards of average Latino family, could embroil part of continent in military incidents or war.
Throughout most of past 20 years, Latin American countries, lacking money to buy warplanes on open market, have been willing to settle for bargain-priced U.S. aircraft discarded by Air Force and Navy. Exception occurred in early 1950’s. When U.S., embroiled in Korean war,had no surplus to sell, Britain moved in to furnish Hunter fighters and Vampire and Venom fighter-bombers. But as U.S. resumed its aid program, that action effectively cut off further inroads by European suppliers, except for helicopters and similar equipment which U.S. felt wouldn’t upset arms balance.
It has been good deal for Uncle Sam for. though U.S. loaned money to
Latin Americans to pay for planes, they agreed to pay it back. This gave
U.S. a hand in their economic affairs,got rid of older planes to make way
for newer ones in U.S. forces, enabled U.S. to assign military advisers
to work with South American air forces, and kept them from building significant military threat in Western hemisphere.
Now, thanks in part to U.S. economic aid, some countries are in good enough financial shape to decide they can afford something better in way of military aircraft. With U.S. continuing to deny first-line product, they are again turning to Europe for possible deals.
Peru, still flying prop-driven F-47 Thunderbolts along with F-86 Sabre-jets, F-80 Shooting Stars, and some British Hunter F.52 fighters, is talking about buying 16 supersonic English Electric F.2 Lightnings.
Chile, also equipped with F-80’s and F-86’s, is discussing purchase of Mirage III’s from France.
Commander of Venezuelan AF visited Sweden to negotiate for Mach 2 J.35 Drakens to modernize force of British’ Vampire and Venom fighter-bombers and F-86F day fighters.
Argentina thought it had concluded arrangement with U.S. for 50 Doug-
las A-4B Skyhawks. Though subsonic, Skyhawk would still be most potent fighter in any Latin American country. But U.S. later cut 25 A-4’s from deal, and as of now it’s not at all certain Argentines will get any. With this kind of treatment, it’s understandable they’ve also shown interest in Mirage III’s, following recent buy from France of 45 T-28’s which
had been employed in fighter-bomber role in Algeria.
Still another prospect for Dassault fighter is Brazil, though it’s in worst shape financially of Latin America’s “big five” countries, and may have to delay for while longer replacing its Gloster Meteor F.8’s and F-80’s.
Total military aircraft inventory in Latin America numbers about 2,000,
made up of 110 types, all subsonic and dating from late ’40’s to mid-’50’s. Sales experts figure potential military aircraft market at $100 million.
U.S. may still be able to exert influence to block purchases, by threatening to cut off other economic aid, by refusing to issue export licenses for U.S.-made or licensed equipment in foreign aircraft, or by pressure on selling countries, particularly Britain.
If all else fails, it may-as it has in past-step in at last minute with compromise offer of newer aircraft. Several Latin American air forces have indicated they would settle for Northrop F-5, which U.S. has made available to 13 countries in Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Asia, plus Canada, but not yet to Latin America.
