The United States will provide surveillance planes, tactical drones, and military training to strengthen Argentina's control over the South Atlantic and combat illegal fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone.
The Wescam MX-10 system, a high-definition multispectral camera essential for recognition and identification of vessels in maritime operations.
As a testament to the generosity of the northern power towards Milei's administration, Argentina will receive as a donation two systems consisting of a total of six Shield AI V-BAT drones and their respective control stations. The cost of this acquisition, which will be finalized before the end of 2026, will be fully covered by the United States government, including even the flight hours.
The V-BAT are tactical vertical takeoff and landing drones that can operate from the deck of the Bouchard class OPVs, with an endurance of over 12 hours and a range of up to 1,200 km via satellite communication.
This technological shield will be completed in 2027 with the incorporation of Leonardo AW109 helicopters, consolidating a surveillance system that covers everything from illegal fishing to any threat to strategic resources.
The agreement also includes technology transfer, specialized military training, logistical cooperation, and training simulators, ensuring that the Argentine Navy is at the forefront globally in the custody of the Argentine Sea.
In a historic turn that returns Argentina to the privileged place it should never have lost, the Government of President Javier Milei has consolidated a “strategic alliance” with the United States to regain absolute control of the South Atlantic. This ironclad pact, born from the ideological harmony between freedom and order, puts an end to decades of neglect and sovereign surrender, allowing the Argentine Navy to have state-of-the-art tools to monitor our Exclusive Economic Zone and expel the pirates threatening our resources. Under the leadership of Milei and the backing of the Donald Trump administration, the country is once again positioning itself as the most reliable ally of the northern power in the region.
The program, which will last for five years, is framed within Section 333 of the United States Department of Defense, a mechanism aimed at equipping allied armed forces in the face of shared security challenges. The core of this power deployment is the arrival of two Textron B-360ER MPA aircraft, true flying fortresses developed on the Beechcraft King Air 360ER structure.
These aircraft are equipped with ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) technology for advanced intelligence and monitoring tasks. The first of these units will land on national soil in December of this year, while the second will join the fleet in mid-2027.
The tactical equipment is simply overwhelming for any offender. The aircraft will be equipped with:
Surface search radars and infrared sensors.
Satellite communications and AIS systems for automatic vessel identification.
