Peru is advancing toward selecting the Lockheed Martin F-16V Block 70 Viper as its preferred next-generation fighter jet, officials and defence sources told local media, marking a significant pivot in Lima’s long-running effort to modernise the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) combat fleet.
According to local outlet Expreso, the Peruvian government has decided to proceed with the purchase of up to 24 F-16 Block 70 aircraft in a package valued at approximately $7 billion, outpacing rival proposals from Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen E/F and Dassault’s Rafale F4. The final contract signature is expected in the second week of April 2026, after Peru’s general elections.
Sources familiar with the FAP’s internal deliberations quoted by defense publication Pucara echoed this assessment, reporting that the Viper’s AN/APG-83 AESA radar, modern avionics, and integrated Link-16 datalink tipped the balance in its favour over competitors.
The F-16V Block 70 order under consideration includes 10 single-seat F-16C and two two-seat F-16D aircraft, aligned with a $3.42 billion Foreign Military Sale (FMS) package previously authorised by the U.S. State Department. That acquisition already includes advanced mission systems, electronic warfare gear, targeting pods, missiles, spare engines, logistics support, and pilot training.
Peru’s decision, if formalised, would mark a major modernization in the FAP’s transition away from a mix of ageing MiG-29 and Mirage 2000 fighters.
Beyond platforms, Expreso reported that Washington has offered Lima designation as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA), a status that could unlock preferred access to US defence financing and advanced systems.
Peru’s ongoing fighter competition has been closely watched in Latin America, where several air forces face the challenge of replacing Cold War-era fleets amid constrained defense budgets.
If the acquisition is confirmed, Peru would become the only Latin American air force to field new-build F-16V Block 70 aircraft. Neighboring Chile flies a mix of F-16s, including new-build Block 50 jets and second-hand A/B airframes upgraded under the MLU standard. Argentina’s incoming fleet consists of used F-16AM/BM aircraft sourced from Denmark, while Venezuela’s F-16s were delivered as Block 15 aircraft in the 1980s.
