Argentina military grapples with obsolete defense inventories

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Argentina is having to deal with obsolete defense equipment and its knock-on effect on training of its personnel and battle worthiness of aircraft, naval vessels and military vehicles.

Military commanders' complaints over poor standards of inventories go back a few years and are partly due to a government backlash to anything military following Argentina's long history of military dictatorship.

Lack of funds is the other reason for the out-of-date equipment, though it's an aspect of government finances usually suppressed by aides to President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, analysts said.

In the latest public debate on Argentina's defense outlook, newly appointed Defense Minister Arturo Puricelli sounded upbeat but his assessment was challenged by opposition politician Horacio Jaunarena, who served in a previous government.

Jaunarena said half of the Argentine air force's aircraft were grounded and pilots were losing their licenses due to lack of practice on aircraft.

Last year Argentine military commanders called for more funds to be allocated for an urgent refurbishment of Argentine armed forces.

Puricelli, who took over from Nilda Garre, now minister in charge of national security, promised continued support to military development programs begun under Garre.

Argentina has contracted to purchase a range of military equipment from Russia and other suppliers, mostly on credit.

"Our aim is to give the Argentine public peace of mind and we will achieve this through bringing continuity in our policies," Puricelli said, without specifying if further arms procurement programs were planned.

He said continuity in the military refurbishment plan meant continued implementation of ideas put forward by Fernandez and her late husband and former president, Nestor Kirchner, who died Oct. 27 and was widely credited with framing defense and security policies in his wife's administration.

Although Puricelli said Argentina would soon announce "a modern defense policy" based on a "solid" framework he didn't outline measures including procurement plans.

"The public should have the security that their armed forces are trained, capable and hold a moral and spiritual philosophy; securing their interest in national defense, as stated in the constitution," said Puricelli.

Jaunarena said Argentina's military administration was in a "bad shape" and the armed forces needed basic supplies, including spares for military equipment and ammunition, MercoPress reported.

He said the Argentine navy also suffered from the problem of units that weren't operational, with only 16 out of 60 vessels in combat readiness.

He called for more government procurements to refurbish the armed forces and accused government officials of incompetence.