Argentina buys four P-3 Orions from Norway

The Argentine Ministry of Defense and the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) signed a contract for the purchase of three Lockheed P-3C Orions and one P-3N Orion for the Argentine Navy on 17 October. The contract is worth nearly USD60 million, to be paid over the next three years.

The contract was signed by Argentine Minister of Defense Jorge Taiana, Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Navy Admiral Julio Guardia, and NDMA Director Magnus Hansvold. The signing took place at the Presidente Sarmiento Frigate Museum Ship in Buenos Aires, attended by Norwegian Ambassador to Argentina Halvor Sætre and Commander of Argentine Naval Aviation Commodore Juan Alberto Mercatelli.

The purchase follows the 11 October US government authorisation to transfer the aircraft, as well as 24 Danish F-16 Fighting Falcons, which have not yet been signed for.