New Lockheed Martin package drastically cuts the cost per aircraft and aligns with the budget set by the Peruvian government to renew its combat fleet
The United States has presented Peru with a new offer for the sale of F-16 Block 70 fighter jets with a significant reduction in unit cost. The proposal, made by the American company Lockheed Martin to the Peruvian Air Force, now includes the supply of 24 aircraft for US$ 3.5 billion, a value very close to the initial offer, which covered only 12 units for US$ 3.42 billion.
The information was published by the Peruvian edition of the newspaper La República. According to the report, the revision of the proposal aimed to meet the budget limits established by the Peruvian government for the renewal of its combat aviation.
In practice, the new configuration represents a reduction of about 50% in unit cost compared to the initial offer. The previous proposal, presented in September 2025, consumed 98% of the resources planned by the Peruvian government for the purchase of 24 fighter jets, even though it covered only half of that total.
The publication points out that this adjustment may have influenced the decision to choose the F-16 instead of the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter, which had won last year’s bid. In addition to Lockheed Martin, the process also included France’s Dassault Aviation with the Rafale F4, and Sweden’s Saab with the Gripen E/F.
According to sources cited in the report, the current plan includes the purchase of 12 F-16 Block 70 fighters this year for US$ 2 billion. The other 12 aircraft would be acquired in 2027 for US$ 1.5 billion. Still according to these sources, 30% of the value related to the first phase has already been approved and is available, which would pave the way for the contract to be signed by the Peruvian Air Force.
So far, the factors that allowed such a significant reduction in the total value of the proposal compared to the original offer have not been detailed. Even so, the new package strengthens the competitiveness of the American offer within Peru’s fleet modernization program.
The F-16 Block 70 is the most advanced production version of the F-16 multirole fighter, also known as the F-16V Viper. Among the model’s main highlights is the AN/APG-83 SABR radar with active electronically scanned array (AESA), which enhances target detection capability, improves resistance to electronic interference, and increases precision in weapon deployment.
The aircraft also features updated avionics, a new computing system, a digital cockpit with a large display, and modern communication and data exchange systems—characteristics that place the model among the leading advanced fourth-generation fighters available on the international market.
Source and images: La República | Lockheed Martin. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
+ Several people injured in 75-car traffic pileup in the U.S.
