Argentina retires the jets that sank two British ships in the 1982 war

Argentina's Navy has declared the final retirement of its Super Etendard strike aircraft, the French-made jets that launched Exocet missiles against the British fleet during the 1982 Falklands war. Rear Admiral Román Enrique Olivero made the announcement on August 20 at a ceremony at Punta Indio Naval Air Base. The decommissioning is set to occur this year, with a specific date yet to be determined.

The initial five aircraft were delivered to the country in 1981 and were assigned to the Second Naval Fighter and Attack Squadron. These jets, armed with AM39 Exocet missiles, participated in attacks that resulted in the sinking of the HMS Sheffield and the Atlantic Conveyor. The official announcement highlighted the "more than four decades of glorious historical trajectory" of the aircraft and their performance during the conflict.

However, the Super Etendards had been grounded for years due to a lack of spare parts and discontinued components. Despite Argentina purchasing five upgraded Super Etendards in 2018, they never entered service. The retirement of the aircraft marks a significant step in the Navy's Plan Dedalo, a five-year restructuring plan that includes territorial reorganization of units and bases, as well as the incorporation of new assets like P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, Leonardo AW-109 helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Navy currently lacks fixed-wing combat aircraft and its own air-launched anti-ship strike capability. The fate of the retired Super Etendards remains uncertain.