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

Argentina has decided to retire its Super Étendard strike aircraft, the French-built jets that attacked British ships during the 1982 Falklands war. The decision was announced on August 20 by the commander of Naval Aviation, Rear Admiral Román Enrique Olivero, during a ceremony at Punta Indio Naval Air Base. The first five aircraft arrived in Argentina in 1981 and were assigned to the Second Naval Fighter and Attack Squadron.

These jets, equipped with AM39 Exocet missiles, participated in the attacks that sank the HMS Sheffield and the logistics ship Atlantic Conveyor. Despite their historical significance in the conflict, the aircraft had not flown for years due to a lack of spare parts and discontinued components. In 2018, Argentina purchased five more upgraded Super Étendard Modernisé version, arriving in May 2019 and never joining service due to ejection seat system issues requiring UK authorization.

This retirement is part of the Plan Dédalo, a five-year restructuring of Naval Aviation, which includes territorial reorganisation, doctrinal updates, and the incorporation of new assets such as P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, B-360 helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The withdrawal leaves Argentina without fixed-wing combat aircraft and its own air-launched anti-ship strike capability.