Defence & security

Boeing VP: South America may purchase “the latest model of the C-17”

Carlos Ay

Coinciding with the exhibition of a C-17A Globemaster III in Chile’s air and space fair in March 2010, Boeing was reported as talking to prospective customers about the creation of a South American consortium to operate the type following a “time-sharing” scheme already developed by several NATO air forces. Aeromilitaria Argentina has been following the story and got exclusive comments on the subject from Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.

Defence & security

“Salitre II”: Air combat training over Atacama desert

Carlos Ay

Northern Chile’s crystal clear skies, low population density and limited air traffic provide an ideal background for dissimilar air combat training. Late in 2009, the South American nation was host to the second edition of a a large-scale, multi-national exercise gathering combat aircraft and crews from four American and one European air forces. Masked as a peace-restoring exercise, Salitre II was a golden opportunity to see American Eagles, Chilean Fighting Falcons and Tigers, Argentine Fighting Hawks, Brazilian Falcons and French Mirages practice the fine art and science of modern air combat. Gaceta Aeronáutica was there to illustrate and report.