September 16, 2025 (by Lieven Dewitte) - The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Peru for a fleet of F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcons and associated systems.
The proposed package, valued at an estimated $3.42 billion, represents a major step forward in the modernization of the Peruvian Air Force (FAP).

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the potential sale on September 15, 2025. If finalized, Peru would receive twelve aircraft: ten single-seat F-16C Block 70s and two two-seat F-16D Block 70s. The deal also includes fourteen F110-GE-129 engines, advanced avionics, and a wide range of weapons and support equipment.

The F-16 Block 70, also known as the F-16V “Viper,” is the most advanced production variant of the fighter to date. Key features include the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, the AN/ALQ-254 Viper Shield electronic warfare suite, and state-of-the-art avionics powered by the Modular Mission Computer (MMC 7000AH). Together, these upgrades give the aircraft enhanced detection, tracking, and survivability against modern air and ground threats.

The package includes a modest starter weapons suite with twelve AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles and twelve AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder short-range missiles. Other systems in the request are:

• AN/APG-83 AESA radars
• AN/AAQ-28 Litening targeting pods
• JHMCS II helmet-mounted cueing systems
• MIDS-JTRS datalink radios
• Mission planning equipment and simulators

Beyond the hardware, the potential sale covers training for pilots and ground crews, spare parts, technical documentation, and long-term logistical and engineering support from both the U.S. government and Lockheed Martin.

Peru has long sought to replace its aging fleet of Soviet-era fighters, including MiG-29s and Mirage 2000s, which face increasing maintenance and capability limitations. If completed, the deal would significantly boost the FAP’s air defense and multirole combat capabilities, aligning it more closely with regional partners and U.S. interoperability standards.