News in brief: South America

The latest defence developments in South America, as featured in the Blueprint magazine's December 2025 edition

3 min read

Updated On: Dec 11 2025 | 4:22 PM IST

The F-16B jet (Photo: Ministry of Defense, Argentina)

South America has witnessed some key defence deals, military launches and exercises in late 2025. Below are some brief snippets of the major news:

Argentina gets its first F-16B jet

The Argentine Air Force’s maiden operational F-16B twin-seat aircraft was unveiled at Denmark’s Aalborg Air Base in September, as reported by the Italy-based news portal The Avionist.

In a social media post, Argentina’s Defence Minister Luis Petri said that the jet boasts of “modernised systems, surface treatments, and standardised paint” as per the specifications listed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The aircraft is among six expected to be delivered to Argentina in December 2025, while 18 more are slated for delivery by 2028. This is part of the Peace Condor programme, wherein Argentina signed a $300 million deal in April 2024 to purchase 24 F-16A/B jets from Denmark.

Venezuela’s show of force

Amid ongoing tensions triggered by the United States’ (US’) naval deployment to the Caribbean in opposition to Venezuela’s alleged support for illegal drug trade, Venezuela conducted a three-day military exercise, “Sovereign Caribbean 200”, in September. The drill showcased 12 naval vessels, 20 patrol boats, and 22 aircraft, including the Russian-built Su-30 fighter jets equipped with anti-ship missiles, and comprised 2,500 troops overseeing air, sea, and land manoeuvres to show the country’s defence, CNN reported.

In October, a Russian military transport aircraft, the Ilyushin Il-76, reached Venezuela. The heavy-lift cargo specialist is also linked to the former Wagner mercenary group, as per the media reports.

Massive military exercise in the Amazon

As part of the final phase of the Operation Atlas 2025, Brazil initiated a large-scale manoeuvre with over 10,000 personnel from the country’s Armed Forces in October, according to the Argentine news portal Zona Militar.

Among the largest recent military exercises in the Amazon aimed at improving interoperability and combat, Operation Atlas saw the deployment of the multipurpose vessel Atlântico, the largest military ship in South America, on the eastern front. In north Brazil, the Army and Air Force jointly displayed 500 armoured and tactical vehicles and artillery systems.

Tri-nation display of naval strength

In a bid to boost regional security and combined defence, the three-phase BRACOLPER 2025 multinational riverine exercise finally concluded in October, showcasing tri-national cooperation between the navies of Brazil, Colombia, and Peru in the Amazon basin, the US-based SeaWaves Magazine reported.

The 51st edition of the exercise demonstrated military activities like protocol ceremonies, nautical parades, tactical manoeuvres, shooting drills, river control missions, cyber defence drills, and crisis procedures, aligned with global standards.

Uruguay to buy third Agusta-Bell helicopter

After numerous bureaucratic and budgetary delays, the Uruguayan Navy received the nod to purchase its third Agusta-Bell AB-412 helicopter after presidential authorisation,in October, according to the Argentine news portal Zona Militar. The next process includes fine-tuning the long-standing negotiation with the helicopter’s Italy-based manufacturer Leonardo. The AB-412 is specialised in operational tasks and improved logistical performance in maritime environments.

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Written By :

Jaisal Kaur

First Published: Dec 10 2025 | 11:30 AM IST

In this article : Defence news