Decree declares the export of Air Force material a military secret

The National Executive Branch has declared the export of material related to the weapons system incorporated by the Argentine Air Force as a MILITARY SECRET, for the purpose of carrying out maintenance and update tasks. The decision was formalized in Decree 735/2026, signed on August 14 and published in the Official Gazette of the Argentine Republic on August 18, 2026.

The regulation, identified as DECTO-2026-735-APN-PTE, was signed by President Javier Milei and the Chief of Cabinet, Carlos Alberto Presti, and is processed under File No. EX-2024-05198131-APN-DGPPYP#FAA.

A secret that extends to export

The decree is based on Law No. 23,554 on National Defense and Law No. 24,948, which grant the Ministry of Defense the authority to evaluate and decide on the equipment of the forces. The declaration of secrecy is issued under the terms of Decree No. 9390/63, which regulates the classification of military information.

The measure is not isolated: it follows a series of previous provisions that had already shielded the operation of incorporating the weapons system:

• Decree No. 370/24: declared the original contractual operation a military secret.
• Decree No. 807/24: extended the secrecy to infrastructure works and the import of material.
• Decree No. 1073/24: covered additional contracts for Complementary Equipment and Capabilities.

Sensitive material and ongoing operations

The text justifies the reservation because it involves sensitive material, among which it lists aircraft components, engines, spare parts, and actual and training weaponry. The export is aimed at maintenance and update tasks for the system, the incorporation of which is complemented by the aforementioned additional contracts.

The preamble of the decree recalls that flight activities for the incorporated weapons system began on March 30, 2026, at the Río IV Material Area, making it necessary to arrange for the material to be sent abroad. The implementation of the measure is the responsibility of the Secretariat of Strategy and Military Affairs of the Ministry of Defense.

Impact on transparency

The declaration of military secrecy removes defense material export operations from public view, which limits public oversight regarding the destination, deadlines, and conditions of those operations. The regulation is issued using the powers of Article 99, subsection 1 of the National Constitution, and orders the measure to be communicated, published, and archived.

For readers, this news is important because it consolidates a regime of secrecy that extends throughout the entire chain of incorporation and maintenance of the Air Force’s weapons system, reducing the information available regarding the use of public resources in defense.

Source: Official Gazette of the Argentine Republic, August 18, 2026, p. 1 (official reference: Decree 735/2026, DECTO-2026-735-APN-PIE).