Chile has (after a long competition) chosen the F-16 as its new fighter. The $600 million contract will cover between 10 and 12 F-16Cs and two-seat F-16Ds of the Block-50 or Block-52 upgrade. The aircraft are to be delivered in 2004 and 2005. Chile reportedly wants to buy the conformal fuel tanks developed for the UAE F-16C60s, giving its aircraft very long range. Chile also wants to buy AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles to arm these aircraft. Chile currently has 13 Mirage-50s, 19 Mirage-5s, 13 F-15Es, and 30 A-37s. The A-37s will be retired as the F-16s come into service. Chile picked the F-16s over the competing JAS-39 Gryphon, the F-18 Super Hornet, and the Mirage-2000-5.--Stephen V Cole