What could Argentina have acquired before 1982 to improve its chances?
Short answerBetter island air defence, more land-based anti-ship missiles, mobility, and mine-warfare capability would have changed the operational problem.
NotesA credible surface-to-air missile system such as Hawk would be the most important way to contest Harrier control of the air. More land-based Exocets would extend the anti-ship threat beyond Argentina's limited stocks. Helicopters could improve movement across the islands, while mine-warfare vessels could make British approaches and amphibious operations more dangerous. None of those acquisitions would help if the forces could not deploy, sustain, and coordinate them in the Falklands. Readiness, logistics, and mobility determine whether a paper inventory becomes operationally decisive.