Fuerza Aerea Argentina 

Argentine Air Force

 

The second largest country in South America, second only to Brazil, Argentina spans from the sub-tropical North to the antarctic South. Yet, the bulk of the country's Air Force, Fuerza Aerea Argentina, is concentrated in the northern half of the country. The FAA gained independece from the Army on 4 February 1945. During the fifties much British equipment was received in the form of Meteors, Lincolns and Canberras. During the sixties, the country turned to the USA and F-86 Sabres and A-4 Skyhawks were received. The seventies saw an influx of French Mirages, topped up by more from various sources.

The FAA had it's baptism of fire during the 1982 Falklands War against the UK. In addition to loosing this war, it had the added effect of an arms embargo from the USA which was only lifted during the late 1990's. Consequently, the FAA has to make do with some older equipment than it would no doubt like.

 

All pictures (c) Hans Rolink.

Starting with primary training, the FAA still uses the Beech T-34A Mentor for this role. In FAA service, the type is known as the Beech B45. The owner of these trainers is the Escuela de Aviación Militar at Cordoba.  The school's flying unit is known as the Grupo Aérea Escuela and the Mentors fly with Escuadrón Mentor.

Some 30 are still in service following a modernisation program which included a new engine. 

Cordoba, 15 November 2005.

Before the introduction of the Brazilian EMBRAER EMB.312A Tucano, advanced instruction was given on the MS.760 Paris. 30 Tucanos like E-114 to the right serve with the Escuadrón Tucano which is also part of the Grupo Aérea Escuela.

Cordoba, 15 November 2005.

One of Argentina's recent achievements as an aircraft producing country has been the IA.63 Pampa. Developed by FMA (Fabrico Militar de Aviones), the plant is now known as LMAASA (Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina S.A.). The Pampa is a single engined straight winged jet trainer which bears some resemblance to the Franco-German Alpha Jet. A total of 12 have been built for the FAA. All fly with Grupo Aéreo 4's II Escuadrón at Mendoza-El Plumerillo for weapons training. 

Mendoza-El Plumerillo, 19 November 2005.

The immediate predecessor to both the Pampa and the Tucano is the Morane Saulnier MS.760 Paris. This four seat trainer should already have been retired, but has been given a new lease of life when insufficient Pampas could be purchased for a complete replacement. Like the Pampa, the Paris is used for weapons training as well as instruments and formation training

 

Mendoza-El Plumerillo, 19 November 2005.

Best known for it's service during the Falklands or Malvinas campaign, the FMA IA.58 Pucara was developed as a Counter Insurgency (COIN) platform for ground attack missions. Some 90 have been built, most going to the FAA with small numbers exported to Uruguay, Colombia and Sri Lanka. The remaining Argentine Pucaras now fly with Escadrones I and II of Grupo Aéreo 3 de Ataque. Their home base is Reconquista in the northern province of Santa Fe.

 

Mendoza-El Plumerillo, 21 November 2005.

Following the lifting of the US arms emabargo, Argentina purchased 32 single seat A-4AR and four two seat OA-4AR Fighting Hawks. The Fighting Hawk is a thoroughly modernised A-4M respectively OA-4M Skyhawk taken from US Marine Corps stocks. It has been given a.o. a downgraded F-16 radar. The Fighting Hawks' base is Villa Reynolds in San Luis province. Operating unit is Grupo Aéreo 5 de Caza.

 

Mendoza-El Plumerillo, 19 November 2005.

Argentina's diverse Mirage fleet has been concentrated at BAM Tandil, Buenos Aires, within Grupo Aéreo 6 de Caza. Within this wing, Escadron I flies the survivors of 17 Dassault Mirage 3EA interceptors. Fitted with a sixties vintage radar and weapons system, these French fighters constitute the country's all weather air defence.

Note the Falklands/Malvinas silhouette on the aircraft's air intake, a feature of all Mirage derivatives in Argentine service.

 

Mendoza-El Plumerillo, 21 November 2005.

Israel supplied 39 IAI Neshers as a reinforcement to the Mirage fleet during the second half of the 1970's. In FAA service they received the name Dagger. The survivors, many were destroyed during the Falklands/Malvinas conflict of 1982, have been brought up to an avionics standard approximating that of the IAI Kfir C2. This included the ELTA EL/M-2001 radar. Known as Fingers, the modernised Daggers equip Escadron II of Grupo Aéreo 6 de Caza at Tandil.

 

Mendoza-El Plumerillo, 21 November 2005.

Least sophisticated of all the Mirage types in FAA service is the Mirage 5PA Mara. A total of 11 Mirage 5P's were taken over from Peru and were delivered after the end of hostilities in 1982. The name Mirage 5PA Mara was bestowed upon the Mirage 5P following a modest modernisation programme. Operating unit is II Escadron/Grupo Aéreo 6 de Caza at Tandil.

Mendoza-El Plumerillo, 21 November 2005

 

The FAA has a diverse transport fleet. Apart from the usual military freighting duties, some aircraft like this Fokker F.27-400M Friendship, are also in use for flying paying passengers on less dense routes with LADE (Lineas Aéreas del Estado). F.27's fly with Grupo Aereo 2 from Paraná as well as with Grupo Aereo 9 from Commodoro Rivadavia. TC-71 can be seen here about to take off for a LADE flight.

 

Bahia Blanca, 18 November 2005.

Another Dutch product flying in Argentine markings is the Fokker F.28 Fellowship. TC-52 depicted here is an F.28 Mk.1000C, one of three active with Grupo Aéreo 1's III Escadron. The type is tasked with short to medium range transport.

Buenos Aires-El Palomar, 22 November 2005.

Long range route flying is the domain of four Boeing 707's of II Escadron/Grupo Aéreo 1. One of these is civil registered but is nonetheless part of GA 1. The aircraft have been acquired on the used market and thus have differing version designations. TC-94 is a 707-372C.

 

Buenos Aires-El Palomar, 22 November 2005.

Argentina's equivalent to the USAF's Air Force One is this Boeing 757-23A. It´s mission is transporting the Argentine President. Although it is administratively on the strength of Agrupacion de Aviones Presidencial, part of Grupo Aéreo 1at El Palomar, it's home base is Buenos Aires' Jorge Newbery airport.

Buenos Aires-Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, 13 October 2003.

 

Like so many other Air Forces, the FAA relies on the trusty Lockheed C-130 Hercules for tactical transport duties. A total of seven Hercs are on the strength of Grupo Aéreo 1's I Escadron. These comprise a pair of C-130B's, a pair of KC-130H tankers as well as a trio of C-130H's of which this, TC-66, is one.

 

Buenos Aires-El Palomar, 22 November 2005.

 

Although most Grupo's include a Base Flight (Escuadrón Convencionales) which sometimes operates helicopters, most of the FAA's support helicopters fly with Grupo Aéreo 7 at Mariano Moreno. This Bell 212 helicopter, sprayed white for UN work, is serialled H-87 and has in fact been acquired second hand from the Israeli Air Force. 

Mendoza-El Plumerillo, 19 November 2005.

For operations in the Andes mountain regions close to Mendoza, IV Brigada Aérea, the unit which runs Mendoza-El Plumerillo Air Base, has at least two Sud SA.315B Lamas on strength. These rugged helicopters can be used for SAR work in mountain areas.

 

Mendoza-El Plumerillo, 19 November 2005.

As indicated above, there are base flights attached to most Grupos. The Escuadrón Convencionales with Grupo Aéreo 6 de Caza, the fighter wing at Tandil, makes use of among others this Cessna 182J. Other types in use for such liaison duties are Rockwell Commander 500U's as well as Hughes 369 helicopters.

Tandil, 17 November 2005.

Argentina can not afford a full time jet aerobatic display team. In order to show it's people the Air Force's prowess in formation flying, the FAA purchased eight Sukhoi Su.29AR competition aerobatics aircraft. They fly with the Cruz del Sur aerobatic team which has been attached to Grupo Aéreo 4 at Mendoza. Adminstratively this unit is known as IV Escadron.

 

Mendoza-El Plumerillo, 19 November 2005.

 

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