 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Argentine Air Force" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(April 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Argentine Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Fuerza Aérea Argentina | |
.svg) Argentine Air Force wings | |
| Founded | 4 January 1945; 80 years ago (1945-01-04) |
| Country |  Argentina |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 13,837 personnel[1] |
| Part of | Argentine Armed Forces |
| Nickname | FAA |
| March | Spanish:Alas Argentinas "Argentine Wings" |
| Anniversaries | 10 August (anniversary) 1 May (Baptism of fire during the Falklands War) |
| Engagements | |
| Website | argentina.gob.ar/fuerzaaerea |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | PresidentJavier Milei |
| Chief of General Staff | Brigadier Major Gustavo Javier Valverde |
| Deputy Chief of General Staff | Brigadier Néstor Guajardo |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |   |
| Fin flash |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | A-4AR,Pampa |
| Fighter | A-4AR |
| Helicopter | Bell 412,Bell 212,Hughes 500D,SA315,Mil Mi-171 |
| Patrol | Tucano |
| Reconnaissance | Pucará |
| Trainer | T-6 Texan II,Tucano,Pampa,Grob 120TP |
| Transport | C-130,DHC-6,C-12 Huron |
TheArgentine Air Force (Spanish:Fuerza Aérea Argentina, or simplyFAA) is theair force ofArgentina and one of three branches of theArmed Forces of the Argentine Republic. In 2018, it had 13,837 military[1] and 6,900 civilian personnel.[2] FAA commander in chief is Brigadier Gustavo Valverde.[3]
The Air Force's history began with the establishment of theArmy Aviation Service'sEscuela de Aviación Militar ('Military Aviation School') on 10 August 1912.[4]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(August 2015) |
Throughout the years followingWorld War I, the predecessor to the Argentine Air Force received various aircraft from France and Italy. In 1922, theEscuela Militar de Aviación was temporarily disbanded, resulting in the formation ofGrupo 1 de Aviación ('Aviation Group One') as an operational unit. During 1925, theEscuela Militar de Aviación was reopened, and theGrupo 3 de Observación ('Observation Group Three') created, withGrupo 1 de Aviación becoming known asGrupo 1 de Observación shortly after.[citation needed]
In 1927, the General Aeronautics Authority (Dirección General de Aeronáutica) was created to coordinate the country's military aviation. In that same year, theFábrica Militar de Aviones (lit. 'Military Aircraft Factory', FMA), which would play a crucial role in the country's aviation industry, was founded inCórdoba.[4] Despite that, throughout the 1930s, Argentina acquired various aircraft from the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States.[citation needed]
By 1938–39, Argentina's air power consisted of roughly 3,200 personnel (including about 200 officers) and maintained approximately 230 aircraft.[citation needed] Roughly 150 of these were operated by the army and includedDewoitine D.21 andCurtiss P-36 Hawk fighters;Breguet 19 reconnaissance planes;Northrop A-17 andMartin B-10 bombers,North American NA-16 trainers,Focke-Wulf Fw 58 multi-role planes,Junkers Ju 52 transports, andFairchild 82s.[citation needed] Approximately 80 out of the 230 aircraft present were operated by the navy and included theSupermarine Southampton,Supermarine Walrus,Fairey Seal,Fairey III,Vought O2U Corsair,Consolidated P2Y,Curtiss T-32 Condor II,Douglas Dolphin, andGrumman J2F Duck.[5]
The first step towards establishing the Air Force as a separate branch of the Armed Forces was taken during 11 February 1944 to establish the Aeronautical Command-in-Chief (Comando en Jefe de Aeronáutica) directly under the mandate of the Department of War. This later became the Argentine Air Force by decree on 4 January 1945, which also created theSecretary of Aeronautics (Secretaría de Aeronáutica).[4][6]
At the end ofWorld War II, the Air Force began a process ofmodernization. This 'golden age' (roughly 1945–1955) was ushered in by the availability of foreign currency in Argentina, an abundance of now-unemployed aerospace engineers from Germany, Italy, and France, and the British provision of latest-generation engines alongside other aircraft parts. In his first term, PresidentJuan Perón brought teams of European engineers to the FMA, then known as theInstituto Aerotécnico ('Aerotechnical Institute'), or I.Ae., to promote aircraft technological development. The count totaled to around 750 workers, including two teams of German designers (led byKurt Tank) and the French engineerÉmile Dewoitine.[4]
In 1947, the Air Force purchased 100Gloster Meteor jet fighters. These aircraft were paid for by the United States to partially pay back its debt to Argentina, which had provided them with raw materials duringWorld War II. This purchase caused the Argentine Air Force to become the first in Latin America equipped with jet-propelled combat fighters. In addition, severalAvro Lincoln andAvro Lancaster bombers were also acquired.[4]
The Air Force, with formerLuftwaffe officers as consultants[citation needed] and with the European teams that Perón had brought, also began to develop its own aircraft, including theI.Ae. 27 Pulqui I and theI.Ae. 33 Pulqui II jet fighter prototypes.[7] These manufactures gave Argentina the positions of the first country in Latin America and the sixth in the world to develop jet fighter technology on its own.[citation needed] Other Argentina-developed aircraft included the prototypes theI.Ae. 23 trainer, the bi-motor fighterI.Ae. 30 Ñancú, and the assault gliderI.Ae. 25 Mañque; and the production twin-engineI.Ae. 35 Huanquero transport, theI. Ae 22 DL advanced trainer, and theI.Ae 24 Calquín twin-engine attack-bomber; as well as rockets, and planes for civilian use (like theFMA 20 El Boyero).[citation needed]
The Argentine Air Force came into active operation for the first time on June 16, 1955, during thebombing of the Plaza de Mayo inBuenos Aires. Government loyalist Gloster Meteors fought rebel planes that attempted a failed assassination of the President as part of a coup d'état. The plan failed, and the rebels bombed the city and theHouse of Government.[8][9] Inthe following September coup, the Air Force supported Perón's government by initiating combat operations and transporting troops and arms[10] with a meager five aircraft defecting to the other side.[11] After theRevolución Libertadora succeeded and the coup took place, previously mentioned manufacturing operations ceased and most foreign workers left the country,[citation needed] including engineerKurt Tank who went to work inIndia.[12] Despite claims that the Argentine Air Force "baptism by fire" took place during the Malvinas War (1982), this was actually the first time it entered combat.[citation needed]
In 1952, the Argentine Air Force began supplying the country'sAntarctic scientific bases using ski-equippedDouglas C-47 aircraft. This mission had previously been entrusted to the Antarctic Task Forces (Fuerzas de Tareas Antárticas, FATA), established by PresidentJuan Domingo Perón.[13]
In 1970, the Air Force incorporated theC-130 Hercules into Antarctic operations. Notably, the presidential aircraft—aFokker F-28 Fellowship—is reported to have been the first jet to land in Antarctica, in 1973.[14][15][16]
Since the 1970s,DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft have also been deployed for Antarctic missions. In October 1973, the Air Force launched Operation Transantar, which included the first trans-Antarctic and three-continent flight in history. A C-130 Hercules flew a route connectingRío Gallegos,Base Marambio,Christchurch (New Zealand), andCanberra (Australia).[17][18]
In the 1960s, new aircraft were incorporated, including theF-86F Sabre jet fighter and theDouglas A-4 Skyhawk mainly used for ground-attack. During the 1970s, the Air Force re-equipped itself withMirage III interceptors,IAI Dagger multi-role fighters, andC-130 Hercules cargo planes. Acounter-insurgency airplane, thePucará, was also manufactured and used in substantial numbers.[citation needed] The Air Force also had an important role in the 1976 coup which lead to amilitary dictatorship that lasted until 1983.[19]
TheFalklands War was the first war fought by the Argentine Air Force against an external enemy. Some operational aircraft were obsolete.[20] However, the airforce came close to winning the war for Argentina.[21] During the war, the Air Force division of the Military Junta was called theFuerza Aérea Sur (FAS, 'Southern Air Force'), and led by Ernesto Crespo.[22]
Air engagements began on May 1, 1982[23] with the UK'sRoyal Air Force initiatingOperation Black Buck, in which theAvro Vulcan bomber XM607 attacked military air bases on the islands. The Task Force then sentSea Harriers to attack positions at Stanley and Goose Green, where the first Argentine casualties occurred.[24]
The Argentine Air Force reacted by sending multiple IAI Dagger, A-4 Skyhawk attack aircraft, and Mirage III interceptors into the fray. The Mirage III went into combat with the Harriers on Bourbon Island, with one Mirage lost to a Harrier.[citation needed] On May 21, theBattle of San Carlos ("Bomb Alley") began once the Air Force attacked a detachment of British ships involved in the landing in the San Carlos Water. The Dagger and Skyhawk aircraft sank three British ships (HMSCoventry, a Type 42 destroyer; and two frigates, HMSAntelope and HMSArdent).[citation needed]
On June 8, the Air Force carried out anoperation in Bluff Cove. The British were using the landing ships RFASir Galahad and RFASir Tristram to position the 5th Infantry Brigade for an assault on Port Stanley. As these ships were unloading and therefore vulnerable, they were attacked by nine A-4 Skyhawks in two waves, while five Daggers attacked the escorting frigateHMS Plymouth and four more conducted a decoy mission over the north of the islands to draw off British Sea Harriers. The Skyhawks destroyed the landing craft "Foxtrot 4", damaged theSir Galahad so badly that it was subsequently scuttled and also severely damaged theSir Tristram, although she survived and was later rebuilt. Fire and explosions on the ships resulted in 56 deaths and 150 wounded; the worst single loss of life for the British in the war. After their attack, three A-4s from the second wave were shot down by Sea Harriers, killing all three pilots. All the explosive ordnance deployed by the Daggers failed to explode.[citation needed]
On June 13, the A-4 Skyhawks of the Argentine Air Force renewed their attacks in two formations of four aircraft each and launched an attack against enemy troops and helicopters. On June 14, 1982, the Argentine command surrendered, returning control of the Falklands, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands to the United Kingdom. The Argentine Air Force suffered 55 dead and 47 wounded, with 505 combat departures and 62 aircraft losses, as listed below:[25]
After the war, the UK imposed an arms embargo on Argentina. The United States, however, sold Argentina 36A-4AR Fighting hawks, a refurbished and upgraded version of theA-4M Skyhawks. Other equipment purchased by Argentina were: 23 US Army surplus OV-1 Mohawks, 2 C-130B, and 1 Lockheed L-100-30.[citation needed]
Argentina started the development of brand new aircraft, including theFMA IA-63 Pampa, the combat fighterFMA SAIA 90, and the subsequent transformation of theCondor missile into a medium-range ballistic missile.[26] Of these, only the Pampa was successfully developed.
During 1994, President Carlos Menem discontinued mandatory military service and began allowing women to serve.[27]
The Argentine Air Force has been involved inUnited Nationspeacekeeping missions, sending a contingent toCyprus in 1994[28][29] and deployingBell 212 helicopters toHaiti during 2005.
In early 2005, seventeenbrigadiers, including the Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Carlos Rohde, were fired by PresidentNéstor Kirchner following a scandal involving drug trafficking throughEzeiza International Airport. Kirchner cited failures in the security systems of the Argentine airports, which were overseen by the National Aeronautic Police, then a branch of the Air Force (predecessor of the today independentAirport Security Police), and cover-ups of the scandal.[30]
As of 2010[update], budgetary constraints continued, leading to the disbanding of theBoeing 707 transport squadron and maintenance problems for half of theC-130 Hercules fleet.
In August 2010, a contract was signed for twoMi-17Ehelicopters, plus an option on a further three, to supportAntarctic bases.[31][32]
The FAA has been seeking to replace its ageing force with more capable and more serviceable modern aircraft. The acquisition of Spanish MirageF1Ms, IAIKfir Block 60s[33]and SaabGripen E/Fs were considered, but as of February 2015, all of those deals appear to have stalled; the Mirage F1 deal was scrapped by the Spanish government in March 2014, after pressure from the UK to not assist in FAA modernization over tensions between the countries over the Falkland Islands.[34] The UK has also managed to veto the sale of Gripen E/Fs, as 30% of the Gripen's parts are manufactured there. The deal with Israel has reportedly stalled for technical and political reasons.China has allegedly offeredJF-17/FC-1's andChengdu J-10's to Argentina. The two countries have formed a working group to look into the transfer of 14 aircraft.[35][36]Russia had also offered to lease 12Su-24 strike aircraft to the FAA, butJane's reported that the Su-24 would not be very useful to the FAA and that "it would appear that any proposed transfer of such aircraft is likely the result of Russia playing political games with the UK over the continuing crisis in Ukraine."[37] All Mirages were officially decommissioned on 30 November 2015.[38] The A-4s were grounded as of January 2016[update], for lack of spares;[39] in any case only 4–5 were airworthy with the rest in storage atVilla Reynolds.[40] WhenBarack Obama visited in March 2016,Air Force One was accompanied by US Air Force F-16s because Argentina could only offer Pucarás and Pampas for air defense.[41]
As of July 2019, the Argentine Air Force and government selected theKAI FA-50 as its interim fighter.[42] With this act being the first step in modernizing the fighter force and replacing the Mirage 3, Dagger, and Mirage 5 fighters that have also been retired; it was also anticipated that obtaining FA-50 would help mitigate the retirement of theMartin A-4AR Fightinghawk fleet, as they were ageing and becoming difficult to maintain. As of 2020, it is reported that as few as six of the Fightinghawk aircraft remain operational.[43] While no specific numbers of aircraft to purchase were given, the media reported that up to 10 FA-50s were considered. Despite elections coming in October 2019, the deal had been expected to go through. An Argentine delegation first visited the Republic of Korea Air Force in September 2016. At that time an FAA pilot was able to test fly the TA-50 Golden Eagle operational trainer variant of the FA-50.[44]
However, the deal appeared to have been canceled in early 2020, leaving the Air Force without a fighter replacement. Some sources suggested that the cancellation was due to the financial pressures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,[45] while others reported that British intervention played a part by preventing the export of an aircraft incorporating various British components.[46] In October 2020,Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) confirmed that since major components of the aircraft were supplied by the U.K., the aircraft could not be exported to Argentina. Britain similarly blocked the potential sale of Brazilian license-builtSaab Gripen aircraft to Argentina, given that some avionics were of British origin. Argentina was now said to be exploring the potential acquisition of aircraft from Russia, China, India[47] orPakistan.[48] However, even sales of Chinese aircraft reportedly encountered potential problems since the ejector seats of the aircraft were the MK6, manufactured byMartin-Baker in the UK.[49]
Early in 2021, Russia made several proposals related to the acquisition of aircraft by Argentina including the apparent offer ofMiG-35 fighters.[50] These built on earlier offers of theMiG-29 as well as on measures being undertaken to extend the life ofMi-171E helicopters acquired by Argentina in 2010 to support operations inAntarctica.[51]
To improve transport capabilities, twoFokker F-28 aircraft which had been decommissioned in 2019, have been refurbished and put into service, the last one (TC-53) in early August 2021.[52]
In mid 2021, one analysis found that the numbers of operational aircraft with offensive combat capability were practically at a level of zero. In addition to only around six A-4Fightinghawk aircraft being operational, the availability of C-130 transport aircraft was only assessed as being at six of originally 14 aircraft. However, 23 IA-63Pampa, 12 T-6C+Texan II and 12 EMB-312Tucano trainer aircraft were reported operational as of 2021.[53] In September 2021, the Government officially included funding of $664 million in a draft budget for Congress involving the purchase of new combat aircraft. In 2022, talks with China over the potential purchase ofJF-17 Thunders, and possiblyChengdu J-10s, and with India forHAL Tejas fighter jets came to the fore.[54] However in December 2022, Argentine PresidentAlberto Fernández appeared to reject the notion of buying new fighter aircraft for air force, stating: “There are other priorities before buying weapons, definitely”. Referring to the strategic and political situation in South America he further commented that: “There are no war problems, peace is the common denominator between us.”[55] It was simultaneously confirmed that the fighter aircraft replacement program had been stopped.[56]
In early 2023, Argentina confirmed the purchase of sixBell 407 for theArmed Forces and plans for the modernization of its inventory ofHughes 500Ds pending the arrival of newBeechcraft TC-12B Hurons.[57]
In June 2023, Argentina received an additional leased C-130 from the US, bringing the total number of operational C-130 to five aircraft.[58] At the same time, the Biden administration asked Congress to approve the potential sale of formerRoyal Danish Air ForceF-16s, as well as formerRoyal Norwegian Air Force P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, to Argentina. While the US was reportedly supporting the sale in order to avoid the possibility that Argentina would turn to China for its fighter aircraft, it was anticipated that the United Kingdom would urge Denmark not to make the sale. It was also unclear whether the combined acquisition cost (of $447 million USD) would be considered affordable by Argentina.[59] On 11 October 2023, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Security Mira Resnick confirmed toJorge Argüello, Argentinean ambassador to the US, that the State Department has approved the transfer of 38 F-16s from Denmark.[60] In March 2024, it was reported that the number of aircraft had been reduced to 24 but that discussions on concluding the deal would be initiated.[61] On March 26, 2024, the Danish Defence Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, signed a letter of intent with his Argentine counterpart to transfer the aircraft.[62] The first aircraft is to be transferred starting in December 2025.[63]
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(April 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The Argentine Air Force (FAA) is one of the three branches of the Argentine military, having equal status with theArmy and theNavy; the President of Argentina is Commander-in-Chief of all three.[64]
The FAA is headed by the Chief of the General Staff (Jefe del Estado Mayor General), directly appointed by the President.[64] The Chief of Staff usually holds the rank of Brigadier General, the highest rank of the Air Force, being seconded by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff and three senior officers in charge of the FAA's three Commands: the Air Operations, the Personnel, and the Materiel Command.
TheAir Operations Command (Comando de Operaciones Aéreas) is the branch of the Air Force responsible for aerospace defense, air operations, planning, training, and technical and logistical support of the air units. Subordinate to the Air Operations Command are the Air Brigades (Brigadas Aéreas), the Air Force's major operative units, as well as the airspace surveillance and control group (Grupo VYCEA, Argentine Air Force). There is currently[when?] estimated to be a total of eight air brigades operational. Brigades are headquartered at Military Air Bases (Base Aérea Militar (BAMs).
Each Air Brigade is made up of three Groups, each bearing the same number as their motherBrigade. These groups include:
The Personnel Command (Comando de Personal) is responsible for the training, education, assignment, and welfare of Air Force personnel. Under the control of the Personnel Command are the Military Aviation School (which educates the future officers of the Air Force), the Air ForceNon-Commissioned Officer (NCO) School, and other educational and training units.
The Materiel Command (Comando de Material) deals with planning and executing the Air Force's logistics regarding flying and ground materiel. Materiel Command includes "Quilmes" and "Río Cuarto" Material Areas (repairing and maintenance units) and "El Palomar" Logistical Area.
| This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(August 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
.jpg)
The rank insignia ofcommissioned officers.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentine Air Force[77] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||
| Brigadier general | Brigadier mayor | Brigadier | Comodoro mayor | Comodoro | Vicecomodoro | Mayor | Capitán | Primer teniente | Teniente | Alférez | ||||||||||||||
The rank insignia ofnon-commissioned officers andenlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentine Air Force[77] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Suboficial mayor | Suboficial principal | Suboficial ayudante | Suboficial auxiliar | Cabo principal | Cabo primero | Cabo | Voluntario primero | Voluntario segundo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.jpg)
.jpg)
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | |||||
| A-4 Fightinghawk | United States | Attack /Fighter | A-4AR | 23[78] | 1 lost in 2024.[79] |
| F-16 Fighting Falcon | United States | Multirole fighter | A/B Block 15 MLU | 24 on order | FormerRoyal Danish Air Force aircraft; first aircraft to be transferred starting in December 2025;[80][81] letter of confirmation signed by Argentina, April 2024[82] |
| IA 63 Pampa | Argentina | Attack | Pampa III | 11[78] | 4 on order[78] |
| Reconnaissance | |||||
| Learjet 35 | United States | Electronic-warfare andReconnaissance | EC-21A | 2[78] | 1 for electronic-warfare, 1 for reconnaissance[78] |
| Tanker | |||||
| KC-130 Hercules | United States | Tanker | KC-130H | 2[78] | |
| Transport | |||||
| Boeing 737 | United States | VIP transport | 1[citation needed] | ||
| Boeing 757 | United States | VIP transport | 1 | Presidential transport aircraft | |
| C-12 Huron | United States | Transport | TC-12B | 10 | [83] |
| C-130 Hercules | United States | Tactical airlifter | C-130H | 5[78] | One aircraft is aL-100[84] |
| Embraer ERJ-140 | Brazil | Transport | ERJ140LR | 2[78][85] | |
| Saab 340 | Sweden | Transport | 5[86] | ||
| Super King Air | United States | Transport /Utility | 200 | 2[78] | |
| Turbo Commander | United States | Utility / VIP transport | 3[78] | ||
| Helicopters | |||||
| Bell 212 | United States | Utility | Bell 212 + Bell 412 total 13[78] | ||
| Bell 412 | United States | Utility | Bell 212 +Bell 412 total 13[78] | ||
| Bell 407 | United States | SAR | 407GXi | 1[87] | 2 on order for the Air Force;[78][88][89] further 3 delivered to theArmy in 2025 |
| MD 500 Defender | United States | Light utility | MD 500D | 8[78] | |
| SA 315B Lama | France | Liaison | 5[78][90] | ||
| Sikorsky S-70 | United States | VIP transport | 1[91] | ||
| Sikorsky S-76 | United States | VIP transport | 2[91] | ||
| Trainer aircraft | |||||
| Beechcraft T-6 Texan II | United States | Basic trainer | T-6C+ | 12[78] | |
| EMB-312 Tucano | Brazil | Attack /Trainer | 12[78] | Single-turboprop basic trainer | |
| Grob G 120TP | Germany | Basic trainer | 8[78] | ||
| IA 63 Pampa | Argentina | Advanced trainer | Pampa II | 16[78] | 3 in conversion process to Pampa III attack version |
| A-4 Fightinghawk | United States | Attack /Fighter | OA-4AR | 3[78] | 3 OA-4AR provideconversion training |
| Super King Air | United States | Transport /Utility | 200 | 5[78] | 5 provide multi-engine training |
| This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(April 2016) |
(in Spanish)| Executive |  | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislative | |||||
| Judiciary | |||||
| Ministries |
| ||||
| Secretariats | |||||
| Agencies | |||||
| Companies |
| ||||
| Communications | |||||
| Armed Forces | |||||
| Law enforcement | |||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
.png)
