After World war one

It was not until 1919 that an Italian aviation mission provided six Ansaldo SVA Primo fighters, four Caproni Ca33 tri-motor bombers, two Fiat R2and two Ansaldo reconnaissance aircraft and two Savoia trainers, to properly establish a Military Aviation Service. In 1920, a French Military Aviation mission visited. A Military Aviation factory was established in 1927, building Avro 504R trainers, folowed by Bristol F2B's and Dewoitine D21C-1 fighters. This substantial increase in aircraft availability allowed the Mailtary Air Service to organise into two fighter, two bomber and two reconnaissance groups, later, in 1938, reorganising into three regiments.

Nationally designed aircraft appeared in the mid-1930's, the Ae MB-1 light bomber and Ae MO-1 training and observation aircraft. Further license built aircraft followed in 1937, with 200 Curtis Hawk 75-0 fighters and 500 Focke-Wulf Stieglitz trainers, while 35 Martin 139-W medium bombers were bought from the USA. External sources virtually dried up during WW2, apart from some elderly DC-2 transports received in 1944. The Military Aviation Factory, renamed Instituto Aeroteccnico, produced 100 IAe DL-22 trainers.

The Argentine Air Force

The Military Aviation Service actually became a separate service or Air Force in 1944. Re-equipment had to await the end of hostilities, when 100 Fiat G55 fighters, 20 Avro Lancaster and Lincoln bombers, Douglas C-47 and C-54 transports and 30 Beech AT-11 Kansan trainers arrived. Next, the first export order for the Gloster Meteor jet fighter, followed by 50 de Havilland Dove, 30 Vickers Valetta and 30 Bristol 170transports, 200 Percival Pentice and 30 Fiat G-46 trainers. Locally produced aircraft included 100 IAe Calquin light bombers and 150 DL-22 observation aircraft.

Argentina became a member of the Organisation of American States in 1948, but re-equipment re-started in in 1957 with 90 Beech T-34 Mentor and 48 Morane-Saulnier MS760 Paris trainers built under license. In 1959, North American F-86 Sabre fighter bombers were introduced, followed later by more than 40 Douglas A-4 Skyhawk fighter bombers, de Havilland Canada Beaver and Twin Otter Transports, and the Argentine Dinfia Guarani and Huanquero transport and general-purpose aircraft. In the 1970's, these were joined by Dassault Mirage III fighter bombers, 80 Dinfia Pucara COIN airctaft, Lockheed C-130E Hercules and Fokker F-27M troopships, as well as Sikorsky S-55, Bell UH-1H Iroquois and 47G Sioux and Hughes 269-HM helicopters. Later Mirage IIIs were joined by Mirage 5 fighter bombers and Israeli built Daggers.

The 1982 Falklands conflict saw the Air Force using Hercules and F-27 aircraft, both military and chartered, to land troops at the seized Stanley Airport. Pucara aircraft, based at Stanley were attacked by RN aircraft from the British naval taskforce. The Argentine Air Force and Navy, operating from the mainland used Skyhawk, Mirage and Super entendard aircraft to attack the fleet, sinking two destroyers, two frigates and a container ship which carried most of the naval task force's troop carrying helicopters. The Agentine flyers performed well in the air, but were not matched by the poor performance of their ground forces.

Some short time later the Military governing dictatorship of Argentina was overthrown and much less focus given to the armed forces. The strength was reduced by about 1/3, and little new equipment has been received. The country is in a deep financial crisis, so plans to acquire up to 40 ex -USAF F-16s or ex-Spanish Mirage F1EQ/BQs plus additional Skyhawks for modernisation to the Fightinghawk standard is in doubt.

Current strength appears to be 6 squadrons operating in the fighter and strike role, two having 24 uprated Dagger/Neshers and another having 8 Mirage 5Ps, while a fourth squadron has 14 Mirage III/EA. Another two squadrons operate 36 upgradedA-4R/TA-4AR Fightinghawks. Two squadrons with 30 IA58 Pucara cover tactical operations. There are 6 transport squadrons, one with 4 Boeing 707 tanker/transports, two have 11 C-130B/H/L-100-30 Hercules, including 2 KC-130H tankers. The remaining three squadrons include one with 10 F-27s, one with 4 F-28s and one with 6 Twin Otters. Three IA50's are operational on communications duties. A Boeing 707, three Learjet 35s and 2 IA50s in a single squadron cover reconnaissance operations. Helicopters include 4 Bell 212s, 9 UH-1Hs and 17 MD-500s as well as 2 Chinooks. A Boeing 757 and sabreliner 75A provide VIP transport, with an S-70 Blackhawk. Training is based on 30 T-34C Turbo Mentors, 28 EMB-312 Tucanos, 3 MD-500s and more than 20 IA63 Pampas, now manufactured locally by Lockheed Martina Argentina. Several MS760 Paris Trainers remain in service. As many as 30 Pucara may be in storage.

Argentine Naval Aviation

An Argentine Naval Aviation Service was founded in 1919, encouraged by the arrival of an Italian mission. The first aircraft were 2 Macchi M7, 2 M9 and 2 Lohner L3 flying boats. HS2L and F5L flying boats followed, while later Dornier Wal and Supermaine Southampton flying boats were operated. Training aircraft were obtained from Vickers, Avro and Savoia-Marchetti, Rationalisation followed by major re-equipment in 1937 took the form of Douglas DB-8A-2 bombers, Vought V65F and V142 Corsair reconnaissance bombers, Consolidated PBY-3 flying oats and for operation from cruisers, Grumman J2F-2 and Douglas Dolphin amphibians.

Few changes took place until 1956, when 10 F4U Corsair fighter bombers arrived, followed in 1957 by Lockheed Neptunes for maritime reconnaissance, Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina amphibians and Martin PBM-5 Mariner flying boats. Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat fighter bombers, JRF Goose and J2F-2 amphibians came later, with North American T-6 Texan, Vultee 13T-13 and Beech AT-11 trainers. The fighter bombers were for the aircraft carrier Indepedencia, formerly HMS Warrior, which arrived in 1958. The Royal Netherlands Navy carrier Karel Doorman, another former British carrier, was bought in 1969 and renamed the Veinticinco de Mayo. Independencia was withdrawn in 1970.

During the 1970's the Veinticinco de Mayo operated Grumman F-9B Panther fighter bombers and six Grumman S2-A Trackers ASW craft. The Neptunes and Catalinas remained, while other aircraft included 24 Aermacchi MB326, Grumman TF-95 Cougar, Beech C-45 and North American T28 Fennecs in the training role, plus Short Skyvan, DHC-6 Twin Otter, Douglas C-47 and C-54 transports. Helicopters included Sikorsky UH-19s and SH-34Gs. and Bell 47 Sioux, while the arrival of 2 new type 42 guided missile destoyers also introduced the Westland Lynx to Argentina. Aboard the carrier, Douglas A-4 Skyhawk and Dassault Super Entendard aircraft replaced the strike aircraft at the end of the decade.

During the Falklands invasion in 1982, naval aircraft were forced to operate from land as the only carrier was being serviced. Operations were further limited because armaments (Exocet, ordered from France) had not completed delivery. One Alouette III helicopter was lost to ground fire from British Marines while it was covering the invasion of South Georgia.

The carrier was placed in reserve in 1997 and scrapped in 1999, limiting naval aviation to land operations. Service improvements have been achieved however with the introduction of 8 P-3B Orion for long range maritime reconnaissance. These operate in one squadron with the remaining Trackers, modernised with turbo-props. One Electra operates in ELINT roles and two in transport roles. Nine Sikorsky SH-3D/H Sea King helicopters are operated from Argentina Class German built destroyers and an ice-breaker. Naval aircrew were reported to have for a while kept up their carrier landing skills by practicing on a Brazilian carrier, Minas Gerais, using 11 super Entendards and 5 Skyhawks. However that carrier is no longer in service.

Nine Beech King Air/Super King Air provide additional maritime reconnaisance as well as VIP transport. Helicopters include AS555 Fennec and Alouette III aboaurd the other destroyers and the four Argentine class frigates. Eight ex-US UH-1H utility helicopters have been acquired recently. Traning uses MB326 and MB339, EMB326GB Xavante and T-34C Turbo Mentor aircraft as well as AS555 helicopters. Miscellaneous aircraft include a Queen Air and PC-6B Turbo Porter comunications aircraft and A109A utility helicopters. The Lynx have been scrapped due to a embargo on spares; servicability of the TYPE 42 destroyers is likely to be poor.

The air arm accounts for a substantial portion of the navy's personnel. Also supporting the navy is a coastguard service with 14 of its own aircraft, including C212-300 Aviocar transports, Puma, Panther and Dauphin helicopters for transport and Search and Rescue. This service is likely to be merged into the navy in the near furure.

Argentine Army Aviation

An Air Branch was formed in the Argentine Army in 1959 for AOP, liaison and light transport duties. At first Cessna 182J, 310 and Skymaster aircraft were operated, joined by Piper Apache and Aztecs, Bell 206 JetRanger helicopters, three DHC-6 Twin Otter and 3 C-47s. It now operates small and medium helicopters, including 6 A109 which may be joined by 12 ex-US AH-1F Cobras. Transport and utility helicopters include a Bell 212, 44 ex-US UH-1H and 8 Hiller UH-12, three AS332B Super Pumas operated in the Antartic, 5 SA-315B, 2 SA-330 Pumas and 20 AS 532 Cougar transports. Fixed wing aircraft include a C212-300, three G222, 2 DHC-6 Twin Otters, 5 Cessna 207, 6 Merlin IIIA and IVs, a photo-survey Queen Air and Citation 1, a Sabreliner for VIP duties, 23 OV-1D Mohawks for surveillance and 6 Cessna T-41 for training.