Argentine Air Force Orders Six IA-63 Pampa III Trainer-Light Attack Aircraft

The Argentine Air Force has ordered six new IA-63 Pampa III Block II trainer-light attack aircraft besides upgrades to three IA-63 Pampa II from a domestic company, Argentine Aircraft ‘Brigadier San martin’ (FaDeA).

The deal is worth a total of $103.2 million for FaDeA, the sole domestic aircraft manufacturer which will produce  Pampa III Block II aircraft at the rate of 2 per year. The information was published in the Official Gazzette of the Argentinean government last week, local media reported.

The IA-63 Pampa was designed and manufactured in Argentina. It was developed with assistance from Dornier Flugzugwerke in the 1980s.

The IA-63 Pampa III Block II aircraft features a digital cockpit and data links with embedded virtual avionics (EVA) that enable simulation of various flight scenarios including that of fourth and fifth generation aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with a head-up display and full glass cockpit.

In the light attack mode, the aircraft can be equipped with a 30mm cannon, up to 250 kg bombs and rocket pods.