Argentina completes receipt of second batch of Pampa III jets

The Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina - FAA) has received into service its sixth FAdeA IA-63 Pampa III trainer and light combat aircraft, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 27 March.

The FAA has now received six Pampa III aircraft that it will use for training and as a light fighter. (FAdeA)

The Pampa III, serial number A-705 (1033), was the third and final aircraft of the second batch so far ordered from Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA). It was received by the FAA’s 6th Air Brigade (VI Brigada Aérea) based at Tandil, south of the capital Buenos Aires. Along with the previous five aircraft received, it will be used as an advanced trainer, as well as for protecting the country’s northern airspace.

As previously reported by Jane’s , the first batch of three aircraft was delivered to the FAA in 2018. This second batch was contracted in March 2019 for ARS901.7 million (USD21.9 million at the time). It has not been disclosed if additional orders will be placed.

The Pampa II is the latest iteration of the Pampa aircraft, whose development dates back to the early 1980s, with the first flight taking place in October 1984. The Pampa is a high-wing, tandem twin-seat, single-engine jet trainer aircraft with a secondary light attack/fighter capability. The Pampa III, which features an enhanced Honeywell TFE731-40-2N powerplant and a digital avionics suite, was first rolled out in 2013.

FAdeA had intended to build more than 100 Pampa IIIs but a poor economic situation in Argentina coupled with lost orders in Chile, which instead opted for the Leonardo M-345, and Guatemala have severely curtailed this ambition.