The Pampa III E 824 made its maiden flight on 21 September 2018. (FAdeA)
Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) delivered the ninth IA-63 Pampa III to the Argentine Air Force, and showcased a new modernised cabin for the IA-58 Pucará Fénix on 18 May.
The same day, Argentine Minister of Defense Jorge Taiana signed a contract with FAdeA for five structural wing assemblies (shipset) to install new Pratt & Whitney PT-6 engines on five Pucarás, and signed a separate contract for developing a vertical take-off and landing unmanned aircraft system for the Argentine Army.
The Pampa is the first new aircraft to be delivered within FAdeA's current contract that covers six new planes and modernising another three. According to the Argentine Air Force, the new aircraft will be assigned to the VI Air Brigade in Tandil, which has five new Pampa IIIs and another modernised from the Pampa II standard.
The IA-58 Pucará Fénix cabin modernisation is part of FadeA's Pucará contract and includes Garmin navigation and communication systems, an air-conditioning system, and other new parts, according to the company.
FAdeA's contract with the Ministry of Defense originally included a prototype and three IA-58 Pucará aircraft, but was extended to add components for production-series upgraded aircraft. The project aims for the prototype aircraft to be used as an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform, while the other five would maintain their attack function.
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