FMA IA-58 Pucara

     Notes: This is an Argentine ground attack aircraft that is robust and easy to fly, and not as fuel thirsty as jet aircraft, nor as expensive or difficult to maintain.  While not advanced, it is reliable.  The Pucara was first delivered to the Argentine Air Force in 1975; the Argentines used them for home counterinsurgency as well as in the Falklands conflict of 1982. The Sri Lankans bought a number of Pucaras in 1993, and used them for counterinsurgency work. (They were not happy with the Pucaras due to the lack of SAM countermeasures, and replaced them with a combination of Mi-24 helicopter gunships and MiG-27s.)

     The crew have ejection seats, but the aircraft is not capable of in-flight refueling. The cockpit has dual controls for the pilot and weapons officer. The undercarriage is tall to aid in loading the aircraft, especially when loading a fuel tank on the centerline and when loading clusters on bombs on the wing hardpoints. The two 20mm autocannons are mounted under the cockpit, while two MAG machineguns are mounted on the sides of the fuselage. The fuselage has two 400-liter fuel tanks, while each wing has a 230-liter fuel tank.  The wing fuel tanks are self-sealing, but the fuselage tanks are not, allowing the designers to save a little weight. The fuselage hardpoint may carry 1000 kilograms, while each wing hardpoint may carry 500 kilograms, but the Pucara itself may carry only 1.62 tons of external ordnance. The weapons are aimed with a simple reflex sight. The Pucara is powered by two Turbomeca Astazou XVIG turboprops each with 978 horsepower. Note that while the Pucara can reach and still function up to 10000 meters altitude, operation at that height is iffy, as the Pucara has no oxygen equipment.

Uruguayan Pucaras

     The Uruguayans modified their Pucaras with the addition of Litton LTN-211 GPS navigation systems. Minor structural modifications were made to allow their Pucaras to carry Mk 82 Snakeye bombs and a 1000-liter drop tank on the centerline. Other modifications included the installation of an L3 WX-500 Stormscope secure communications package.

IA-58D Pucara Delta

     After many starts, stops, and missteps, the Argentines finally upgraded their Pucaras in 2009, producing the IA-58D Pucara Delta. The primary modifications were in the avionics package, and the cockpit avionics are as close as possible to the IA-63 Pampa II aircraft (below) to consolidate and streamline at least a part of Argentine aircraft production. The communications suite was overhauled, with all communications having secure features, and including data-capable radios.  IFF was added to help curb mistaken friendly fire, along with a GPS device. A radar warning receiver increased defensive measures, and the front of the cockpit is equipped with a HUD, making aiming much easier. The 20mm autocannons were replaced with more effective 30mm DEFA 554 guns. The engines have also been replaced with PT6A-62 950-horsepower turboprop engines – not as powerful as the IA-58A’s engines, but more fuel efficient. The new engines and avionics are simpler to maintain and service or replace as necessary.

     The Uruguayans are considering this upgrade for their Pucaras.

IA-58 Pucara Fenix

     In 2019, the Argentine Air Force retired the IA-58A Pucara from active counterinsurgency work.  Some IA-58A Pucaras were converted into the Pucara Fenix standard, with new four-bladed propellers (the standard Pucara and Pucara Delta have three-bladed propellers) for additional tractive power, a podded Fixview electro-optical/IR sensor turret, and a datalink capability to other such equipped vehicles and units.  They are also armed with the DEFA 554 30mm autocannons. The Fenix is meant for the border surveillance and patrol job. The Fenix is still capable of being heavily armed, especially in its gun armament.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This aircraft gained more customers around the world as the Twilight War wore on, before shipping finally stopped. The Pucara Delta and Pucara Fenix are not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

     Merc 2000 Notes: The Pucara gained acceptance all around the world, as it was far less expensive than aircraft like the A-10.  The US even bought about a squadron’s worth, supplementing their A-10s in actions which were less heavy in EW, AAA/SAM, and enemy aircraft.

*The AV of the cockpit is 9.

FMA IA-63 Pampa

     Notes: This small aircraft was built to be a trainer during peacetime and a light attack aircraft during wartime.  Though it was presented as a contender for the US Joint Primary Training System competition, it lost in that competition to the European Hawk aircraft (which became the T-45 Goshawk), and never saw any other foreign sales.  By the 2020, almost all Argentine pilots had received their initial jet training on the Pampa.  It is an economical aircraft to operate, but has only rudimentary avionics. First flight of the Pampa was in October 1984. Though influenced by the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet design, the Pampa is a smaller aircraft than the Alpha Jet and has numerous design differences, most notably in its unswept wings. Though several times the Pampa almost had export sales, the only user so far has been the Argentine Air Force.

     The IA-63 Pampa was deliberately designed to be as easy to use and maintain as possible, and initial cockpit avionics were similar to that of the IA-58A Pucara, with targeting for air-to-ground and air-to-air combat done via a simple reflex sight. The avionics are simple, reflecting its primary role as an advanced trainer, though it does have secondary use as a ground attack aircraft. There are five hardpoints, with the centerline and outboard wing hardpoints able to take 250 kilograms each, and the two inboard wing hardpoints able to take 400 kilograms each. The landing gear is reinforced, and the Pampa can operate from poorly prepared runways, roads, and dirt strips. The IA-63 is powered by a Honeywell TFE731-2 turbofan engine developing 3500 pounds of thrust.

     A common ground attack configuration, particularly for the COIN role, has the four wing hardpoints occupied by Colibri 7.62mm machinegun pods. In this role, the Pampa’s autocannon and the machineguns may be fired simultaneously or separately.

AT-63 Pampa II

     In recognition of the Pampa’s increasing COIN and ground support mission, the Pampa II was redesignated the AT-63. The AT-63 took a lot of cues about its avionics from the A-4M version used by the Argentine Air Force, designated the A-4AR. Though some of the more innovative (and heavy) components of the A-4AR were not duplicated in the Pampa II (such as the deception jamming capability and the radar), many useful pieces of avionics were installed in the Pampa II. The brain of the Pampa II is an Elbit MDP/MMRC mission computer, which manages information and the avionics and helps prevent workload overload for the crew. An uprated version of the TFE731 engine replaces the Pampa’s engine, this one designated TFE731-2C and developing 4250 pounds of thrust.

IA-63GT Pampa III

     The Pampa III is the latest version of the IA-63; the primary difference between the Pampa II and Pampa III are specific upgrades in the avionics. The Pampa III has an all-glass cockpit, with the only analog instrument being the magnetic compass. Backup power systems complement the main systems. Perhaps the greatest upgrade in avionics is the addition of a Helmet/Sight Interface, with much flight and targeting information being projected onto the pilot’s modified helmet visor. The engine, a TFE731-40-2N, has 5000 pounds of thrust at the command of its crew.

     Unfortunately, the Pampa III has largely been delayed due to the financial razor’s edge of the Argentine economy.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: A new aircraft in the Twilight 2000 2/2.2 timeline, the Argentines had only 12 of them in service at the beginning of the Twilight War. None were built after the beginning of hostilities, with production shifting primarily to the Pucara and an Argentine copy of the Israeli Nesher. The Pampa II is exceedingly rare; the Pampa III is unavailable in the Twilight 2000 timeline. However, the Guatemalans had four Pampa IIs, and the Colombians had three, in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

     Merc 2000 Notes: The Pampa was the primary jet trainer for the Argentine Air Force, and was also sold across South and to an extent Central America.