FMA IA-58 PUCARÁ

The FMA IA-58 Pucará arose from the request of the Argentine Air Force for a new light ground-attack aircraft. FMA, (Fabrica Militar de Aviones) presented a prototype in 1969 known as “AX-02 Delfín” that mounted two Garrett AiResearch turboprops that were finally changed by two Turbomeca Astazou in the series aircrafts. The Pucará is a very maneuverable low cost aircraft with excellent take-off capabilities on unprepared runways, suitable for small air forces and low intensity conflicts. The front windshield and the cockpit’s floor are armoured and protects the pilot of small arms fire. The armament consists of guns and machine guns pods and 1,500 kg of launch weapons in three hardpoints controlled by an 83A-3 SFOM aiming system. Twenty four aircraft were sent to the Falklands conflict, but all were destroyed and captured with very few successes in their combat missions. Currently Argentina has retired all Pucará in service except 1 or 2 of the “Fenix” version.

IA-58 PUCARÁ gallery and more info