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| IA 58 Pucará | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Role | Counter-insurgency aircraft |
| Manufacturer | FMA |
| First flight | 20 August 1969 |
| Introduction | 1975 |
| Status | Active |
| Primary users | Argentine Air Force Sri Lankan Air Force Uruguayan Air Force |
| Produced | 1976–1986 |
| Number built | 150–160 |
Contents
Development
In August 1966, Dirección Nacional de Fabricación e Investigación Aeronáutica (DINFIA), the Argentine state aircraft factory, began development of the AX-2, a Counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft to meet a requirement of the Argentine Air Force. The chosen layout was a low-wing monoplane powered by two turboprop engines mounted in wing-mounted nacelles and fitted with a T-tail. In order to test the proposed layout, DINFIA first built a full-scale unpowered glider test vehicle, this flying for the first time on 26 December 1967.[1][2]Testing of the glider showed no major handling problems, and in September 1968, construction began on a powered prototype, given the designation FMA IA 58 Delfin, but later renamed Pucará, to be powered by a pair of 674 kilowatts (904 hp) Garrett TPE331I/U-303 engines. (DINFIA had been renamed the Fábrica Militar de Aviones (FMA) earlier that year).[1] The first prototype made its maiden flight on 20 August 1969, with a second prototype, with power switching to 729 kW (978 shp) Turbomeca Astazou XVIGs, following on 6 September 1970.[1][3] The first prototype was later re-engined with the Astazou, with this engine being chosen for the production version, and a third, production, prototype followed in 1973.[4] The first production model flew on 8 November 1974, with deliveries beginning in early 1976.[5]
Design
The Pucará was designed for operations from short, rough airstrips.[7] The retractable tricycle landing gear, with a single nosewheel and twin mainwheels retracting into the engine nacelles, is therefore fitted with low pressure tyres to suit operations on rough ground, while the undercarriage legs are tall to give good clearance for underslung weapon loads.[6] Three JATO rockets can be fitted under the fuselage to allow extra-short take-off.[5] Fuel is fed from two fuselage tanks of combined capacity of 800 L (180 imp gal; 210 US gal) and two self-sealing tanks of 460 L (100 imp gal; 120 US gal) in the wings. The undercarriage, flaps and brakes are operated hydraulically, with no pneumatic systems.[5]
Fixed armament of the Pucará consists of two Hispano 804 20 mm cannons mounted under the cockpits with 270 rounds each and four 7.62 mm Browning machine guns mounted on the sides of the fuselage with 900 rounds each. Three hardpoints are fitted for the carriage of external stores such as bombs, rockets or external fuel tanks, with one of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) capacity mounted under the fuselage and the remaining two, of 500 kg (1,100 lb) capacity beneath the wings. Total external weapons load is limited to 1,620 kg (3,570 lb).[5][8] Onboard armaments are aimed by a simple reflector sight.[9]
Operational history
The first units were delivered in May 1975 to the Argentine Air Force (Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Argentina, FAA), equipping the 2° Escuadron de Exploración y Ataque, part of the 3rd Air Brigade (Spanish: III Brigada Aérea) in northern Reconquista, Santa Fe province. They had their operational debut late in 1976, when a number of Pucarás carried out counter insurgency strikes from Córdoba against Communist ERP guerillas in Tucumán Province as part of Operativo Independencia.[10]1982 Falklands war
Most aircraft used in combat were armed with unguided bombs, 2.75 inch rocket pods, or 7.62 mm machine gun pods. Pucarás operated from Port Stanley airport and two small grass improvised airfields at Goose Green and Pebble Island. They were used in the reconnaissance and light-attack role.
Three Pucarás were destroyed and one of their pilots killed at Goose Green by cluster bombs dropped by 800 NAS Sea Harriers on 1 May 1982. Six more were destroyed in the SAS Raid on Pebble Island on 15 May 1982.[15]
On 21 May a Pucará was lost to a Stinger SAM fired by D Squadron SAS (the first Stinger launched in combat) [16] and another to 30 mm cannon rounds from Cmdr Nigel "Sharkey" Ward's RN Sea Harrier,[17][18] the latter after leading a successful two-aircraft raid on a shed allegedly used as an observation post by British forces. The aircraft was surprisingly tough, as Ward observed no fewer than 20 cannon hits before the target started to fall to the earth. The other Pucará, piloted by Lt. Micheloud, made good its escape after being chased by Lt. Cmdr. Alan Craig's Sea Harrier. Major Tomba, the pilot of the aircraft shot down by Cmdr Ward, survived the ejection and was recovered by friendly forces.[19][20]
Two Pucarás shot down a Royal Marines Scout helicopter with 7.62 mm machine gun fire on 28 May, while it was on a casualty evacuation mission during the battle of Goose Green. This was the only confirmed Argentine air-to-air victory of the war.[21] One of these Pucarás crashed into Blue Mountain on the return flight to Port Stanley and was destroyed—the body of the pilot (Lt. Gimenez) was found in 1986, and was buried with military honours at Port Darwin by his family, the first Argentine relatives to visit the Falklands since the end of the war.[22]
Captured aircraft
After the Argentine surrender eleven Pucarás (four of them in flying condition) were captured by British forces. Six were taken back to the United Kingdom, as follows:- A-515 (ZD485) – Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.[24]
- A-517 – Privately owned. Possibly shipped to the Channel Islands.[25]
- A-522 (8768M) – North East Aircraft Museum (on loan from the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton).[26]
- A-528 (8769M) – Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum (on loan from Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop).[27]
- A-533 (ZD486) – Boscombe Down Aviation Collection (Cockpit Section only).[28]
- A-549 (ZD487) – Imperial War Museum Duxford.[29]
Sri Lankan Civil War
Some Pucarás were used in Sri Lanka counter-insurgency operations from 1993 to 1999; three were destroyed during combat sorties.[30] In July 1995, during fierce fighting in the Northern Province, near Jaffna, Tamil Tiger rebels downed a Sri Lankan Air Force Pucará, the pilot was killed.[31]Upgrades
On May 1982, at the peak of the Falklands War, the Argentine Air Force, in collaboration with the Navy, outfitted a prototype, AX-04, with pylons to mount Mark 13 torpedoes. The aim was its possible production as torpedo-carrying aircraft to enhance the anti-ship capabilities of the Argentine air forces. Several trials were performed off Puerto Madryn, over Golfo Nuevo, but the war was over before the technicians could evaluate the feasibility of the project.[32]In 2007 an IA-58 of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina was converted to carry a modified engine operating on soy-derived bio-jet fuel. The project, financed and directed by the Argentine Government (Secretaría de Ciencia Tecnología e Innovación Productiva de la Nación), made Argentina the second nation in the world to propel an aircraft with biojet fuel. The project intends to make the FAA less reliant on fossil fuels.[33]
Variants
- AX-02 Delfin: Prototype.
- AX-04: A torpedo-carrying prototype.
- IA-58A Pucará: Two-seat counter-insurgency, close air support, attack aircraft. Main production version.[34]
- IA-58B Pucará Bravo: Modified two-seat counter-insurgency aircraft, with deeper forward fuselage, allowing the 20 mm Hispano cannon to be replaced by two 30 mm DEFA cannons, and with more advanced avionics. One prototype aircraft converted from IA-58A first flew on 15 May 1979.[34][35][36]
- IA-58C Pucará Charlie: Single-seat version designed to take advantage of lessons learned during the Falklands War, with increased capability in anti-shipping and anti-helicopter missions. Forward cockpit removed, with additional 30 mm DEFA cannon supplementing existing gun armament, and capability to carry Martin Pescador air-to-surface missiles underwing. Increased armour protection fitted, and better avionics. Single prototype converted, flying on 30 December 1985, but plans to convert more for the Argentine Air Force abandoned in 1988.[34][37][38]
- IA-58D Pucará Delta: Modernisation of existing IA-58A airframes, featuring new avionics systems and 950shp PT6A-62 Pratt & Whitney engines.[39]
- IA-66: Modification of IA-58A powered by two 1,000-ehp (746-kW) Garrett TPE331-11-601W turboprop engines. Single prototype converted from IA-58A flew in 1980.[34][36]
Military operators
Current operators
Former operators
- Sri Lanka Air Force (1993–1999, 2 shot down, 1 crashed, 1 retired)
- Royal Air Force (A captured Pucara was evaluated at A&AEE Boscombe Down after the Falkands conflict before being donated to the RAF museum).[40]
Specifications
Data from Jane's Civil and Military Upgrades 1994–95[41]
General characteristics- Crew: 2
- Length: 14.25 m (46 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 14.50 m (47 ft 7 in)
- Height: 5.36 m (17 ft 7 in)
- Wing area: 30.30 m2 (326.1 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 6.9:1
- Airfoil: NACA 642A215 at root, NACA641 at tip
- Empty weight: 4,020 kg (8,863 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 6,800 kg (14,991 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 1,280 L (280 imp gal; 340 US gal) internal, up to 1,736 L (382 imp gal; 459 US gal) in external tanks
- Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Astazou XVIG turboprop, 729 kW (978 hp) each
- Maximum speed: 500 km/h (311 mph; 270 kn) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)[42]
- Cruising speed: 430 km/h (267 mph; 232 kn) at 6,000 ft (1,800 m) (econ cruise)
- Stall speed: 143 km/h (89 mph; 77 kn) (flaps and undercarriage down)
- Never exceed speed: 750 km/h (466 mph; 405 kn)
- Combat range: 350 km (217 mi; 189 nmi) (Combat radius with 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) weapons, High-low-high profile)
- Ferry range: 3,710 km (2,305 mi; 2,003 nmi) max internal and external fuel
- Service ceiling: 10,000 m (32,808 ft)
- g limits: +6/-3 g
- Rate of climb: 5.5 m/s (1,080 ft/min)
- Guns:
- 2× 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.804 autocannons
- 4× 7.62 mm FN Browning machine guns
- Hardpoints: 3 with a capacity of :centerline 1,000 kg (2,200 lb), wing pylons 500 kg (1,100 lb), total external stores 1,620 kg (3,570 lb)[5],
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
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