Page 55 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

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another two airframes to the A pair of II Brigada Aérea that deployed from Tandil in central Tucanos. The Mi-171 was used
same configuration next year, Learjet 35As took part, one Argentina. For combat search during these missions, sometimes
if funds are available. While the for photo survey and the other and rescue (CSAR) and transport operating alongside the Bell 412,
IA-58H retains the cannon and for transport and electronic duties, a Bell 412 and a Mi-171 while Tucanos provided protection.
machine guns, this is only to warfare. Together with the last of the VII Brigada Aérea arrived The Bell 412 also performed
preserve the centre of gravity, Pucarás, the III Brigada Aérea at Villa Reynolds, as did a Twin night missions with night-vision
and the gunsight is removed. also deployed its EMB-312H Otter from the IX Brigada Aérea, goggles (NVGs) and using its
The exercise began on Tucanos, which are replacing the which undertook battle damage FLIR Star SAFIRE III turret and
September 5, a day after IA-58 on border patrol duties. assessment, light transport and searchlight. Deployed alongside
external units had deployed to delivery of special forces. the helicopters was the FAA’s
Villa Reynolds. The I Brigada CSAR phase The Escuela de Aviación Militar Grupo de Operaciones Especiales
Aérea sent one C-130E and Operating from its base in took part from its base in Córdoba (GOE, Special Operations
one KC-130H to perform cargo Mendoza, the IV Brigada Aérea and provided T-6C+ Texan IIs Group), which specialises in
missions and aerial refuelling, provided its Pampa II trainers and for use as aggressors during the CSAR, among other missions.
and to drop the same base hosted Pampa II CSAR operations, during which From Base Aérea Militar
paratroopers. and III jets of the VI Brigada Aérea the helicopters were escorted by (BAM) Morón, Buenos Aires,

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1: Bombed-up Pucará A-585 (c/n 087) 5
taxies out at Villa Reynolds for a night
mission. The Pucarás also got a last
chance to use their four 7.62mm machine
guns on the V Brigada Aérea range.
2: Pucarás A-585 and A-568 stand
bombed-up on the flight line prior to
an evening mission while deployed to
the V Brigada Aérea. 3: Pucará crew
from the I Escuadrón of the III Brigada
Aérea gather for a photo-call while on
exercise at Villa Reynolds for the last
time. The attack-optimised IA-58 was
finally retired on October 4. 4: A-4AR
serial C-919 (c/n 14208) departs for a
Dédalo mission. These jets are operated
by the Grupo 5 de Caza (5th Fighter
Group) of the V Brigada Aérea. 5: The
I Escuadrón commander, Captain Teo
‘Chango’ Maza signs a bomb for the last
time before heading out to the range.
These aircraft dropped indigenous 130kg
MkI bombs. All photos Santiago Rivas

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