AIRCRAFT

Argentina
LMAASA
LOCKHEED MARTIN AIRCRAFT
ARGENTINA SA
Avenida Fuerza A h a Argentina Km 5500, CP5010 C6rdoba
Tel: (+54 351) 466 87 33
Fax: (+54 351) 466 87 34
e-mail: [email protected]
PRESIDENT: James A Taylor
GENGRALMANAGGR PROGRAMS AND MANUFACTUW:
Alberto 0 Buthet
INTtiRNAnONALBUSINESS DEVEIDPMENT DIRECTOR:
Bernard R Kelleher

Original FMA (Mihtary Aircraft Factory) came into

operation 10 October 1927 as cenhal organisatiou for
aeronautical research and moduction; underwent several
name changes before rever&ng, in 1968, to original title as
component of A 6 n de Matenal Chdoba (AMC)of
Argentine Air Force. FMA converted lnto a joint stock
company from Apnl 1992, Air Force buying 30 per cent of
,
-f >a
'

the shares to establish itself as holding and management

authority;control of FMA handed over to PIanmng Secretary
of MODon 20 December 1993. MODand Lockheed Aycraft
Argentina SA siened concession a m m e n t on 15 December
--
0 --

1994, allocating-management of &lA to Lockheed Martin,

now Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina SA, from 1 July
1995.
Principal activities are aircraft design, manufacture,
upgrading, maintenance and repair, current tasks including
maintenance and modification of A-4AR Fighting Hawks,
C-130 Hercules, IA 58 Puca* and IA 63 Pampas and
proposed manufacture of a further batch of 12 Pampas.
Argentine Air Force maintenance contract renewed in
January 2001 for five years at estimated value of US$230
million, but national financial crisis has severely curtailed
military conhacts.
Laboratories, factories and other aeronautical division
buildings occupy total covered area of 220,000 m2(2,368,075
sq ft); had workforce of 900 in early 2003. C6rdoba facility
also accommodatesCentro de Ensayos en Vuelo (Flight Test
Cenhe), a separate division also conholled by Argentine Air 'First-generation' IA 6 3 Pampa tandem-seat jet trainer
Force, at which all aircraft produced in Argentina undergo
certificationtesting. assembledfromexisting and new components, delivered to Naval version: Would have strengthened landing gear,
UPDATED FAA on 28 September 1999. uprated engine and some changed avionics.
'New-generation' Pampa NG revealed late 1997 and Pampa ZOO0 International:Details last appeared in
offered to Argentine Air Force and Navy. 1997-98 Jane's.
LMAASA AT-63 PAMPA Resumption of production announced 29 June 2000 for Pampa NG A: Proposed advanced trainer with updated
TYPE: Basic jet hainerfight attack jet. a further batch of 12 Pampas in new AT-63 (with hyphen) avionics. Essentially became AT-63 (initial vers~on).
PROGRAMME: Fist-generation IA 63 Pampa initiated by configuration, deliveries then scheduled to begin in 2003 Pampa NG B: Proposed combat-capable version;
Fuena A6rea Argentina (FAA; Argentine Air Force) 1979, and end in June 2005; contract (2001) includes option for uprated engine and avionics. Features to be incorporated in
eventual configuration being selected over six other further 12. This reaf6rmed in January 2001 to be p a t of later upgrade of AT-63.
designs early 1980, with Dornier of Germany providing five-year FAA support contract placed with LMAASA. AT-63: Attackltrainer. Annonnced 2001 as new
technical assistance (including manufacture of prototypes' US$230 million contract also includes upgrade of existing standard version for Argentine Air Force and potential
wings and tailplanes); two staticlfatigne test airframes and Pampas. Argentine Navy interest renewed in 2000; initial export. Two prototypes modified from existing IA 63s in
three flying prototypes built (first flight, by EX-01, batch of eight in prospect. However, by early 2003, no 2001-02, h t flight planned for November 2 W , but
6 October 1984);6rst flight of production Pampa October conhacts bad been 6nalised because of national financial delayed following fundmg problems of FAA. Inihal
1987; 14 of initial batch of 18 (including three prototypes) crisis; upgrade delayed and new production still not version (Pampa Phase 11) f e a w new processor for
delivered to FAA (10 survivors currently serving I authorised. DECU, Elbit avionics suite (MIL-STD-1553B databus,
Escuadron of 4 Gmpo de Caza at El Plumerillo, Mendoza) Unofficial report of mid-2002 alleged Colombian mission computer, RLG INSIGPS, mtegrated weapons
from 1988; expected follow-on order for 46 did not interest in 24 Pampas. system, liquid crystal MFD in each cockpit, and front
materialise, and Argentine Navy requirement for 12 long CURRENT VERSIONS: IA 6 3 Pampa: Standard Argentine Air cockp~t HUD). Advanced version (Pampa Phase III)
remained in abeyance, but one new aircraft (E-816). Force version; last described in 1998-99Jane's. proposed for 2005 with structurally enhanced (+7/-3 g)
eg: 18.9 kN (4,250 1b st) TFE7314R engne,
mssionised aviomcs with enhanced tactical capabihties,
nose-mounted laser range-finder, fin-mounted RWR,
conformal chafflflare dispensers, two additional
hardpoints (total seven) for AAMs and strengthened
landing gear for increased MTOW.
AT--65 version also proposed with ~ockheedarti in
AN/APG-67(V)4 multimode radar in response to
Colombian interest; announced at FIDAE, Chile, April
2002 that Lockheed Martin Naval Elechomcs &
Surveillance Systems selected to integrate APG-67 m
Pampa Also reported that Singapore planned to evaluate
AT-63 in early 2003 as 5.21 1 replacement.
Description applies to Phase ZZ Pampa.
COSTS: US$8 million to US$9 nullion, inclnding radar
(estimated, 2002).
DESIGN FEATURES: Intended for cost-effective pilot haining in
mission management techniques, advanced fighter lead-in
training and extended-range anti-drug pahol missions.
High degree of commonality with the original IA 63
Pampa, providing a customised low life-cycle cost fleet.
Fail-safe senice life 8,000 hours.
Non-swept shoulder-mounted wings and anhedral
tadplane, sweptback fin and ~ d d e r single
; engine with
twin lateral air intakes. W i g section Dornier DoA-71-8
advanced transonic; leading-edge sweep 5" 24'; thickness/
chord ratio 14.5 per cent at root, 12.5 per cent at hp;
LMAASA AT-63 Pampa two-seat basic and advanced jet trainer (Jane'sLDennis Punneft) anhedral3".

jawa.janes.com Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2004-2005