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Fábrica Argentina de Aviones

Fábrica Argentina de Aviones

The Fábrica Argentina de Aviones SA (FAdeA), officially Fábrica Argentina de Aviones "Brigadier San Martín" S.A., is Argentina's main aircraft manufacturer. Founded on 10 October 1927 and located in Córdoba, for most of its existence it was known as Fábrica Militar de Aviones (FMA), until its privatization in the 1990s to Lockheed Martin. In 2009 the concession ended and is wholly owned by the Argentine government.

Fábrica Argentina de Aviones "Brigadier San Martín" S.A.
Fadea ingreso.jpg
Type
Sociedad Anónima
IndustryAerospace, Defense
Founded1927
HeadquartersCórdoba, Argentina
Key people
Matías Julián Savoca (chairman)[1]
ProductsAircraft, aircraft components, aircraft maintenance and services
Number of employees
1,600 (as of June 2014)
Websitewww.fadeasa.com.ar [17]
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History

1930s view of the FMA workshop

1930s view of the FMA workshop

Late 1940s view of the FMA/IAe "Hangar 90" production line: I.Ae.22 DL (back) and I.Ae.24 Calquín (front)

Late 1940s view of the FMA/IAe "Hangar 90" production line: I.Ae.22 DL (back) and I.Ae.24 Calquín (front)

1960s view of the production line: Morane Saulnier 760

1960s view of the production line: Morane Saulnier 760

Formed on 10 October 1927 and on 18 July 1928 ends the construction and testing begins on the track the first domestically produced aircraft: the license built Avro 504 Gosport training aircraft equipped with a 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome engine. It had a speed of 140 km/h with a flying endurance of 2 hours. A series of indigenous and foreign designs followed, mostly for military use.

The factory is known for producing the first jet fighter aircraft in Latin America: the Pulqui I (1947) and the Pulqui II (1950) under the direction of engineers Emile Dewoitine (French) and Kurt Tank (German) respectively.

In the 1960s produced the Guarani light transport and the Pucara COIN aircraft, followed by the Pampa jet trainer in the 1980s; the last two still in service with the Argentine Air Force as of early 2016.

Privatization (1995)

In 1995, FMA was privatized by the government of Carlos Menem and from that year until March 2009 it operated as a concession to LAASA (Lockheed Aircraft Argentina SA, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation). Under the terms of the privatization agreement LAASA would operate it for 25 years, which could be renewed for two 10 year periods.

During this period the activity was mostly focused in maintenance and upgrades of existing aircraft in service with the Argentine Air Force.

Nationalization (2010)

During the government of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner the factory was nationalized in August 2009 after paying ARS $67 million. The text of the expropriation law provides that "the State cannot divest itself of majority shareholdings or the power to make decisions at the factory." [2][3]

It was renamed after Argentine Air Force Brigadier es:Juan Ignacio San Martín a military engineer who laid the foundations of the aeronautics industry at Córdoba when he directed the Instituto Aerotécnico, the forerunner of the FMA, in the 1940s.

The United States Department of State announced that effective 18 December 2009, Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina would be renamed to Fábrica Argentina de Aviones "Brigadier San Martin" S.A. and divested to the Government of Argentina.[4]

Aircraft design and production

AeMB.2 Bombi bombers in flight

AeMB.2 Bombi bombers in flight

Pulqui I prototype in flight (c.1951)

Pulqui I prototype in flight (c.1951)

I.Ae. 33 Pulqui II

I.Ae. 33 Pulqui II

DINFIA IA 35 Huanquero, utility aircraft designed in the early 1950s

DINFIA IA 35 Huanquero, utility aircraft designed in the early 1950s

Prototype IA 38 Naranjero under construction, early 1960s

Prototype IA 38 Naranjero under construction, early 1960s

IA 46 ‘’Super Ranquel’’ at San Justo airfield (Buenos Aires), April 1975

IA 46 ‘’Super Ranquel’’ at San Justo airfield (Buenos Aires), April 1975

I.A. 50 Guarani II

I.A. 50 Guarani II

I.A. 58 Pucará

I.A. 58 Pucará

I.A. 63 Pampa II

I.A. 63 Pampa II

The FMA has produced innovative aircraft prototypes, but the state of the Argentine economy has usually prevented most of them from entering large-scale production. Nevertheless the FMA has managed to put several aircraft types of more conventional designs into full productions. It also engaged in production of licensed aircraft from other countries.

The prefixes used for the aircraft locally developed (and produced) are:

  • Ae, for "Dirección General de Aerotécnica", on the first period (1927–1936);

  • F.M.A., for "Fábrica Militar de Aviones", on the second period (1938–1943);

  • I.Ae., for "Instituto Aerotécnico", on the third period (1943–1952);

  • IA, meaning not specified, on the fourth (current) period (1952 to present).

List of aircraft manufactured, projected, or upgraded

YearModelBuiltObs
Started as Instituto Aerotécnico
1928Avro 504K "Gosport"31Biplane basic trainer, license-built. First aircraft produced by FMA.
1930Dewoitine D.2135Monoplane fighter, license-built.
1931FMA AeC.11Civil tourism aircraft prototype (initial version); basic trainer (later version). First local design.
1932FMA AeC.22Civil tourism aircraft
1932FMA AeME.17basic military trainer
1933FMA AeT.13Transport/commercial aircraft
1934FMA AeMO.141Observation monoplane
1934FMA AeMOe.16Derivative of the AeMO.1, observation and training
1934FMA AeMOe.261Variant of the AeMOe.1, observation and training
1934FMA AeC.316Civil aircraft.
1935FMA AeMB.11First bomber aircraft built by FMA
1935FMA AeMB.214First bomber aircraft built by FMA
1935FMA AeMS.11Ambulance aircraft
1936FMA AeC.3G1Tourism aircraft.
1936FMA AeC.41Improved prototype version of the C.3G
Name changed to Fabrica Militar de Aviones
1940Curtiss Hawk 75O20License built version of the US monoplane fighter Curtiss Hawk 75[5]
1940Focke-Wulf Fw 44J Stieglitz190License built version of the German biplane trainer
1940FMA I.Ae.20 El Boyero130Tourism aircraft, series built by "Industrias Petrolini"
1943FMA I.Ae.211Advanced trainer aircraft prototype, based on the North American NA-16-1P fuselage.
1943FMA I.Ae.22 DL206Advanced trainer aircraft
1945FMA I.Ae.231Basic trainer prototype, based on the Focke-Wulf Fw44J
1945FMA I.Ae.25 Mañque1Assault/Transport glider.
1946FMA I.Ae.24 Calquín100Attack/Light bomber
1947FMA I.Ae.27 Pulqui1Jet fighter prototype, first of its kind built in Latin America.
1947FMA I.Ae.31 Colibrí3Two-seat Trainer aircraft
1948FMA I.Ae.30 Ñancú1Fighter/Attack prototype
1949FMA I.Ae.32 Chingolo1Tourism/Trainer aircraft
1949FMA I.Ae.34 Clen Antú3+1+3Glider, flying wing. Designed by Reimar Horten, also known as the Horten XVa and XVb
1950FMA I.Ae.33 Pulqui II5First swept-wing jet fighter designed in Latin America
1951FMA I.Ae.36 Cóndor0Civil passenger transport, designed by Kurt Tank. Project cancelled, no prototypes built.
1953DINFIA IA35 Huanquero2+3+20+9(+1+1)Transport aircraft; variants "Constancia" and "Pandora" executive aircraft.
1953FMA I.Ae.41 Urubú4Flying-wing glider, designed by Reimar Horten, also known as the Horten XVc.
1953FMA I.Ae.43 Pulqui III0Project, swept-wing supersonic jet fighter
1954FMA I.Ae.371Supersonic delta-wing interceptor, designed by Reimar Horten. Glider, unpowered prototype only.
1960I.Ae. 38 Naranjero1Flying-wing transport/cargo, designed by Reimar Horten.
mid-1950sFMA I.Ae.390Transport, based on the I.Ae.35. Project only.
1956FMA I.Ae.400Night fighter project.
1953FMA IAe.44 DL.II0Advanced trainer (project, none built)
1959DINFIA IA 45 Querandí2Executive transport, prototypes only (NOTE: some sources mention "1957" and "1" built)
1957FMA I.Ae. 46 Ranquel101+1162-seat utility aircraft. Second series, enhanced variant "Super Ranquel".
1960FMA I.Ae. 48CancelledFighter aircraft
1960DINFIA IA 35 Guaraní I1Approximate date, transport derived from the I.Ae. 35 "Huanquero"
1963DINFIA IA 50 Guaraní II1+2+18+14Transport aircraft, derived from the IA 35 Guaraní I
Beechcraft T-34 Mentor75Trainer, licence built
1965IA 53 Mamboretá2Agricultural aircraft
1960Morane-Saulnier MS.760 Paris48Trainer, licence built
1967FMA IA 58 Pucará120Counter-insurgency/light attack aircraft
1972FMA IA-591UAV prototype
1975FMA IA 600Advanced trainer/light attack (project)[6]
1978FMA IA 620Military trainer (project)
1980FMA IA 66 Pucará II1Single prototype; converted IA-58A powered by two 1,000-ehp (746-kW) Garrett TPE331-11-601W turboprop engines.
1984FMA IA 63 Pampa20+12Advanced trainer. AT-63 currently under production.
1985FMA IA 58C Pucará "Charlie"1After the 'Malvinas/Falkland' war a revised version of Pucara was designed, a single seat design with 30 mm DEFA cannon, air-to-surface missiles, and better IR protection. The program was cancelled after the prototype was homologated.
(mid-1980s)IA 67 Córdoba0Light transport (project)[7]
(mid-1980s)IA 68 ATL0Light transport (project); cancelled
(mid-1980s)FMA SAIA 900Supersonic air superiority jet fighter project; cancelled
1990(IA 70)
Embraer/FMA CBA 123 Vector
2Turboprop 19-passenger regional airliner, only prototypes built before being cancelled [8]
Name changed to Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina SA
1999Lockheed Martin A-4AR Fightinghawk18other 18 by Lockheed Martin in Pasadena, California, US.
2003Beechcraft T-34 MentorRefurbishment of Argentine and Bolivia Air Forces
2006Lockheed C-130 HerculesRefurbishment of Argentine Air Force and Colombian Air Force aircraft.
Name changed to FAdeA S.A.
2009FMA IA 63 Pampa II-40Changing power plant
2010FMA IA 58 Pucará1Changing power plant and avionics (cancelled)
2010FAdeA IA 73basic trainer to replace T-34 (cancelled)
2014FAdeA IA 1001elemental trainer and a project to demonstrate the capabilities of the Argentine industry
2018IA 63 Pampa III Block I3+1+2Third evolution of the Pampa aircraft, with 3 more in order for 2019 for the Argentine Air Force. According to local media, Government of Argentina plans to upgrade all Pampa II aircraft to this version. On 3rd of May 2019 Guatemala Purchased 2 Pampa III aircraft in the same configuration as Argentine Air Force. Delivery is expected before the end of 2019. Currently Guatemala doesn't have any operational Attack and Attack/Training aircraft [9].
2020-2025IA 63 Pampa III Block IIprototypeLight attack version of the Pampa III

Products

Licensed production
  • Piper PA-25 Pawnee

Fixed-wing aircraft
  • FAdeA IA 100

  • FAdeA IA-63 Pampa III

Upgrade and Maintenance
  • Boeing 737

  • Airbus 320

  • Lockheed P-3 Orion

  • Lockheed C-130 Hercules

  • Fokker F28 Fellowship

  • Fokker F27 Friendship

  • Embraer EMB 312 Tucano

  • FMA IA 58 Pucará

  • FMA IA 63 Pampa

  • Bell 206

Others

References

[1]
Citation Linkwww.fadeasa.com.ar"FAdeA AUTORIDADES". Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014. Cite uses deprecated parameter |deadurl= (help)
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[2]
Citation Linkwww.pagina12.com.arBack at the hands of the state
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[3]
Citation Linkweb.archive.org(in Spanish)Ministerio de Defensa - República Argentina Archived 2012-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[4]
Citation Linkpmddtc.state.govLockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina SA to Fábrica Argentina de Aviones “Brigadier San Martin” S.A.
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[5]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgPadin 1999, pp. 9, 15
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[6]
Citation Linkwww.zona-militar.com(in Spanish)"FMA IA-60 - Anteproyecto de Avión de Entrenamiento y Ataque" - website "Zona Militar" (accessed 2015-06-08)
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[7]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.org"Aeroespacio" magazine Nr.566 (Jul-Ago 2005), Ficha Técnica Nr.53
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[8]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgCBA123/IA 70 Archived 2010-09-12 at the Wayback Machine
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[9]
Citation Linkwww.altair.com.pl(in Polish)"Gwatemala kupiła 2 Pampa III" - website "Wiadomości - Altair Agencja Lotnicza" (accessed 2019-07-10)
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[10]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgFÁBRICA MILITAR DE AVIONES: CRÓNICAS Y TESTIMONIOS
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[11]
Citation Linkeconomiayempresas.com.arLa Argentina fabricante de Aviones
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[12]
Citation Linkwww.janes.com"Argentina's FAdeA Mulls Major Changes" - Jane's IHS
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[13]
Citation Linkwww.fadeasa.com.arOfficial site
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[14]
Citation Linkwww.globalsecurity.orgFMA history
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[15]
Citation Linkwww.aeromilitaria.com.arAeromilitaria.com.ar
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[16]
Citation Linkwww.flightglobal.com"Former Lockheed Martin Argentina plant relaunched as FAdeA" FlightGlobal
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[17]
Citation Linkwww.fadeasa.com.arwww.fadeasa.com.ar
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[18]
Citation Linkweb.archive.org"FAdeA AUTORIDADES"
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[19]
Citation Linkwww.fadeasa.com.arthe original
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM
[20]
Citation Linkwww.pagina12.com.arBack at the hands of the state
Sep 19, 2019, 1:32 PM