Showing posts with label operational performance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label operational performance. Show all posts

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Malvinas: The Actions of BIM 5 Obra Company



Account of a Naval Infantry Petty Officer – OBRA Company – BIM 5 Ec (Part 2)

Change of Mission

On 5 June, the company received orders from the Commander of BIM 5 Ec to occupy a Forward Combat Post in the Pony's Pass area. Commander Robacio had long requested that the High Command cover the approach to Port Stanley via the only road connecting Fitz Roy to the town. Without a response from his superiors, he ultimately decided to assign OBRA Company to this mission. This decision impacted the battalion during the Tumbledown engagement, as it lacked a reserve force for a swift counterattack.

We were to position ourselves in the Pony's Pass area. Initially, a reconnaissance was conducted, and the findings were reported to Commander Robacio. He realised that Pony's Pass was not ideal for a Forward Combat Post due to its small hillock surrounded by lagoons and semi-permanent watercourses, all easily fordable by foot troops. Consequently, Lieutenant Miño (of the Amphibious Engineers) was ordered to install a minefield ahead of the future positions, and Sub-Lieutenant Quiroga was instructed to move after reconnaissance and to bring the troops as late as possible, as we were certain the enemy was observing us, and the position needed to remain concealed.

During the night of 11 to 12 June, from OBRA Company's positions, we observed the battles for Mount Harriet. The marines watching the combat could do little, as the British attacks occurred beyond the range of their weapons, 2000 to 3000 metres away, except for an enemy unit attempting a rear assault on Harriet, which came within 800 to 1000 metres of OBRA's weapons.

Petty Officer Tejerina recounts: "On the night of 11 June, after intense naval and land artillery fire, between approximately 2200 and 2300 hours, the enemy launched an assault on the positions at Harriet with machine guns, rocket launchers, and artillery. British artillery fell immediately in front of the first assault line. We saw this clearly from our position, as the tracer rounds from the machine guns indicated the attackers' positions, and occasional flares lit up the area. It was a cold, clear night with a full moon that rose before the attack (21:25). The Company Commander continuously reported the situation to BIM 5 Ec Command. We were ordered to prepare for a potential counterattack. At 0100, combat intensified at the top of Harriet. By 0145, the fighting subsided, with only sporadic machine-gun fire heard. At that time, we recovered two conscripts from the RI 4 Service Section (Conscripts Ibañez and Vallejos), provided them with dry clothing, weapons, ammunition, and Charlie rations; they joined the Company and remained with us until the end of the fighting. Our artillery targeted the attackers; the fire was directed by TCIM Quiroga and GUIM Bianchi of the 1st Section of BIM 5 Ec stationed at William, even firing upon RI 4's own positions east of the mountain. Our commander continuously reported enemy troop movements in the Port Harriet area and their manoeuvre northward towards Mount Harriet. He was particularly concerned about an enemy unit moving northwest."

Petty Officer Tejerina continues: "At dawn on 12 June, enemy troops were seen assembling prisoners on the southern slope of Harriet, then marching them westward. Helicopters were also observed evacuating the wounded. For the rest of the day, we had to remain in our positions to avoid detection. At 1400, enemy artillery shelled our positions with timed ammunition for 30 minutes. (Note: Timed ammunition explodes before hitting the ground, causing a shower of shrapnel.) In this bombardment, a fragment slightly wounded Dragoneante Orlando Garcia, the Rifle Platoon Leader, in the back; he was treated by Second Corporal Medic Angelossi. Dragoneante Garcia refused to leave his position and be evacuated. At 1830, enemy artillery again shelled our area for 30 minutes. I was caught inspecting positions and had to make several dashes to reach the rocket launcher position. Accompanying me was Dragoneante Ariel Bustamante (rocket launcher loader); during one of the bursts, I was hit by the blast wave of a grenade and fell stunned into a water-filled hole, from which Dragoneante Bustamante rescued me instead of seeking cover; he had a habit of accompanying me on my rounds, even under fire."

On 13 June, we detected movements ahead of us, approximately a company of Welsh troops approaching. Artillery fire was requested but fell short; Lieutenant Quiroga made corrections, and then it hit the Welsh troops. We heard screams as they tried to retreat, but the artillery continued to inflict casualties. After a while, they were subjected to heavy fire until Lieutenant Quiroga suspended the fire due to the lack of standing enemy soldiers. I was impressed by the efficiency of the British medical personnel. They wore a type of short white poncho with a red cross on the back, tied at the waist. Some wounded had inflatable splints applied to their limbs, possibly to stop bleeding or fractures. The medics marked the location of the wounded, and then helicopters evacuated them.

Lieutenant Quiroga's Injury

Between 1815 and 1900 hours, while moving between positions, the Company Commander stepped into a hole approximately 20 centimetres in diameter and 50 centimetres deep while taking cover from a nearby grenade explosion, dislocating his ankle. The intense pain immobilised Lieutenant Quiroga, who was quickly attended to by SSIM Orosco and CSEN Angelossi. The latter bandaged Lieutenant Quiroga but suspected a fracture due to rapid swelling and advised him to seek further medical attention at the BIM 5 Ec Aid Post for proper treatment.

After evacuating Lieutenant Quiroga, command was assumed by Lieutenant Calmels. Fog began to form gradually. During twilight, via radio, Petty Officer Tejerina repeatedly instructed his men on the retreat procedure, which theoretically consisted of:

  1. Movement: Withdrawal of Corporal Agüero's group (the most forward) through the bunker, then past the Company CP to a rear assembly point. There, the two groups would occupy positions to cover the retreat of the rest.

  2. Movement: Withdrawal of the 1st Group.

  3. Movement: Withdrawal of the 2nd Group.

Final Movement: Machine guns and 60 mm mortars.

Lieutenant Calmels assumed command around 2200 hours, about fifteen minutes before the attack began. The attack caught him by surprise; he was unaware of the exact situation of his Company. The night, the fog that had begun to lift, enemy fire, and conflicting reports from Group Leaders painted a grave picture; he knew the British were numerous, everywhere, and advancing almost openly, shouting. In reality, the enemy unexpectedly encountered OBRA positions, not anticipating resistance there due to the marines' effective concealment. However, for the Argentinians, the British appeared suddenly, as the fog and artillery noise prevented detection. Combat began when the enemy engaged Corporal Agüero's group, which, as mentioned, was slightly forward, practically on the road, 150 metres from the CP. It's evident that the enemy vanguard was moving along the road, as the group was attacked from the front and right flank (north), threatening its rear. From that moment, combat became generalised. The machine gun left by Corporal Alvarez to Corporal Agüero, previously moved to the northern flank, opened fire. Even from the Company CP, Lieutenant Calmels, Petty Officer Tejerina, Corporal Carrasco, and the Company Platoon Conscripts fired their rifles at the enemy to the north of the position. Grenade explosions were heard. The other two Rifle Groups (1 and 2) prepared for combat, but the British attack did not press on them, receiving only sporadic fire. At that time, it was snowing. The British advanced, supported by a high rate of machine-gun fire—about six or seven—clearly located by their tracer rounds. The enemy gained ground, nearly two companies against a reinforced section.

The Retreat

The retreat could not be executed as planned. In reality, Groups 1 and 2, along with Petty Officer Tejerina, moved towards the Quarry. When the retreat was ordered, the Group Leaders began the movement, but Agüero, who was to initiate it, reported he couldn't move. At that point, the Company Commander ordered his 60 mm mortars to fire on the White Points ahead of the 3rd Group. Some conscripts from this group were seen retreating, but Agüero no longer responded on the radio. By 2300 hours, with the movement underway, Groups 1 and 2 fought their way past the immediate depression behind them and then marched towards the Quarry. Subsequently, the Company Commander withdrew with the Company Platoon and mortar personnel. Petty Officer Orosco remained at the rear, covering the retreat with a machine gun. Briefly illuminated by three flares (two and one), they were forced to "hit the deck." In reality, the illumination was over William. The rest of the Company's retreat occurred in darkness. At 0100 hours, they reached the Quarry, where the Company regrouped. The Company Commander had a mission to fulfil as the Battalion Reserve and immediately marched north towards the Subunit's previous position near the BIM 5 Ec CP. Due to poor terrain information, Lieutenant Calmels expected to find Company RI 3 immediately east of the Quarry, but Captain EA Varela's Company was actually further northeast of William, leaving a gap between Sapper Hill and William.

We returned to our old positions south of the BIM 5 Ec CP. Around 0900 hours, Lieutenant Calmels received orders to retreat to Sapper Hill, where the Battalion was to concentrate for continued combat from that area. Once the Battalion regrouped at Sapper Hill, at 1115 hours, it received orders to retreat to the town. From that moment, the Company joined the rest of the Unit, packed their equipment, and entered Port Stanley. By 1430 hours, the Battalion was already assembled near the Naval Station, and at 1900 hours, OBRA Company, with the bulk of the Battalion, settled in the Naval Station's Carpentry, remaining there until the morning of 16 June when they received orders to move to the Concentration Camp being set up on the airport peninsula. Before entering the area, they had to pass through British control posts, where their weapons were finally confiscated.

Friday, April 18, 2025

Pre and Postwar Argentine Aircrafts

Foreign Aircraft in Postwar Argentine Aviation



North American Northrop 8A-2. Foto Revista LIFE.

Northrop Model 8A-2

 

Model 8A-2
Version for Argentina. Equipped with fixed landing gear, ventral gun position, and powered by an 840 hp (626 kW) Wright R-1820-G3 Cyclone engine. 30 units built.

The Northrop A-17, a development of the Northrop Gamma 2F, was a two-seat, single-engine monoplane attack bomber built in 1935 by the Northrop Corporation for the U.S. Army Air Corps. (Source: Wikipedia)

.


 

Cyclone Wright R-1820-E
. Museo Smithsonian del Espacio Aéreo. corriente continua

 

 

 
North American NA-16



Curtiss Hawk 75H


 

North American Aviation NA-16 was the first trainer aircraft built by North American Aviation, Inc., and marked the beginning of a line of American training aircraft that would eventually exceed 17,000 units.

Developed into:

  • North American BT-9

  • T-6 Texan

  • North American P-64

  • CAC Wirraway

The NA-16 was a single-engine, low-wing monoplane with tandem open cockpits and fixed landing gear. It was powered by a 400 hp air-cooled Wright Whirlwind radial engine. Although primarily of metal construction, the rear fuselage was fabric-covered.

The NA-16 first flew on April 1, 1935, and was sent to the United States Army Air Corps for evaluation as a basic trainer. The Army accepted the trainer for production but requested several significant modifications. These included replacing the Wright engine with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340, enclosing the cockpits, and adding fairings to the landing gear. The modified NA-16 was redesignated by North American as the NA-18, with production models entering Air Corps service as the North American BT-9 (NA-19).

In Australia, the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) produced 755 units of a modified version of the NA-16, known locally as the Wirraway, between 1939 and 1946.

Additionally, two NA-16 trainers were supplied to the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service for evaluation in 1938, designated as KXA1 and KXA2.

(Source: Wikipedia)



 
 
 

Curtiss Hawk 75

 

 

 


Gloster Meteor F4


 

100 units were exported to Argentina, and they saw action on both sides during the 1955 revolution, with one aircraft lost on September 19, 1955.

The Argentine Air Force ordered 50 Meteor F.4s in May 1947, which included 50 ex-RAF aircraft and 50 newly built units. Deliveries began in July of that year. The Meteor remained in service until 1970, when the last aircraft were replaced by the Dassault Mirage III.



 

 

Brístol F.2B



Aeronaves militares y civiles en 1948. Fuente: "La Aeronautica Nacional al servicio del pais"

 

Avro Lincoln



 

 

 
Vickers "Vickings" cargo aircrafts

 


 
Bristol Tipo 170  Cargo plane

 
Douglas DC-4

 
De Havilland "Dove"


 
Canberra Mk 62

Surviving Examples


 

The Argentine Air Force received 27 Model 139W/WAA aircraft.


 

The only complete surviving B-10 is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio. The aircraft is painted to represent a B-10 used during the 1934 Alaska Flight. It is actually an export version sold to Argentina in 1938.

The aircraft survived as a ground crew training platform, and the Argentine Air Force continued using it to train personnel well into the 1960s. The U.S. Air Force Museum conducted an extensive search for surviving B-10 parts and eventually discovered this aircraft.

In 1970, the incomplete fuselage was formally donated by the Argentine government to the United States government, in a ceremony attended by the U.S. ambassador.

The aircraft was restored by the 96th Maintenance Squadron (Mobile), Air Force Reserve, at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, between 1973 and 1976, and was put on display in 1976.

(Source: Wikipedia)






Saturday, March 29, 2025

Argentine Air Force: The Eternal Legacy of the Mirage Series

The 43 years of the Mirages in the Argentine Air Force




From the birth of a legend to its retirement without replacement

In the mid-1960s, the Argentine Air Force (FAA) operated subsonic Gloster Meteor F.Mk-IV fighters and transonic North American F-86F Sabres, along with the veteran Avro Lancaster and Avro Lincoln bombers. Aware of the need to modernize its fleet, the FAA evaluated several options, including the supersonic Mirage III fighter from the French company Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation (AMD-BA), and the subsonic American Douglas A-4B Skyhawk fighter-bomber.

The A-4B Skyhawk was ultimately selected to replace the Lancaster and Lincoln bombers, with an order of 49 units. As for the fighters, the licensed production of 100 supersonic interceptors was considered, but due to budget constraints, the project was abandoned in 1967 and negotiations began with AMD-BA for the acquisition of Mirage IIIE/D aircraft. However, the lack of funding also prevented this initial purchase.

At that time, the FAA operated around 20 Gloster Meteors in Morón and 25 F-86F Sabres in Mendoza, without missiles or onboard radar, relying instead on ground-based radars from the Grupo I de Vigilancia Aérea Escuela (GIVAE). Faced with the urgent need to replace the Meteors, several alternatives were considered, including the F-100 Super Sabre, the F-104 Starfighter, the English Electric Lightning, the Saab J-35 Draken, the F-5A Freedom Fighter, the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II, and the Mirage IIIE. Ultimately, the Mirage IIIE stood out as the best option due to its performance, availability, and operating cost.

The arrival of the Mirage IIIEA and the consolidation of supersonic power

In April 1965, a French delegation arrived in Buenos Aires with a formal proposal. In Latin America, countries such as Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil were also interested in the Mirage. The decisive performance of the Israeli Mirage IIIC during the Six-Day War in 1967 ultimately tipped the balance in its favor.

In 1968, under the presidency of General Juan Carlos Onganía, negotiations began with Dassault. On July 14, 1970, the government of General Roberto Levingston signed contract M-III/70, approved by Decree 1710/70, for the purchase of 12 Mirage IIIEA (single-seat) and 2 Mirage IIIDA (two-seat) aircraft, at a total cost of 28 million dollars. An additional 21 million dollars was allocated for infrastructure and logistics.


The showgirl Isabel Martínez, President Perón, and nearby the despicable minister López Rega.

Training and Delivery

The first group of Argentine pilots was sent to France in 1971, where they trained at the Dijon/Longvic Air Base, flying French Mirage IIIBE aircraft. At the same time, a delegation traveled to Israel to study the combat use of the Mirage IIIC in the Heyl Ha'Avir (Israeli Air Force).

On January 10, 1973, test pilot Gérald Resal carried out the first flight of an Argentine Mirage III. On January 17, Vice Commodore Alcides Giosa became the first Argentine pilot to fly a Mirage solo, accompanied by Captain Enrique Román in a two-seat Mirage IIIDA.

The delivery of the aircraft was carried out in stages, transported by C-130 Hercules planes and assembled in Argentina with the assistance of French technicians. On May 31, 1973, a Mirage III squadron flew over the I Air Brigade in El Palomar, officially marking their entry into service.

In 1974, the FAA intensified its flights and developed advanced air-to-air combat tactics. The high level of training was demonstrated in 1975, when the unit received the "Flight Safety" award granted by the U.S. Air Force.

On January 5, 1976, the strategic importance of the Mirage led to the creation of the VIII Air Brigade in José C. Paz. In 1977, Argentina acquired 7 additional Mirage IIIEA aircraft, which were delivered between December 1979 and July 1980. In 1981, 2 Mirage IIIDA aircraft formerly operated by the Armée de l'Air were added to the fleet, arriving in 1982.

Malvinas War: Baptism by Fire

On April 2, 1982, the FAA had 17 Mirage IIIEA/DA aircraft and 36 Daggers (the Israeli version of the Mirage 5). The Mirage IIIEAs were deployed to Río Gallegos and Comodoro Rivadavia, where they faced British Sea Harrier FRS.1 jets.

On May 1, the Mirage aircraft carried out escort and combat missions. In an air duel, Captain García Cuerva (I-019) and First Lieutenant Perona (I-015) were attacked by AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles. Perona managed to eject, but García Cuerva attempted to land in Puerto Argentino and was shot down by friendly fire.

Throughout the war, the Mirage aircraft carried out 47 escort missions and 9 diversion missions. Lacking in-flight refueling capability, their time over the battlefield was very limited. Despite this, they contributed to the FAA's overall success by supporting A-4B Skyhawk and Canberra attacks against the British fleet.

The Post-Malvinas Era and Modernization

After the conflict, the FAA acquired 22 Israeli Mirage IIICJ/BJ aircraft in 1982, which entered service in 1984. In 1989, the Peruvian Mirage 5P aircraft were upgraded to the "Mara" standard, featuring improvements in radar and electronic defense systems.

On March 7, 1988, the VIII Air Brigade was disbanded, and the Mirage III aircraft were transferred to the VI Air Brigade in Tandil, operating alongside the Dagger/Finger jets in Fighter Group 6. They took part in joint exercises with the U.S. Air Force and in operations such as "Fortín," which focused on defending the airspace over northern Argentina.

The End of an Era

By 2015, only 7 Mirage aircraft remained operational. On November 29, the FAA officially retired the Mirage weapons system, leaving the country without supersonic fighters for the first time in its history.

In total, the FAA operated 94 Mirage aircraft:

  • 19 Mirage IIIEA
  • 4 Mirage IIIDA/BE
  • 35 Dagger A
  • 4 Dagger B
  • 10 Mirage 5P/Mara
  • 19 Mirage IIICJ
  • 3 Mirage IIIBJ

Over 43 years of service, the Mirage fleet logged 131,000 flight hours, with 13 combat losses and 28 accidents.

Today, Argentina is still awaiting a replacement that meets its air defense needs, while the legacy of the Mirages remains intact in the memory of those who operated them with pride and bravery.

To conclude, and to preempt any controversy, it is worth making a clear clarification regarding the Israeli Mirage IIICJ/BJ aircraft. The transaction was carried out by the FAA through the company Isrex Argentina S.A., and the aircraft were acquired during the war; the payment was made via Credit Suisse to an offshore shell company linked to IAI. However, the aircraft only became available for delivery in November 1982, by which time the war had ended, the FAA command had changed, and the justifications for accepting the aircraft—despite their age and poor condition—were no longer valid.



The entire operation was left in limbo, partly due to non-compliance on the Israeli side, and partly because Argentina no longer wanted the aircraft. Nevertheless, neither Isrex Argentina S.A. nor IAI were willing to return the funds already paid. As a result, the Alfonsín administration inherited the agreement from the military regime and, in 1984, ordered the delivery of the aircraft.



All of the aircraft were delivered to the FAA in 1984 and entered service starting in 1985, as they were gradually refurbished at the Río IV Materiel Area. This refurbishment process is what led to both the Mirage IIIC and B models—known as "Shahak"—receiving the suffix "J" (for Judío, meaning "Jewish") to highlight their origin and modification. Officially, they were reclassified as IIICJ and B models as BJ, a designation the Argentine Air Force never actually used.



This mirrored what happened with the first Skyhawks acquired by Argentina, which were designated A-4P due to the upgrades performed prior to their delivery. However, the FAA continued to refer to them as A-4B. For comparison, the A-4Bs delivered to the Navy were redesignated A-4Q after being refurbished, and unlike the FAA, the Argentine Navy did adopt and use the new designation.



To close the matter, here is the official Israeli serial number list of all the aircraft that were later operated by Argentina under its own serial numbers:

  •     CJ-2 (the one marked with the "Jew" symbol) = C-701 in FAA
  •     CJ-4 = C-702
  •     CJ-12 = C-703
  •     CJ-14 = C-704
  •     CJ-20 = C-705
  •     CJ-22 = C-706
  •     CJ-29 = C-707
  •     CJ-31 = C-708
  •     CJ-32 = C-709
  •     CJ-33 = C-710
  •     CJ-34 = C-711
  •     CJ-40 = C-712
  •     CJ-42 = C-713
  •     CJ-47 = C-714
  •     CJ-59 = C-715
  •     CJ-64 = C-716
  •     CJ-65 = C-717
  •     CJ-66 = C-718
  •     CJ-67 = C-719
  •     BJ-1 = C-720
  •     BJ-2 = C-721
  •     BJ-4 = C-722

There was one additional aircraft, known as number 23, though it is unclear whether it was a CJ or BJ. Due to its poor condition, only usable parts were salvaged—though it remains uncertain whether this was done in Israel (Palestina) or in Córdoba. The aircraft never entered service and does not appear in the FAA’s official active roster. A similar case applies to the A-4M and TA-4J aircraft acquired by Argentina, which were used as sources of spare parts for operational units or as training material for FAA students.




Lastly, the Mirage IIIC—specifically the CJ, C-713—was sold back to the Israelis for the symbolic price of 1 U.S. dollar. Today, it is preserved in an Israeli museum, restored with its original operational number and prefix: CJ-42, which was its original serial designation.



In total, the Argentine Air Force acquired and operated 94 supersonic delta fighter-bombers, including Mirage IIIEA/DA, Dagger/Finger A/B, Mirage 5P/Mara, and Mirage IIICJ/BJ aircraft. These comprised:

  • 83 single-seat aircraft:

    • 19 Mirage IIIEA

    • 35 Dagger A

    • 19 Mirage IIICJ

    • 10 Mirage 5P/Mara

  • 11 two-seat aircraft:

    • 2 Mirage IIIDA

    • 2 Mirage IIIBE/DA

    • 4 Dagger B

    • 3 Mirage IIIBJ

At its peak, Argentina operated 77 to 78 supersonic delta aircraft simultaneously, making it the country with the largest and most powerful Mirage fleet in Latin America.





Obtaining a reliable record of Mirage aircraft losses in the Argentine Air Force (FAA) is a difficult task, with gaps and inconsistencies in official information. However, based on available data up to 2007 and later confirmed incidents, a partial but detailed reconstruction is as follows:

Combat Losses (Malvinas/Falklands War – 1982)

  • 11 aircraft lost in combat:

    • Dagger A: Majority of losses

    • Mirage IIIEA: Several losses confirmed (e.g., I-019)

Accidents and Decommissioning up to 2007

Mirage IIIEA

  • 4 aircraft lost in accidents:

    •     I-001
    •     I-009
    •     I-014
    •     I-020

  • 2 aircraft decommissioned (not due to accidents):

    •     I-012
    •     I-016

IAI Dagger / Finger

  • 13 aircraft lost in accidents:

    •     C-401
    •     C-405
    •     C-406
    •     C-413
    •     C-414
    •     C-418
    •     C-421
    •     C-425
    •     C-427
    •     C-429
    •     C-431
    •     C-434
    •     C-435

Mirage 5P / Mara

  • 3 aircraft lost in accidents:

    •     C-604
    •     C-607
    •     C-609

Mirage IIICJ / BJ

  • 3 aircraft lost:

    •     C-707
    •     C-720
    •     C-705

Post-2007 Losses

  • At least 2 additional Mirage IIIEA aircraft lost in accidents in 2009 and 2013 (registration numbers unknown).

Summary of Known Losses and Final Status

  • 13 aircraft lost in combat

  • At least 28 aircraft lost in accidents

  • 53 aircraft retired/deactivated due to age, obsolescence, or lack of spare parts

  • Total: 94 Mirage-family aircraft operated

Operational Status by 2015

By late 2015:

  • 25 Mirage fighters remained on the FAA inventory (variants: Mirage IIIEA/DA, Finger A/B, Mara)

  • Only 7 aircraft were truly operational

  • On November 29, 2015, the Mirage weapon system was officially retired without replacement, marking:

The first time in Argentine history the country was left without a supersonic air defense capability.

This situation remains unchanged as of today, nearly three years later, without any serious political, institutional, or legal accountability. No strategic action has been taken to restore national air defense capability. The four interceptor squadrons that once belonged to the Nation and the Argentine People have been dissolved, with no recovery effort from successive governments.



This represents a critical and unresolved national security failure, leaving Argentina vulnerable and symbolically disarmed in terms of sovereign airspace protection.





🛩️ Mirage IIIDA / IIIBE (two-seat aircraft)

AircraftOrigin / NotesFate
I-001Built 01-04-1972; arrived 05-09-1972 aboard C-130 TC-63; first flight 10-01-1973Crashed 30-03-1979 near Derqui during a training flight; both crew members ejected successfully
I-002Built 01-05-1972; arrived 05-02-1973 aboard C-130 TC-65; first flight 10-01-1973Crashed in 1991, repaired in 1997
I-020Ex-French Mirage IIIBE, upgraded to DA; delivered Dec 1982Destroyed in accident on 06-05-1994
I-021Ex-French Mirage IIIBE, upgraded to DA; delivered Jan 1983In service

🛩️ Mirage IIIEA (single-seat aircraft)

AircraftNotesFate
I-003Built 23-09-1972; arrived 23-09-1972 aboard C-130 TC-62; first flight 10-01-1973In service
I-004Built 01-11-1972; arrived 01-11-1972 aboard C-130 TC-61In service
I-005Built 18-03-1973In service
I-006Built 18-03-1973; arrived 18-03-1973 aboard C-130 TC-66Special paint scheme in 1997 for 25th anniversary
I-007Built 13-04-1973; arrived 13-04-1973 aboard C-130 TC-63In service
I-008Built 05-05-1973; arrived 05-05-1973 aboard C-130 TC-66In service
I-009Built 20-05-1973; arrived 20-05-1973 aboard C-130 TC-66Crashed 23-03-1976; pilot ejected successfully
I-010Built 29-06-1973; arrived 29-06-1973 aboard C-130 TC-66In service
I-011Built 17-07-1973; arrived 17-07-1973 aboard C-130 TC-66In service
I-012Built 27-07-1973; arrived 27-07-1973 aboard C-130 TC-65Later decommissioned
I-013Built Oct 1979; arrived Nov 1979Crashed 01-05-1997 during FAA Baptism of Fire celebration; pilot Lt. Marcos Peretti killed
I-014Built Oct 1979Crashed 25-08-1987 in Entre Ríos; pilot Capt. Juan Carlos Franchini Allasia killed
I-015Built Oct 1979Shot down on 01-05-1982 over Borbón Island by Sea Harrier XZ-452 (Flt Lt Barton); pilot 1st Lt. Perona ejected
I-016Built Nov 1979Accident on 08-10-1983 in Río Gallegos; deemed irreparable, used for spares
I-017Built Dec 1979Used postwar for AIM-9M Sidewinder missile integration
I-018Built Jan 1980In service
I-019Built Jan 1980Shot down 01-05-1982 over Borbón Island by Sea Harrier XZ-453 (Lt Thomas); Capt. García Cuerva attempted emergency landing, killed by friendly fire near Puerto Argentino
I-020Already listed above under IIIDA

This list illustrates the detailed operational history and fate of each Mirage IIIEA/DA in FAA service, including:

  • Combat losses (notably I-015 and I-019 during the Malvinas War)

  • Accidents with fatalities (e.g., I-013, I-014)

  • Units converted from French Air Force aircraft (e.g., I-020, I-021)

  • Unique roles or commemorative paint schemes (e.g., I-006, I-017)





General Characteristics – Mirage IIIEA

Manufacturer: Avions Marcel Dassault
Type: Air Defense Interceptor

Dimensions

  • Length: 14.08 meters

  • Wingspan: 8.21 meters

  • Empty weight: 6,531 kg

  • Maximum takeoff weight: 13,510 kg

Propulsion

  • Engine: SNECMA Atar 09C-03 turbojet

  • Thrust:

    • 4,284 kgf (at sea level, dry)

    • 6,185 kgf (with afterburner)

 Performance

  • Maximum speed: 2,217 km/h (Mach 2.1) at 12,200 meters

  • Service ceiling: 17,000 meters

  • Maximum range: 2,800 km

 Avionics

  • Radar: Thompson-CSF Cyrano II bis monopulse radar (200 kW, I/J bands)

  • Gunsight: CSF 97

  • IFF: LMT 3560J

  • Navigation: TACAN system

 Armament

  • Fixed guns:

    • 2× DEFA 552A 30 mm cannons

    • 125 rounds per gun

  • External hardpoints (5 total):

    • 4 wing-mounted

    • 1 ventral

    • Up to 4,000 kg of stores, including:

      • 1× Matra R530E missile (IR or SARH) on centerline

      • 2× Matra R550 "Magic I" IR-guided missiles on outer wing pylons

      • Drop tanks:

        • RP30 (1,700 liters)

        • RP62 Supersonique (500 liters)

      • Rocket pods: RPK, Madnap

      • Bombs: BK, BR series

Let me know if you’d like technical specs for the Dagger/Finger, Mara, or IIICJ/BJ variants as well.