Setting the scene at the Military Aeroparque Station, the Argentine Air Force presented the first modernized Hughes 500D helicopter, alongside two advanced IA-63 Pampa III Block II trainers and the sixth Beechcraft TC-12B Huron. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Defense of Argentina, Luis Petri, accompanied by the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Brigadier General Isaac, the Chief of the General Staff of the Air Force, Brigadier Major Mengo, and the heads of the Argentine Army and Navy.
It should be noted that in 2023, the Argentine Air Force initiated a program to update, standardize, and remove obsolescences from the Hughes 500D helicopters operated by the VII Air Brigade. Some details of the project can be gleaned from BAPIN 138018, which planned a direct investment of $82 million pesos for 2023 and $121 million for 2024. This initiative had been announced at the end of 2022 by the then Chief of the General Staff of the Air Force, now Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Brigadier General Xavier Isaac, who indicated that the digitalization of the cockpit would be carried out entirely by personnel from the Technical Groups of the Rio Cuarto Material Areas (ARMACUAR) and Quilmes (AMQ).
Regarding this, the Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Air Force, Brigadier Major Fernando Luis Mengo, stated, “With the Hughes-500, this is the first modernization entirely carried out by the Air Force, bringing this element to the needs required in the 21st century for the operation of this weapon system. We have completely digitalized it and, above all, have enabled it to operate in conditions beyond visual range for which it was prepared instrumentally. But above all, with the management of the joint military aircraft, it is the first time we have certified a modification by the Air Force, a military certification.”
Concerning the work done, Brigadier Major highlighted the efforts of the Maintenance Group of the Quilmes Material Area and emphasized that the first stage has been completed, which will culminate in the modernization of the entire Hughes-500 weapon system, soon continuing with the SA315B Lama helicopters of the IV Air Brigade, based in the province of Mendoza.
The work included a complete update of the light helicopters’ cockpit, fulfilling a requirement of the VII Air Brigade of the Air Force. One of the objectives was to achieve better visualization of flight parameters, optimizing its operational capacity with new avionics systems. The program includes the removal of obsolescences with the installation of new equipment such as two GDU 700 displays that provide flight information, two GTN 650TXi that expand communication and navigation capabilities, complemented by a new transponder, radio altimeter, and a digital processing audio box.
In reference to the recently presented IA-63 Pampa III Block II, “We have converted a Pampa II into Pampa III, which will complement our squadron in Rio Gallego at the tenth Air Brigade, but above all, with our simulator delivered by FADEA, starting mid-year our Fighter School can train and prepare all our combat pilots according to 21st-century needs, ready to take on the challenge of incorporating our new F-16 weapon system.”
The Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Brigadier General Javier Julián Isaac, also highlighted in his remarks, “I speak for the three forces about those means that will give us that fundamental qualitative leap to once again be on par with what our Armed Forces need to be. There are many men and women continuously working silently to achieve these things. Those things that are not seen every day or do not have high media impact like the incorporation of a new system, but that show that the commitment is present.”
To conclude, he added, “It demonstrates the quality of our people to do things simultaneously; Rio Cuarto was working on the B-200 while a strategic company for us like FAdeA was continuing with the modernization of the Pampas… but really what stands out for me today is not only the product you see here but all the work that went into what we are seeing here on this platform.”
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