Time Period: Post-WW2
Country of Origin: Argentina
Type: Ground Attack Aircraft, Monoplane, Counter-insurgency Aircraft
Manufacturer: Fábrica Militar de Aviones
FMA IA 58 Pucará Aircraft Overview
The FMA IA-58 Pucará is a turboprop ground-attack aircraft developed and manufactured by Argentina’s Fábrica Militar de Aviones (FMA). It was designed to operate in rugged terrain and support ground forces during military operations.
The IA-58 Pucará features a twin-engine configuration, high-mounted wings, and a distinctive twin-boom tail design. It is equipped with powerful engines, allowing for short takeoff and landing capabilities, making it well-suited for operating in austere environments.
Designed primarily for counterinsurgency and close air support missions, the Pucará is armed with a variety of weapons, including machine guns, rockets, bombs, and even air-to-air missiles. It has the ability to carry out ground attacks, provide reconnaissance, and support troops with accurate firepower.
The aircraft gained international recognition during the Falklands War in 1982, where the Argentine Air Force deployed it. Despite facing advanced British forces, the Pucará demonstrated its effectiveness in carrying out ground attack missions and proved to be a resilient and versatile platform.
The FMA IA-58 Pucará remains an iconic aircraft in Argentine aviation history, representing the country’s capabilities in aircraft manufacturing and its commitment to military aviation.
FMA IA 58 Pucará Specifications
- Crew: 2
- Length: 14.25 meters (46 feet 9 inches)
- Wingspan: 14.50 meters (47 feet 7 inches)
- Height: 5.36 meters (17 feet 7 inches)
- Wing Area: 30.30 square meters (326.1 square feet)
- Aspect Ratio: 6.9:1
- Airfoil: NACA 642A215 at the root, NACA 641 at the tip
- Empty Weight: 4,020 kilograms (8,863 pounds)
- Maximum Takeoff Weight: 6,800 kilograms (14,991 pounds)
- Fuel Capacity: 1,280 liters (280 imperial gallons; 340 US gallons) internally, with up to 1,736 liters (382 imperial gallons; 459 US gallons) in external tanks
- Engines: 2 × Turbomeca Astazou XVIG turboprop engines, each producing 729 kW (978 hp)
FMA IA 58 Pucará Performance
- Maximum Speed: 500 km/h (310 mph, 270 knots) at 3,000 meters (9,800 feet)
- Cruise Speed: 430 km/h (270 mph, 230 knots) at 1,800 meters (6,000 feet) in economic cruise
- Stall Speed: 143 km/h (89 mph, 77 knots) with flaps and undercarriage down
- Never Exceed Speed: 750 km/h (470 mph, 400 knots)
- Combat Range: 350 kilometers (220 miles, 190 nautical miles) with a high-low-high profile and 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) of weapons
- Ferry Range: 3,710 kilometers (2,310 miles, 2,000 nautical miles) with maximum internal and external fuel
- Service Ceiling: 10,000 meters (33,000 feet)
- G Limits: +6 / -3 g
- Rate of Climb: 18 meters per second (3,500 feet per minute)
FMA IA 58 Pucará Armament
- Guns:
- 2 × 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.804 autocannons
- 4 × 7.62 mm FN Browning machine guns
- Hardpoints: 3, with a total carrying capacity of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) on the centerline and 500 kg (1,100 lb) on each wing pylon, totaling up to 1,620 kg (3,570 lb) of external stores
- Rockets:
- ARM-657 Mamboretá rocket pods
Data from Michell, Simon (1994). Jane’s Civil and Military Upgrades 1994–1995. Coulsdon, UK: Jane’s Information Group.
