Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina

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

The Fábrica Militar de Aviones (FMA, or Military Aircraft Factory) is Argentina's main manufacturer of military aircraft. Formed on October 10, 1927 it is owned by the Argentine government. It was privatizated in 1995 with Lockheed Martin given its concession for 25 years with two additional ten-year options. It is currently known as Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina SA.

[edit] Background

The FMA has produced numerous innovative aircraft prototypes, but the state of the Argentinian economy has 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.

The prefixes used for the aircraft developed and produced are:

  • Ae, for "Direccion General de Aerotecnica", on the first period (1927-1936);
  • F.M.A., for "Fabrica 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 2007).

[edit] Aircraft and Projects

Year Model Built Obs
Started as Instituto Aerotecnico
1928 Avro 504K "Gosport" 31 Biplane basic trainer, license-built. First aircraft produced by FMA.
1931 Ae.C.1 1 Civil tourism aircraft prototype (initial version); basic trainer (later version). First national design.
1932 Ae C2 / Ae.M.E.1 2 Civil tourism aircraft (C2); basic military trainer (M.E.1)
1933 Ae.T.1 3 Transport/commercial aircraft
1934 Ae.M.O.1 41 Observation monoplane
1934 Ae.M.Oe.1 / Ae.M.Oe.2 6+14 Variant of the Ae.M.O.1, observation and training
1934 Ae.C.3 16 Civil aircraft.
1935 Ae.M.B.1 / Ae.M.B.2 Bombi 1+14 First bomber aircraft built by FMA
1935 Ae. M.S.1 1 Sanitary aircraft
1936 Ae.C.3G 1 Tourism aircraft.
1936 Ae.C. 4 1 Improved prototype version of the C.3G
Name changed to Fabrica Militar de Aviones
1940 Curtiss "Hawk" 75-O 20 License built, monoplane fighter
1940 F.M.A. 20 "El Boyero" (I.Ae. 20) 130 Tourism aircraft, series built by "Industrias Petrolini"
1943 F.M.A. 21 1 Advanced trainer aircraft, based on the North American NA-16-1P fuselage.
1943 I.Ae. 22 "DL" 206 Advanced trainer aircraft
1945 I.Ae. 23 1 Basic trainer, based on the Focke-Wulf Fw44J
1945 I.Ae. 25 Mañque 1 Assault/Transport glider.
1946 I.Ae. 24 Calquín 100 Attack/Light bomber
1947 I.Ae. 27 Pulqui I 1 Jet fighter prototype, first of its kind built in Latin America.
1947 I.Ae. 31 Colibrí 3 Two-seat Trainer aircraft
1948 I.Ae. 30 Ñancú 1 Fighter/Attack prototype
1949 I.Ae. 32 Chingolo 1 Tourism/Trainer aircraft
1949 I.Ae. 34 Clen Antú 3+1+3 Glider, flying wing
1950 I.Ae. 33 Pulqui II 5 First swept-wing jet fighter designed in Latin America
1953 I.Ae. 35 Huanquero 2+3+20+9(+1+1) Transport aircraft; variants "Constancia" and "Pandora" executive aircraft.
1953 I.Ae. 41 Urubú 4 Flying-wing glider, designed by Reimar Horten.
1953 I.Ae. 43 Pulqui III 0 Project, swept-wing supersonic jet fighter
I.Ae. 36 "Cóndor" 0 Project unbuilt, civil transport
1954 I.Ae. 37 1 Supersonic delta-wing interceptor, designed by Reimar Horten. Glider, unpowered prototype only.
1960 I.Ae. 38 Naranjero 1 Flying-wing transport/cargo, designed by Reimar Horten.
1953 I.Ae. 44 "DL" II 0 Advanced trainer (project, unbuilt)
1959 I.Ae. 45 Querandí 2 Executive transport, prototypes only (NOTE: some sources mention "1957" and "1" built)
1957 I.Ae. 46 Ranquel 101+116 2-seat utility aircraft. Second series, enhanced variant "Super Ranquel".
1960 IA 35 Guaraní I 1 Aproximate date, transport derived from the I.Ae. 35 "Huanquero"
1963 FMA IA 50 Guaraní II 1+2+18+14 Transport aircraft, derived from the IA 35 Guaraní I
Beechcraft T-34 Mentor 75 licence built
Morane-Saulnier M.S.760 Paris 48 licence built
1975 FMA IA 58 Pucará 120 counter-insurgency aircraft
Embraer/FMA CBA 123 Vector
FMA SAIA 90 Supersonic air superiority jet fighter project, unbuilt
1984 FMA IA 63 Pampa 20+12 Advanced trainer. AT-63 currently under production
Name changed to Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina SA
1999 A-4AR Fightinghawk 18 others 18 by Lockheed Martin in Pasadena, CA.
2003 T-34 Mentor Refurbished of Argentine and Bolivia Air Forces
2006 C-130 Hercules Refurbished of Argentine and Colombian Air Forces

[edit] External links