Argentine Air Force

Total Aircraft: 135

Active Aircraft Inventory (2020)

FIGHTERS

HELICOPTERS

The Argentine Air Force makes due with several aging platforms - including the Cold War-era A-4 'Skyhawk' fighter variant known locally as the Fightinghawk.

POWER INDEX SCORE

24.1

(Ranked 36 of 53)
*See Notes

The Argentine Air Force has struck a relative balance in combat-training-rotorcraft which bodes well for tactical flexbiility. However, budget issues have meant an aging stock of players of which some are being replaced or reinforced for the near-future. The only true fighter in the fleet remains an aging core of American-made Lockheed A-4AR 'Fightinghawk' fighter-bombers based in the 1950s Cold War-era Douglas A-4 'Skyhawk' carrierborne fighter. This is backed by a limited fleet of homegrown IA 63 light strike platforms and three Brazilian Embraer EMB-312 'Super Tucanos'. The other indigenous product, the IA 58, is reserved for the Close-Air Support (CAS) role and at least 22 examples are kept on hand but they remain of questionable value. The rotorcraft fleet is a mix of utility, transport, and light scout types - these making up 23% of all strength. The transport force has, in stock, the venerable American-originated C-130 'Hercules', Dutch-made Fokker F28, and other lesser types for a total fleet commitment of just 7%. The training force (encompassing 36% of all strength) consists of several capable types including the homegrown AT63, Short Tucanos (these versatile platforms can double in the training and light strike roles), and the Grob G120TP. A handful of American T-6 Texan IIs are also operated by the service as are a tria of OA-4AR systems for the fighter-trainer role. Special-mission platforms are limited to reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare (EW). On-order systems place a primary focus on the transport, rotorcraft, and training forces.

NOTES: The WDMMA.org Power Index (PwrIndx) score looks at various qualities of an individual air power (or service branch). While total aircraft certainly influences the rating, aircraft variety (force balance) also plays a key role in determining an air service's placement on the list. Other focused qualities include local industry (aerospace-related) capability, future outlook, and current/recent combat experience. All this is worked into a formula which provides an analytical approach to resolving a force's fighting state in the modern world. This approach to fighting strength is highly theoretical and does not take into account a nation's available manpower or resolve in the face of conflict nor does it involve land and naval fighting strength. The top achievable PwrIndx score belongs to the United States Air Force with its rating of 242.9. As of now, UAV systems are not taken into account due to reporting differences between publicly-available sources (these will be integrated as some point). Navy aviation branches do not take into account the fighting capacity of naval ships.