Falklands War order of battle: Argentine air forces

2025-10-13T20:15:20Z

83.23.67.16: Typos.

{{Short description|none}} 
[[Image:Canberra Bomber B-108.jpeg|thumb|300px|Canberra B-108]]

This article describes the composition and actions of the [[Argentina|Argentine]] [[Argentine Air Force|air forces]] in the [[Falklands War]] ({{langx|es|Guerra de las Malvinas}}), which comprised units of the [[Argentine Air Force|Air Force]], [[Argentine Army|Army]], [[Argentine Navy|Navy]] and other services.

For a description of air forces of the [[United Kingdom]], see [[Falklands War order of battle: British air forces]].

==Background==

Despite initiating the war, Argentina had not prepared a plan for the subsequent defence of the islands. The [[National Reorganization Process|military dictatorship]] that governed the country at the time regarded the seizure of the Falklands as a political act to obtain a diplomatic bargaining position, and not as an act of war. Consequently they were taken by surprise when the British responded with a large-scale mobilization, and a task force to retake the islands.<ref name="airpower.maxwell.af.mil">{{cite web|url=http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj02/fal02/corum.html|title=Argentine Airpower in the Falklands War: An Operational View|access-date=27 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191905/http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj02/fal02/corum.html|archive-date=2 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:IAI Dagger fuerza aerea argentina.jpg|thumb|right|IAI ''Dagger'', Argentine Air Force, 1984]]

The [[Argentine Air Force]] (''Fuerza Aérea Argentina''; FAA), which had never fought against an external enemy since its establishment in 1912, had never considered the possibility of waging a long-range naval air campaign against a major [[NATO]] power. It was not trained or equipped for such a mission. The FAA had only two [[Aerial refueling|tanker aircraft]] to serve the entirety of the air force and navy, and its fighter-bomber [[Mirage III]]s and [[IAI Dagger]]s were not equipped for [[aerial refuelling]]. The FAA's training, tactics and equipment were focused on a possible war against [[Chile]], resulting from disputes such as the [[Beagle conflict]].<ref name="airpower.maxwell.af.mil"/><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1984/DWF.htm|title=Offensive Air Operations Of The Falklands War|author=John Pike|access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref>

The option to attack Chile<ref name="perfil-22.11.2009">Argentine newspaper [[Perfil]] [http://www.diarioperfil.com.ar/edimp/0420/articulo.php?art=18309&ed=0420 Después de Malvinas, iban a atacar a Chile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125142325/http://www.diarioperfil.com.ar/edimp/0420/articulo.php?art=18309&ed=0420 |date=2009-11-25 }} on 22 November 2009, retrieved 22 November 2009:
:''"Para colmo, Galtieri dijo en un discurso: „Que saquen el ejemplo de lo que estamos haciendo ahora porque después les toca a ellos“"''.</ref> was a cause of great concern to the Argentina military during the war. The [[Military of Chile|Chilean armed forces]] had deployed a significant force to Chile's common border with Argentina, and the FAA was forced to reinstate their retired [[F-86 Sabre]]s to bolster Argentina's air defences.<ref>{{Citation | last = Lt. Col. Hezsely | first =Csaba | title =Argentine Air Power in the Falklands War | journal = Air War College, Research Report | pages = 39 | date = May 1988 | url = http://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a202551.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000331/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a202551.pdf | url-status = live | archive-date = March 4, 2016 | id = AD-A202 551}} Lt. Col. Hezsely's report notes 16 F-86F deployed at Mendoza</ref> In Argentina's favour, [[Peru]] immediately offered its support to the Argentine cause, with the [[Peruvian Air Force]] even offering to fly combat missions. This was politely declined by the Argentine government. As the war progressed, Peru and [[Venezuela]] sent critical aircraft spare parts to Argentina, urgently needed by the FAA and the [[Brazilian Air Force]] gave two [[Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante|EMB111 Bandeirantes]] maritime patrol aircraft to the Argentine Navy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trackerenmalvinas.com.ar/html/download.html |title=PDF book: Historia de la Aviacion Naval Argentina |website=www.trackerenmalvinas.com.ar |access-date=2010-01-21 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517220622/http://www.trackerenmalvinas.com.ar/html/download.html |archive-date=2007-05-17 }}</ref> Finally on June 4, ten Peruvian [[Mirage 5]] with [[AS-30]] missiles arrived to [[Tandil]] but the war ended before they could be used.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dagger-lamarinete.com.ar/peru.htm |title=Dagger Technician memories |access-date=2010-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518194348/http://www.dagger-lamarinete.com.ar/peru.htm |archive-date=2010-05-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Israel Aircraft Industries]] technicians that were in the country under the 1979 [[IAI Dagger]]s contract continued their work during the conflict.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dagger-lamarinete.com.ar/3al5deabril.htm |title=Dagger Technician memories |access-date=2010-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214003109/http://www.dagger-lamarinete.com.ar/3al5deabril.htm |archive-date=2009-12-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

By the best estimates, Argentina had about 240 planes when the war broke out. About half of those were posted in the interior and along the Chilean border.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120713101659/http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1828&dat=19820526&id=CNAhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xZ4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1465,10774806 Los Angeles times, May 27 1982]</ref> The long distances from their bases prevented them from using their top speed or they risked running out of fuel.<ref>''Aviation Fact File - Harrier'', page 42.</ref><ref group=n>"the Mach 2 Mirage and Dagger which in low-level attack are extremely subsonic. ..while low-level attacks by the Argentine aircraft..there would not be a lot of fuel to spare, especially if afterburner was used." From ''Aviation Fact File - Harrier'' (1984), page 42.</ref> Although the Argentines had more aeroplanes than the British Task force, a good number of them were Pucara turboprops.<ref>''Sea Combat off the Falklands'' (1982), page 33.</ref><ref group=n>"The Argentine-built Pucará counter-insurgency aircraft proved its worth in numerous attacks on British land forces, and it was even used to attack shipping. About 75 Pucarás were in service at the start of the conflict." From ''Sea Combat off the Falklands'' (1982), page 33; by Antony Preston; Willow Books, {{ISBN|978-0-00-218046-7}}.</ref> Also, the A-4 Skyhawk force were dependent on the two available KC-130 tankers, limiting the number of aeroplanes which could attack simultaneously.<ref>"Two A-4B Skyhawks warplanes of the Grupo 5 link up...after topping up their tanks from a KC-130H tanker." page 62 in ''Air War in the Falklands 1982'', 2001</ref>

Argentina's fleet of [[A-4 Skyhawk]] attack jets was in very poor condition. The arms embargo placed by the United States in 1976, due to the "[[dirty war|Dirty War]]", had made most airframes unusable. The involvement of Israel in helping to return the A-4 to full operational status has been alleged, but has never been confirmed.<ref name=autogenerated2>Commodore Ruben Oscar Moro ''La Guerra Inaudita'', 2000 {{ISBN|987-96007-3-8}}</ref>

The small [[Argentine Naval Aviation|air arm of the Argentine Navy]] (''Armada Republica Argentina''; ARA) was in the middle of the transition from the A-4Q Skyhawk to the new [[Super Etendard]]. Only five of the Etendard's anti-ship [[Exocet]] missiles had been delivered at the time of the conflict, at which point an arms embargo prevented the delivery of further shipments. Additionally, the required programming for the missiles to interact with the Etendard's computers had not been completed by French engineers when the conflict broke out. France, being an ally of the United Kingdom, recalled all technicians, which left Argentine scientists and electronic engineers to figure out a way to make the missiles take input from the plane's computers. Navy pilots, particularly those of the 3rd Naval Fighters Squadron flying ''A-4Qs,'' were the only personnel trained in bombing warships. Air Force pilots trained during April against the two Argentine [[Type 42 destroyer|Type 42]] destroyers, similar to those of the British Fleet, and according to the Naval officers all the sorties were shot down, causing great concern to the High Command until the successful May 1 strikes which proved that aircraft could survive.<ref name=autogenerated2 /><ref>HALCONES SOBRE MALVINAS, {{ISBN|950-9294-07-1}}</ref>

Finally, Argentine military aviation had never been involved in an international conflict, indeed the last time the Argentine military had been involved in an international conflict was the [[Paraguayan War|War of the Triple Alliance]] more than a century before.

In spite of these disadvantages, Argentine air units bore the brunt of the battle during the six-week war, and inflicted serious damage and losses to the naval forces of the United Kingdom. Low-flying jets attacking British ships provided some of the most sobering and dramatic images of the war. By the end of the conflict, the British forces had come to admire the FAA's spirited conduct in the face of an effective air defence network.<ref>Hastings, Max: ''The Battle for the Falklands''</ref><ref group=n>"The British were awed by the courage of the Argentine pilots, flying suicidally low to attack, then vanishing amid flashes of pursuing Sea Cat, Blowpipe, Rapier, racing across the sky behind them. Alone among the enemy's three services, the air force seemed highly motivated and utterly committed to the battle. 'We should have been able to work out that any nation which produces first-class Formula One racing drivers is also likely to turn out some pretty good pilots.'" - Chapter 12; Hastings, Max: ''The Battle for the Falklands'' (1983) Michael Joseph Ltd {{ISBN|0-7181-2228-3}}</ref> Admiral [[Sandy Woodward]], the British Task Force commander said: "[t]he Argentine Air Force fought extremely well and we felt a great admiration for what they did."<ref>clarin newspaper [http://www.clarin.com/diario/2007/04/03/elpais/p-00815.htm Clarin newspaper Woodward Interview ''La fuerza aérea peleó extremadamente bien y nosotros sentimos una gran admiración por lo que hicieron'']</ref>

The British Operational Research Branch Report declassified and released to the public in February 2013 states:
{{cquote| The Argentine air arms conducted a 10 week campaign during which time they carried out air supply of their forces in the Falkland Islands, reconnaissance of UK forces in the South Atlantic, and engaged units of TF317. Though they sustained considerable damage, it is fair to say that their air forces were not beaten and remained as a viable force at the end of hostilities. The 4 air arms (ndlr: [[Argentine Air Force|FAA]], [[Argentine Naval Aviation|COAN]], [[Argentine Army Aviation|CAE]], [[Argentine Naval Prefecture|PNA]]) were, within their own spheres, generally capable and well organised, though limited in [[Aerial refueling|AAR]] and [[Aerial reconnaissance|reconnaissance]] assets. A lack of aircraft spares may also have limited their effectiveness. Of the 3 facets of operations, the Argentine air arms are considered to have been successful in the air supply of their forces, only partially successful in the reconnaissance task, and to have inflicted significant attrition on UK naval forces. No militarily significant success was achieved against UK land forces ashore.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arcre.com/archive/falklands/argaireffort|title=Examination of Argentine Air Effort - Arcre|author=Lee Richards|access-date=27 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101064858/http://www.arcre.com/archive/falklands/argaireffort|archive-date=1 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}

==Organisation==

The air units involved in the Falklands War were under the following [[chain of command]]:
* ''' [[National Reorganization Process|Military junta]]''' — [[Brigadier General#Argentina|Brigadier General]] (Lieutenant General) [[Basilio Lami Dozo]].
** '''Air Defence Command''' ({{langx|es|Comando Aéreo de Defensa}}) — Brigadier [[Augusto Hughes|Jorge Hughes]] was in charge of the radar network, Mirage IIIEA interceptors and anti-aircraft defences on the mainland.
** '''Strategic Air Command''' ({{langx|es|Comando Aéreo Estratégico}}) — Brigadier Helmuth Weber. Coordinated air assets through all the country. The CAE also had the main role of long range maritime surveillance with Boeing 707s and C-130 Hercules.
*** '''Southern Air Force''' ({{langx|es|Fuerza Aérea Sur}}) — Brigadier [[Ernesto Horacio Crespo|Ernesto Crespo]]. The FAS was the main organisation involved in combat over the conflict zone.
** '''South Atlantic Military Theatre''' ({{langx|es|Teatro Operaciones Atlantico Sur}}) — Vice Admiral [[Juan Lombardo]]. Basically a [[Argentine Navy|naval]] command with the role of coordinating the air, surface and submarine assets in the South Atlantic area. Initially, during the [[1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands|invasion of the islands]] on 2 April and before hostilities broke out, the islands were supposedly to be under their command and was considered as the only organisation needed to manage the ''crisis''.
*** '''Falklands Military Garrison''' ({{langx|es|Guarnicion Militar Malvinas}}) — Brigade General [[Mario Benjamín Menéndez|Mario Menéndez]] ([[Argentine Army|Army]]).
**** '''Air Component''' ({{langx|es|Componente Aéreo}}) — Brigadier Luis Castellano.

==Deployment==

[[Image:FAA Air Bases 1982.gif|thumb|450px|'''Argentine airbases:''' Distances to [[Port Stanley Airport]]:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj02/fal02/corum.html |title=Argentine Airpower in the Falklands War: An Operational View |access-date=2007-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191905/http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj02/fal02/corum.html |archive-date=2014-01-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Trelew: {{convert|580|nmi|km|-1}}, Comodoro Rivadavia: {{convert|480|nmi|km|-1}}, San Julián: {{convert|425|nmi|km|0}}, Rio Gallegos: {{convert|435|nmi|km|0}} and Rio Grande: {{convert|380|nmi|km|-1}}. Due to the distance required to fly to the islands, two minutes was the average time Argentine attack aircraft had available in the target area.]]

[[Image:FAA Air Bases 1982a.gif|thumb|400px|'''Argentine airfields''' The only paved runway was at Stanley although was unsuitable for fast jets and its main role was to maintain the airbridge to the mainland. ''Isla de Borbon'' - Pebble Island, ''Pto. Argentino'' - [[Port Stanley Airport|Port Stanley]], ''Isla Gran Malvina'' - West Falkland & ''Isla Soledad'' - East Falkland.]]

Air units moved from home bases to southern facilities. Amid fears about British/Chilean air strikes and/or [[Special Air Service|SAS]] raids, Argentine aircraft were dispersed in the surrounding areas of their southern airfields, e.g., several parts of the national route #3 were used for this purpose.

* [[Ezeiza International Airport]], Buenos Aires
** [[Boeing 707]]
* [[Almirante Marcos A. Zar Airport|NAS Almirante Zar]], [[Trelew]], Chubut Province
**[[English Electric Canberra|B.Mk62 Canberra]]
* AFB [[Comodoro Rivadavia]], IX Air Brigade, Chubut Province ''( FAS command site )'' [https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&q=Comodoro+Rivadavia,&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&z=15&ll=-45.784016,-67.465196&spn=0.012689,0.043259&t=k&om=1 map] 
** [[C-130 Hercules|KC/C-130 Hercules]]
** [[Fokker F28]]
** [[Escuadron Fenix]]
** [[Dassault Mirage III|Mirage IIIEA]]
** [[FMA IA 58 Pucara|FMA IA 58 Pucará]]
** [[Air Defense Control Center|CIC]] ''Comodoro'', air traffic control center
* Airfield [[Puerto San Julián]], Santa Cruz Province
** [[IAI Nesher|IAI Dagger]] — ''La Marinete'' Squadron
** [[A-4 Skyhawk|A-4C Skyhawk]]
** Cardion [[AN/TPS-44]] radar w/ GADA 601 ''Army''
* Airfield [[Puerto Santa Cruz]], Santa Cruz Province
** [[A-4 Skyhawk|A-4P Skyhawk]]
* AFB [[Rio Gallegos]], Santa Cruz Province
** [[Dassault Mirage III|Mirage IIIEA]]
** [[A-4 Skyhawk|A-4P Skyhawk]]
** [[FMA IA 58 Pucara|FMA IA 58 Pucará]]
** Navy Exploration Squadron after 13 May: [[S-2 Tracker|S-2E Trackers]] and 2 leased Brazilian Air Force [[Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante|EMB111 Bandeirantes]] (2-P-201 & 2-P-202)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trackerenmalvinas.com.ar/html/download.html |title=PDF book: Historia de la Aviacion Naval Argentina |website=www.trackerenmalvinas.com.ar |access-date=2009-04-07 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517220622/http://www.trackerenmalvinas.com.ar/html/download.html |archive-date=2007-05-17 }}</ref>
** [[Air Defense Control Center|CIC]] ''Gallegos'', air traffic control center
* NAS Almirante Quijada, [[Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego]]
** [[IAI Nesher|IAI Dagger]] — ''Las Avutardas Salvajes'' Squadron
** [[A-4 Skyhawk|A-4Q Skyhawk]]
** [[Dassault Super Étendard|Super Étendard]]
** [[P-2 Neptune|SP-2H Neptune]]
* AFB Puerto Argentino, [[Port Stanley Airport]], Falkland Islands
** [[FMA IA 58 Pucara|FMA IA 58 Pucará]] ''Air Force''
** [[Aermacchi MB-339|Aermacchi MB.339A]] ''Navy''
** [[T-34 Mentor]] ''Navy''
** [[Helicopter]]s from all services
** [[Air Defense Control Center|CIC]] ''Malvinas'', [[AN/TPS-43]] radar and [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft defences]] from all services
* AFB Condor, [[Goose Green]] grass airfield, Falkland Islands
** [[FMA IA 58 Pucara|FMA IA 58 Pucará]] ''Air Force''
** [[Anti-aircraft warfare|Anti-aircraft cannons]] ''Air Force''
* NAS Calderon, [[Pebble Island]] grass airfield, Falkland Islands
** [[FMA IA 58 Pucara|FMA IA 58 Pucará]] ''Air Force''
** [[T-34 Mentor]] ''Navy''
** [[Short Skyvan]] ''Coast Guard''
* Aircraft carrier [[ARA Veinticinco de Mayo (V-2)|ARA Veinticinco de Mayo]], April 2 to May 3
** [[A-4 Skyhawk|McDonnell Douglas A-4Q Skyhawk]]
** [[S-2 Tracker|Grumman S-2E Tracker]]
** [[SH-3 Sea King|Sikorsky S-61D-4]]

==Units==

The numbers in bold are the number of aircraft engaged in combat without counting those in reserve, the numbers in brackets are the number of aircraft lost during the war.
[[File:IAI Dagger.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Israel]] supplied 39 IAI Dagger since 1978]]
[[File:Super Etendard ARA 204.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Super Etendard]] was the platform for the [[Exocet]] missile.]]
[[File:Argentine Hueys.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Bell UH-1 Huey|UH-1H Iroquois]] "Huey" helicopters, at [[Comodoro Rivadavia]] Airport. These ones were to be transported to the islands by [[C-130 Hercules|C-130H]] "Hercules" aircraft and their rotors had been removed.]]

===Argentine Air Force===

{{langx|es|Fuerza Aérea Argentina}}

* 1st Air Brigade:
** [[C-130 Hercules|Lockheed C-130H Hercules]] '''7 (1)'''
** Lockheed KC-130H Hercules Tanker '''2'''
** [[Boeing 707|Boeing 707-320C]] '''3'''
** [[Fokker F-28|Fokker F-28-1000C]] '''6'''
** [[Fokker F-27|Fokker F-27-400M]] '''12'''
* 2nd Air Brigade:
** [[English Electric Canberra|English Electric B.62 Canberra]] '''8 (2)'''
** Grupo Aérofotográfico — [[Learjet 35|Learjet 35A]] '''2 (1)'''
* 3rd Air Brigade:
** Falkland Islands — [[FMA IA 58 Pucara|FMA IA 58A Pucará]] '''24 (13)'''
** Comodoro Rivadavia — FMA IA 58A Pucará '''1 (1)'''
* 4th Air Brigade:
** [[A-4 Skyhawk|McDonnell Douglas A-4C Skyhawk]] '''16 (9)'''
* 5th Air Brigade:
** [[A-4 Skyhawk|McDonnell Douglas A-4B Skyhawk]] '''30 (10)'''
* 6th Air Brigade:
** [[IAI Nesher|Israel Aircraft Industries Dagger]] '''27 (11)'''
* 7th Air Brigade:
** [[C-130 Hercules|Lockheed C-130E Hercules]] '''3'''
** [[CH-47 Chinook|Boeing CH-47C Chinook]] '''2'''
** [[Bell 212]] '''2'''
* [[8th Air Brigade (Argentina)|8th Air Brigade]]:
** [[Dassault Mirage III]]EA '''16 (2)'''
** [[de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter|DHC-6-200]] '''1'''

===Argentine Navy===
[[File:Neptune SP-2H ARA (2853482947).jpg|thumb|250px|right|The Argentine Navy SP-2H which tracked HMS ''Sheffield'']]

{{langx|es|Comando de Aviación Naval Argentina — COAN}} ([[Argentine Naval Aviation]])

* 1st Naval Air Attack Squadron:
** [[Aermacchi MB-339|Aermacchi MB.339A]] '''6 (2)'''
* [[2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque|2nd Naval Air Fighter/Attack Squadron]]:
** [[Dassault Super Étendard]] '''4''' (sn. 3-A-201 was cannibalized for spare parts)
* 3rd Naval Air Fighter/Attack Squadron:
** [[A-4 Skyhawk|McDonnell Douglas A-4Q Skyhawk]] '''8 (3)'''
* Naval Air Antisubmarine Squadron:
** [[S-2 Tracker|Grumman S-2E Tracker]] '''6'''
* Naval Air Training Squadron:
** [[T-34 Mentor|Beechcraft T-34C-1 Turbo Mentor]] '''4 (4)'''
* Naval Air Exploration Squadron:
** [[P-2 Neptune|Lockheed SP-2H Neptune]] '''2''' (both retired by end of May due to airframe attrition)
* 1st Naval Air Helicopter Squadron:
** [[Alouette III|Aérospatiale Alouette AI03 SA361B]] '''10 (1)'''
** [[Westland Lynx|Lynx Mk.23]] '''2 (1)'''
** [[Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander|Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander]] '''1'''
* 2nd Naval Air Helicopter Squadron:
** [[SH-3 Sea King|Sikorsky S-61D-4]] '''5'''
* Naval Air Transport Squadrons:
** [[Lockheed L-188 Electra#Military use|Lockheed L-188PF Electra]] '''3'''
** [[Fokker F-28|Fokker F-28-3000C]] '''3'''
** [[Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante|P-95 Bandeirulha]] '''2'''

===Argentine Army===

{{langx|es|Comando de Aviación del Ejército Argentino}} ([[Argentine Army Aviation]])

* 601 Army Aviation Battalion:
** [[CH-47 Chinook|Boeing CH-47C Chinook]] '''2 (1)'''
** [[Agusta A109|Agusta A109A]] '''3 (1)'''
** [[Bell UH-1 Huey|Bell UH-1H Iroquois]] '''9'''
** [[Aérospatiale Puma|Aérospatiale Puma SA330L]] '''6 (6)'''

===Argentine Coast Guard===
{{langx|es|Prefectura Naval Argentina}}

* Aviation Service:
** [[Aérospatiale Puma|Aérospatiale Puma SA330L]] '''1'''
** [[Short Skyvan|Short Skyvan 3M-200]] '''5 (2)'''

===Argentine auxiliary aircraft===

* [[Escuadrón Fénix]] — '''77''' civilian business planes:
** [[AgustaWestland AW109|Agusta 109C]] '''1'''
** [[Aero Commander 500|Aero Commander 500B]] '''2'''
** [[Aero Commander 500 family|Aero Commander 500S/Shrike Commander]] '''1'''
** [[Aero Commander 680|Aero Commander 680FL Grand Commander]] '''1'''
** [[Aero Commander 500 family|Aero Commander AC690A]] '''2'''
** [[Aero Commander 500 family|Aero Commander AC690B]] '''2'''
** [[Aero Commander 500 family|Aero Commander AC690C]] '''1'''
** [[Bell 205|Bell 205A-1]] '''1'''
** [[Bell 206]] '''1'''
** [[Bell 212]] '''1'''
** [[MBB Bo 105|MBB Bo 105A]] '''4'''
** [[Cessna Citation|Cessna500 Citation I]] '''4'''
** [[Cessna Citation|Cessna501 Citation I]] '''1'''
** [[Cessna Citation II|Cessna550 Citation II]] '''1'''
** [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|C-47B-15-DK]] '''2'''
** [[DC-3]] '''2'''
** [[Gates Learjet|Gates Learjet24]] '''1'''
** [[Gates Learjet|Gates Learjet24A]] '''2'''
** [[Gates Learjet|Gates Learjet24D]] '''1'''
** [[Gates Learjet|Gates Learjet25D]] '''3'''
** [[Gates Learjet|Gates Learjet35]] '''4'''
** [[Gates Learjet|Gates Learjet35A]] '''1'''
** [[Gates Learjet|Gates Learjet36A]] '''1'''
** [[Gates Learjet|Gates Learjet36C]] '''1'''
** [[British Aerospace 125|Hawker Siddeley HS.125-700B]] '''1'''
** [[FMA IA 50 Guaraní II|IA50G2 Guaraní II]] '''1'''
** [[Mitsubishi MU-2|Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A]] '''4'''
** [[MD Helicopters MD 500|MD 500C]] '''3'''
** [[Piper Aerostar|Piper Aerostar600A]] '''11'''
** [[Piper Aerostar|Piper Aerostar TS600]] '''5'''
** [[Piper Aerostar|Piper Aerostar TS601A]] '''1'''
** [[Piper Aerostar|Piper Aerostar TS601B]] '''1'''
** [[Piper Aerostar|Piper Aerostar TS601P]] '''1'''
** [[Swearingen Merlin|SA226-T Merlin IIIB]] '''1'''
** [[Sikorsky S-61|Sikorsky S-61N]] '''2'''
** [[Sikorsky S-58|Sikorsky S-58T]] '''2'''

* [[Aerolíneas Argentinas]] and [[Austral Líneas Aéreas|Austral]] airlines:
** [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]] '''2'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.malvinasmdp.org.ar/Images/Fotos/M085.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=2006-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061103074208/http://www.malvinasmdp.org.ar/Images/Fotos/M085.jpg |archive-date=2006-11-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
** [[BAC 1-11|BAC 1-11-515FB]] '''1''' (airlift to [[Patagonia]] and [[Port Stanley Airport|Port Stanley]])

==Armament==

* '''Machine guns and autocannons''':
** [[FM M2-20|7.62 mm FM M2-20]]: ''Pucaras''
** [[Colt Mk 12 cannon|20 mm Colt Mk.12 Cannon]]: ''A-4s''
** [[Hispano-Suiza HS.804|20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.804 Cannon]]: ''Pucaras''
** 30 mm [[DEFA cannon]]: ''IAI Daggers'' and ''Mirage IIIEA''
* '''Unguided rockets''':
** ZUNI 127 mm: ''MB.339s''
** 70 mm: ''MB339s''
** 105 mm: ''Pucaras''
* '''Missiles''':
** [[air-to-air missile|Air-to-Air]]:
*** [[AIM-9 Sidewinder|AIM-9B Sidewinder]] short-range IR: only Navy ''A-4Q Skyhawks'' up to May 1
*** [[Python (missile)|Rafael Shafrir 2]] short-range IR: ''IAI Daggers'' and A-4C on May 1
*** [[R550 Magic|Matra R550 Magic]] short-range IR: received April 15 for ''Mirage IIIEA''<ref>[http://www.aeroespacio.com.ar/site/anteriores/520-528/520/mirage.htm '''Aeroespacio, Issue 520 (Official FAA magazine)'''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531161152/http://www.aeroespacio.com.ar/site/anteriores/520-528/520/mirage.htm |date=2011-05-31 }}</ref><ref group=n>According to Aeroespacio, Issue 520: "hacia el 15 Abr se producía la recepción de los misiles Matra 550 Magic adquiridos tiempo antes" ("''towards April 15th the Matra 550 Magic missiles bought time ago were received''")</ref>
*** [[Matra R530]] short-range semi-active radar and IR: ''Mirage IIIEA''
** [[Air-to-surface missile|Air-to-Surface]]:
*** [[Exocet|Aérospatiale AM.39 Exocet]] [[Anti-ship missile|Anti-Ship Missile]]: 5 units on ''Super Etendards''
*** AS 30 air-surface missiles. Supplied by the [[Peruvian Air Force]] and arriving at the [[Tandil]] AFB (home base of the FAA Dagger) at the end of May, the war ended before they could be used.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}}
* '''Unguided retarded [[Gravity bomb]]''': Thirteen bombs<ref>[https://www.naval-history.net/F62brshipslost.htm Battle Atlas of the Falklands War 1982 — British ships lost & damaged].</ref> hit British ships without detonating as they were dropped from very low altitude and there was insufficient time in the air for them to arm themselves. The problem was solved by June with new fuzes (Kappa) bought in Spain.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}
** US built [[Mark 82 bomb|Mark 82]] Snake Eye (500 lb / 227 kg): ''A-4Q''
** British built "1000 lb" (450 kg): ''A-4B/C'', ''IAI Daggers'' and ''Canberras''
** Spain built Expal BR/BRP 250 kg: ''A-4B/C'' and ''IAI Daggers''
** Argentine built PG 125 kg: ''Pucaras''
** [[Napalm]]: ''Pucaras''<ref>''Signals of War, The Falklands Conflict of 1982'' (1990), Lawrence Freedman.</ref><ref group=n>"In late afternoon Pucaras attacked the British forces, two dropping napalm tanks which only just missed forward troops. Two Pucaras were shot down during the battle, along with an Aeromacchi {{sic}}". - Chapter 21 The Bridgehead and Beyond, the battle for Darwin and Goose Green - [[Lawrence Freedman]], ''Signals of War, The Falklands Conflict of 1982'', 1990, Faber and Faber-London, {{ISBN|0-571-14116-1}}</ref>

==Air campaign==

*[[Battle of San Carlos (1982)]]
*[[Bluff Cove Air Attacks]]

===Missions===
*'''Attack Missions''':
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:150px;"|System
! style="width:600px;"|Obs
|-
| [[A-4 Skyhawk]]
| 133 sorties by the A-4B and 86 by the A-4C. They flew with unreliable [[ejection seat]]s due to the US embargo placed from 1977. Naval A-4Q performed 12 sorties. They were highly dependent on the two available KC-130 tankers, limiting the number of aeroplanes that could attack simultaneously.
|-
| [[English Electric Canberra|Canberra]]
| 46 bombing sorties against ground targets, operating from [[Trelew]], to avoid more congestion on the closer southern airfields.
|-
| [[IAI Nesher|Dagger]]
| 153 sorties against naval/ground targets by the two squadrons. Their lack of [[aerial refueling]] capacity severely affected their performance without any chance of manoeuvring over the islands. They were obliged to fly the shortest flightpath and had less than 10 minutes to find their targets. The discovery of their approach corridor by the British led to 7 aircraft being shot down by Sea Harriers [[Combat air patrol|CAP]], something just realized when one of the downed Dagger pilots was recovered by own troops. By the end of May they began carrying an improvised [[Chaff (radar countermeasure)|chaff]] dispenser consisting of aluminium strips inside their airbrakes.
|-
!Total Sorties:
| The above figures shown a total of 430 attack sorties from the mainland of which 18 aircraft were intercepted by the Sea Harriers and another 14 were shot down by anti aircraft defences.
|}

*'''Other Missions''':
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:150px;"|System
! style="width:600px;"|Obs
|-
| [[Mirage III]]EA
| Argentine sources indicate that a number were withdrawn from operations over the islands to protect the mainland against [[Avro Vulcan|Vulcan]] strikes,<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref group=n>According to Globalsecurity.org (DWF):"As a result of these heavy losses...it was decided to pull the Mirage III's back to the mainland to stand alert for a possible Vulcan attack."</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1984/HJA.htm|title=The Falkland Islands Conflict, 1982: Air Defense Of The Fleet|author=John Pike|access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref>
<ref group=n>According to Globalsecurity.org (HJA):"Finally, the bombing raids caused the Argentines to fear an air attack on the mainland, causing them to retain some Mirage aircraft and Roland missiles for defense."</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aeroespacio.com.ar/site/anteriores/520-528/520/mirage.htm |title=La familia Mirage |access-date=2008-06-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531161152/http://www.aeroespacio.com.ar/site/anteriores/520-528/520/mirage.htm |archive-date=2011-05-31 }} La familia Mirage, Aeroespacio, Fuerza Aerea Argentina, ISSN 0001-9127</ref><ref group=n>As per article "La familia Mirage" in Aeroespacio (Issue 520): "Los M III debían defender el territorio continental argentino de posibles ataques de los bombarderos Vulcan de la RAF, brindar escolta a los cazabombarderos de la FAA, e impedir los ataques de aviones de la Royal Navy y de la RAF sobre las Malvinas." ("''The M III would defend the Argentine mainland against possible attacks by Vulcan bombers from the RAF, providing escort of fighter bombers to the FAA, and to prevent attacks by aircraft of the Royal Navy and RAF on the Falklands.''")</ref> however, they made 58 sorties providing decoys for the strike units with particular success on the June 8 attacks against the British landings ships.<ref>[http://www.aeroespacio.com.ar/site/anteriores/520-528/520/mirage.htm Official FAA Magazine {{in lang|es}}] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531161152/http://www.aeroespacio.com.ar/site/anteriores/520-528/520/mirage.htm |date=2011-05-31 }}</ref> Their lesser internal fuel capacity, compared to the ''Daggers'', prevented them from being used in their escort role.
|-
| [[Boeing 707]]
| The unarmed airliner made 54 cargo flights and other 61 for reconnaissance and surveillance duties<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aeroespacio.com.ar/site/anteriores/538-550/548/site/_01b707.htm |title=Exploración y reconocimiento en el Atlántico Sur |access-date=2010-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024064129/http://www.aeroespacio.com.ar/site/anteriores/538-550/548/site/_01b707.htm |archive-date=2007-10-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> against the British Task Force heading south[https://web.archive.org/web/20071024064142/http://www.aeroespacio.com.ar/site/anteriores/538-550/548/site/fotos/b707.gif FAA map] locating the fleet for the first time on April 21 when a [[Sea Harrier]] attempted to intercept the 707 on May 22 causing it to retreat. Another 707 managed to evade 4 Sea Dart missiles launched against it but the risk of further sorties was too great and from that point on the 707's made no further attempt to find the Task Force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spyflight.co.uk/boeing707.htm |title=Boeing 707 |publisher=Spyflight.co.uk |access-date=2013-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104014013/http://www.spyflight.co.uk/boeing707.htm |archive-date=2017-11-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On another occasion they made a casual encounter with a British [[Hawker Siddeley Nimrod|Nimrod]] both unarmed aircraft looked each other over and continued their missions.
|-
| [[Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante|Embraer P-95 Bandeirulha]]
| Two aircraft were incorporated into the naval aviation on May 21. They flew 39 maritime patrol sorties from Rio Gallegos airbase. They were returned to the Brazilian air force on June 24<ref>[http://www.centronaval.org.ar/boletin/BCN832/832-FORTINI.pdf Avioned Brasileros en el conflicto del Atlantico Sur]</ref>
|-
| [[IA 58 Pucará]]
| They performed reconnaissance and ground attack missions from the Falklands airfields and surveillance of the [[Patagonia|Patagonian coast]] from bases in Southern Argentina. Most of the island-based Pucarás were destroyed on the ground, due to special forces actions. They shot down a Royal Marines [[Westland Scout]] during the [[battle of Goose Green]].
|-
| [[Escuadron Fenix|Fenix]] Squadron
| 126 decoying plus 52 reconnaissance sorties. They were also extensively used as communications relay and pathfinder flights to guide the combat jets with the [[Learjet 35|Learjets]]' superior navigation systems.
|-
| [[C-130 Hercules]]
| 33 night flights to BAM Puerto Argentino in May/June (Blockade runner). Among the cargo transported in those flight were the 602 Army Commandos Coy, 155 mm CITEFA cannons, an [[:File:Exocet ITB.jpg|improvised land based Exocet launcher]], the [[Roland (air defence)|Roland SAM system]] and a [[RASIT]] radar replacement. They evacuated 263 wounded and a British [[Prisoner of war|PoW]] in their returning flights. Starting 15 May, they also took over the dangerous task of searching for naval targets for the strike units, after the retirement of the last [[P-2 Neptune|SP-2H Neptune]] available. On one of these daylight missions, a Hercules was intercepted and shot down by a Sea Harrier. 29 May, the British tanker ''British Wye'' was hit by bombs dropped by a Hercules, north of South Georgia<ref>[[Sir Lawrence Freedman]]: The Official History of the Falklands Campaign, 2005, Routledge, {{ISBN|0-7146-5207-5}}
:"''British Wye'', carrying fuel for the Task Force, came under attack by a modified C-130 Hercules...eight bombs were released, one of which struck the tanker without exploding.</ref> (Not officially recognized by the FAA)
|-
| KC-130 Hercules
| [[Aerial refueling|Refueling]] sorties for A-4s and Super Étendards, also for battle damaged fighters.
|-
| [[Fokker F-28]] ''Navy''
| 15 night flights to BAM Puerto Argentino in May/June (Blockade runner)
|-
| Army Aviation
| 796 helicopter flights on the islands
|-
| 1st Air Brigade Construction Group Air Force
| In charge of maintaining Port Stanley airbase operable. Throughout the conflict, the airport installations were attacked with 237 bombs, 1,200 shells from the Royal Navy gunline and 16 missiles, however, it was never out of action entirely. Many sources claim that the runway was covered with piles of dirt during the day causing British intelligence to surmise that repairs were still in progress.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> Craters were in fact heaps of earth placed there to make it look as though the runway was damaged.<ref>[http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/vulcan.htm The Avro Vulcan and the Black Buck raids] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070528135111/http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/vulcan.htm |date=2007-05-28 }}</ref> In fact, the British were well aware that the runway was still in use by C-130<ref>Morgan, David, ''Hostile Skies'', Orion Books Limited, London, 2006, {{ISBN|978-0-7538-2199-2}}</ref> and attempted to interdict these flights leading to the loss of a C-130 on June 1.<ref>Ward, Sharkey,'Sea Harrier Over The Falklands: A Maverick at War'', Phoenix; New Ed edition, London, 2007, {{ISBN|978-0-304-35542-6}}</ref>
|}

===Successes===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="width:150px;"|Description
! style="width:600px;"|Notes
|-
| Ships Sunk
| [[HMS Sheffield (D80)|HMS ''Sheffield'']], [[HMS Coventry (D118)|HMS ''Coventry'']], [[HMS Ardent (F184)|HMS ''Ardent'']], [[HMS Antelope (F170)|HMS ''Antelope'']], [[RFA Sir Galahad (1966)|RFA ''Sir Galahad'']], ''[[Atlantic Conveyor]]'' plus a [[Landing Craft Utility]] ("Foxtrot Four" from [[HMS Fearless (L10)|''Fearless'']])
|-
| Ships Damaged<ref>[[Sir Lawrence Freedman]]: ''The Official History of the Falklands Campaign'', 2005, Routledge, {{ISBN|0-7146-5207-5}}</ref>
| [[HMS Glasgow (D88)|''HMS Glasgow'']], [[HMS Antrim (D18)|HMS ''Antrim'']], [[HMS Brilliant (F90)|HMS ''Brilliant'']], [[HMS Broadsword (F88)|HMS ''Broadsword'']], [[HMS Alacrity (F174)|HMS ''Alacrity'']], [[HMS Arrow (F173)|HMS ''Arrow'']], [[HMS Argonaut (F56)|HMS ''Argonaut'']], [[HMS Plymouth (F126)|HMS ''Plymouth'']], [[RFA Sir Bedivere (L3004)|RFA ''Sir Bedivere'']], [[RFA Sir Lancelot (L3029)|RFA ''Sir Lancelot'']], [[RFA Sir Tristram (L3505)|RFA ''Sir Tristram'']], [[RFA Stromness (A344)|RFA ''Stromness'']]
|-
| Aircraft Destroyed
| 1 [[Westland Scout|Scout helicopter]] shot down<ref name="e&p">Ethell, Jeffrey and Price, Alfred ''Air War South Atlantic'' Macmillan Publishing Company (1983) pp.248–251 {{ISBN|0-02-536300-X}}</ref> 3 [[CH-47 Chinook|Chinook HC.1]] destroyed aboard ''Atlantic Conveyor'' on 25 May, 3 [[Westland Lynx|Westland Lynx HAS.2]] destroyed aboard ''Ardent'' on 21 May, ''Coventry'' and ''Atlantic Conveyor'' on 25 May 6 Westland Wessex HU.5 lost aboard Atlantic Conveyor on 25 May 1 [[Westland Sea King|Westland Sea King HC.4]] at Glamorgan on 12 June.
|}

===Casualties and aircraft losses===

;Human losses:
[[File:Alfredo Jorge Alberto Vázquez.jpg|thumb|right|Air Force pilot Alfredo Jorge Alberto Vázquez, who died in action over Bluff Cove (Spanish: Bahía Agradable)]]
* 6 [[Argentine Army Aviation|Army aviation]]
* 4 [[Argentine Naval Aviation|Naval aviation]]
* 55 [[Argentine Air Force]] members<ref>[http://www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar/conflicto/caidos.html Fuerza Aérea Argentina] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406031933/http://www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar/conflicto/caidos.html |date=2010-04-06 }}</ref>
** 29 pilots
** 12 air crew (6 on C-130H shot down June 1, 4 on Learjet LJ-35A shot down June 7, and 2 Canberra navigators)
** 14 Ground crew

;Aircraft losses:

;Aircraft lost in the air in combat:

Argentine strike aircraft did not carry air-to-air missiles, with the exception of 8th Air Brigade Mirage IIIEA fighters and 6th Air Brigade Daggers on May 1. All retained a secondary armament of either 20 mm or 30 mm cannon.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| 11
| [[IAI Nesher|IAI Dagger A]]
| 9 by [[British Aerospace Sea Harrier|Sea Harrier]],<ref group=n>SN: C-403, May21, Sea Harrier ZA190/"009", pilot Capt. Donadille ejected, C-404, May21, Sea Harrier ZA190/"009", pilot Maj. Piuma ejected, C-407, May21, Sea Harrier ZA175/"004", pilot Lt. Senn ejected, C-409, May21, Sea Harrier XZ455/"12", pilot Lt. Luna ejected, C-410, May24, Sea Harrier ZA193/"93", pilot Lt. Castillo killed, C-419, May24, Sea Harrier XZ457/"14". pilot Maj. Puga ejected, C-430, May24, Sea Harrier XZ457/"14". pilot Capt. Diaz ejected, C-433, May1, Sea Harrier XZ455/"12". pilot Lt. Ardiles killed, C-437, May23, Sea Harrier ZA194. pilot Lt. Volponi killed</ref> 1 [[Sea Wolf (missile)|Sea Wolf]] [[HMS Broadsword (F88)|HMS ''Broadsword'']],<ref group=n>SN: C-428, May21, pilot Lt. Bean killed</ref> 1 SAM [[Rapier (missile)|Rapier]]<ref group=n>SN: C-436, May29, pilot Lt. Bernhardt killed</ref>
|-
| 10
| [[A-4 Skyhawk|A-4B Skyhawk]]
| 3<ref group=n>SN: C-204, C-226 and C-228</ref> by Sea Harrier, 3<ref group=n>SN: C-206, C-208 and C-246</ref> Sea Wolf [[HMS Brilliant (F90)|HMS ''Brilliant'']], 1<ref group=n>SN: C-244</ref> [[Sea Dart missile|Sea Dart]], 1<ref group=n>SN: C-215</ref> AAA [[HMS Fearless (L10)|HMS ''Fearless'']], 1<ref group=n>SN: C-242</ref> [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20mm cannon]] Fire from [[HMS Antelope (F170)|HMS ''Antelope'']] and 1<ref group=n>SN: C-248</ref> friendly fire
|-
| 7
| [[A-4 Skyhawk|A-4C Skyhawk]]
| 2<ref group=n>SN: C-309 and C-325</ref> by Sea Harrier, 3<ref group=n>SN: C-301, C-304 and C-310</ref> Sea Dart, 1<ref group=n>SN: C-319</ref> [[Sea Cat missile|SeaCat]] from [[HMS Yarmouth (F101)|HMS ''Yarmouth'']], 1<ref group=n>SN: C-305</ref> combination SeaCat/Rapier/[[Blowpipe (missile)|Blowpipe]]
|-
| 3
| [[FMA IA 58 Pucara|FMA IA 58 Pucará]]
| 1<ref group="n">SN: A-511</ref> by Sea Harrier, 1 SAM [[FIM-92 Stinger|Stinger]], 1 small arms fire 2 PARA
|-
| 3
| [[A-4 Skyhawk|A-4Q Skyhawk]] ''Navy''
| 3<ref group=n>SN: 3-A-307, 3-A-312 and 3-A-314. One was damaged by [[ADEN cannon|30 mm cannon fire]], attempted to land at [[Port Stanley Airport|Port Stanley]] but the undercarriage was inoperative and the pilot elected to eject.</ref> by Sea Harrier.
|-
| 2
| [[Dassault Mirage III|Mirage IIIEA]]
| 1<ref group=n>SN: I-015</ref> by Sea Harrier, 1<ref group=n>SN: I-019</ref> friendly fire
|-
| 2
| [[English Electric Canberra|B.Mk62 Canberra]]
| 1<ref group=n>SN: B-110</ref> by Sea Harrier, 1<ref group=n>SN: B-108</ref> Sea Dart
|-
| 1
| [[C-130 Hercules|C-130E Hercules]]
| 1<ref group=n>SN: TC-63</ref> by Sea Harrier
|-
| 1
| [[Aermacchi MB-339|Aermacchi MB.339A]] ''Navy''
| 1<ref group=n>SN: 4-A-1??</ref> by Blowpipe
|-
| 1
| [[Learjet 35/36|Learjet 35A]]
| 1<ref group=n>SN: T-2?</ref> by SAM Sea Dart
|-
| 4
| [[Aérospatiale Puma|Puma SA330L]] ''Army''
| 1 to small arms fire during the [[Invasion of South Georgia]] on 3 April, 1 by a Sea Dart SAM on 9 May,<ref group=n>SN: AE-505, May 9, during search for ''Narwal'' trawler; fatalities: 1st Lt. Fiorito, 1st Lt. Buschiazzo, Sarg Dimotta.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ejercito.mil.ar/sitio/2015/noticias/noticia.asp?Id=3102 |title=Día de los Caídos de Aviación en la Guerra de Malvinas |language=es |publisher=Ejercito Argentino, sitio oficial |date=9 May 2016 |access-date=9 October 2016}}</ref> 1 crashed due to [[David Morgan (Royal Navy officer)#Falklands War|Harrier wingtip vortices]] on 23 May, and 1 to a [[FIM-92 Stinger#Falklands War|FIM-92 Stinger missile]] on 30 May.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.mercopress.com/2002/04/12/argentine-puma-shot-down-by-american-stinger-missile#prof|title=Argentine Puma shot down by American "Stinger" missile |work=MercoPress |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref>
|}

Total destroyed in the air: 45 (Sea Harrier 21, Sea Dart 7, Sea Wolf 4, Stinger 2, Sea Cat 1, Rapier 1, Blowpipe 1, Combination/Gunfire 6, Friendly fire 2)

;Aircraft lost by other causes:
[[File:Destroyed Argentine Pucara aircraft Pebble Island 1982.jpg|thumb|A destroyed "Pucará" at Pebble Island, 1982]]

* '''Destroyed on the ground'''
** 9 [[FMA IA 58 Pucará]]
** 1 [[AgustaWestland AW109|Agusta A109]] ''Army''
** 1 [[Boeing CH-47 Chinook|Boeing Ch-47C Chinook]] ''Army''
** 2 [[Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma|Aérospatiale Puma SA330L]] ''Army''
** 4 [[Beechcraft T-34 Mentor]] ''Navy''
** 2 [[Short SC.7 Skyvan|Skyvan 3-M]] ''Coast Guard''
** 2 [[Bell UH-1 Iroquois|Bell UH-1H Iroquois]] ''Army''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.avejer.ejercito.mil.ar/Malvinas/aeronaves.htm |title=Official Army Aviation Site - AE-410 by air attack at Moody Brook, AE-418 by naval gunfire at Stanley |access-date=2009-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531135946/http://avejer.ejercito.mil.ar/Malvinas/aeronaves.htm |archive-date=2009-05-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Falklands-AE-413-UH-1.jpg|Captured Army UH-1 was used by the British forces after the Argentine surrender|right|thumb]]
* '''Captured after the war'''
** 11 [[FMA IA 58 Pucará]]
** 2 [[AgustaWestland AW109|Agusta A109]] ''Army''
** 7 [[Bell UH-1 Huey|Bell UH-1H Iroquois]] ''Army''
** 1 [[Boeing CH-47 Chinook|Boeing CH-47C Chinook]] ''Army''
** 1 [[Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma|Aérospatiale Puma SA330L]] ''Coast Guard''
** 3 [[Aermacchi MB-339|Aermacchi MB.339A]] ''Navy''
** 2 [[Bell 212]]
* '''Lost with [[ARA General Belgrano|ARA ''General Belgrano'']]'''
** 1 [[Aérospatiale Alouette III|Aérospatiale Alouette AI03]] ''Navy''
* '''Flying accident in the war zone'''
** 1<ref group=n>SN: 3-H-42</ref> [[Westland Lynx|Westland Lynx HAS.Mk.23]] ''Navy'' — 2 May, hit ARA ''Santísima Trinidad''
** 2 [[FMA IA 58 Pucará]] — 28 May,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar/conflicto/caidos/baja26.html |title=Fuerza Aérea Argentina |access-date=2007-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070412044227/http://www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar/conflicto/caidos/baja26.html |archive-date=2007-04-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> hit ground, recovered in 1986, 24 May.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar/conflicto/caidos/baja36.html |title=Fuerza Aérea Argentina |access-date=2007-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070412023154/http://www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar/conflicto/caidos/baja36.html |archive-date=2007-04-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref group=n>According to www.naval-history.net/F64argaircraftlost.htm a Pucará was lost over the Atlantic on a reconnaissance mission from Comodoro Rivadavia</ref>
** 1 [[Aermacchi MB-339|Aermacchi MB.339A]] ''Navy'' — 3 May, bad weather crash
** 2<ref group=n>SN: C-303 and C-313</ref> [[Douglas A-4 Skyhawk|McDonnell Douglas A-4C Skyhawk]] — 9 May, [[South Jason Island]]

Total lost by other causes: 55.

*'''Total aircraft losses'''
75 fixed-wing aircraft and 25 helicopters.

==See also==
{{portal|Argentina}}
*[[Falklands War order of battle: Argentine ground forces]]
*[[Falklands War order of battle: Argentine naval forces]]
*[[Falklands War order of battle: British air forces]]
*[[Pablo Carballo]]
*[[Pebble Island raid]]
*[[Roberto Curilovic]]

== Footnotes ==
{{reflist|group=n}}

==References==

=== Notes ===
{{Reflist|2}}

=== Bibliography ===
* FAA Commodore Ruben Oscar Moro ''La Guerra Inaudita'', 2000 {{ISBN|987-96007-3-8}}
* {{in lang|es}} ''Dagger & Finger en Argentina'' {{ISBN|987-43-8536-7}} [http://www.helis.com/magazines/books.php book link]
* {{in lang|fr}} Frédéric Marsaly: ''Super Étendard au Combat: la saga d'un guerrier'', Aviation Française Magazine, Jan/Feb 2007, ISSN 1951-9583.

=== Online sources ===
*[https://www.naval-history.net/F64argaircraftlost.htm British site about Argentine Aircraft lost]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091107231634/http://britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/argentine-aircraftlosses.html Britains Small Wars.com]

== Further reading ==
=== Online material ===
{{cite web |url=https://www.gacetaeronautica.com/gaceta/wp-101/?p=2869 |title=Treinta años |last1=Rangugni |first1=Andres |last2=Brea |first2=Esteban |date=May 7, 2012 |language=es |website=Gaceta Aeronautica |access-date=November 30, 2018}}

=== Printed material ===
* Chant, C.: ''Air War in the Falklands 1982'', 2001, Osprey Publishing, {{ISBN|1-84176-293-8}}
* Gunston, B.: ''Aviation Fact File (Modern Fighting Aircraft) - Harrier'', 1984, Salamander Books Ltd., {{ISBN|0-86101-128-7}}
* {{cite journal |last=Castro Fox |first=Capitán de Navío (R) Rodolfo A. |date=May 2007 |title=La Tercera Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque a 25 años del conflicto del Atlántico Sur. Una aproximación a la verdad histórica |url=http://www.centronaval.org.ar/boletin/BCN817/bcn817.html |format= PDF |journal=Boletin del Centro Naval |publisher=Centro Naval, Armada Argentina |issue=817 |language=es |access-date=20 May 2014}}
* {{cite book |last1=Martini |first1=Hector A |date=1992 |title=Historia de la Aviación Naval Argentina - Tomo III |language=es |location=Buenos Aires |publisher= Departamento de Estudios Históricos Navales |series=Serie Historia Naval Argentina |volume=Nº |isbn=9789879945902 |url=https://www.abebooks.com/HISTORIA-AVIACION-NAVAL-ARGENTINA-Tomo-III/10848594079/bd |access-date=2016-07-13 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Rivas |first1=Santiago |date=2012 |title=Wings of the Malvinas - The Argentine Air War over the Falklands |location=Manchester |publisher= Hikoki Publications |isbn=978-1-902-1092-2-0 }}
*{{Cite book |last1=Dildy |first1=Douglas |last2=Calcaterra |first2=Pablo |title=Sea Harrier FRS 1 vs Mirage III/Dagger - South Atlantic 1982 |year=2017 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |series=Duel |volume=81 |language=en |isbn=978-1-4728-1889-8 |location=Oxford, Great Britain |url=https://ospreypublishing.com/sea-harrier-fsr-1-vs-mirage-iii-dagger |access-date=2018-12-16 }}
* Shields, J.: ''Air Power in the Falklands Conflict - An Operational Level Insight into Air Warfare in the South Atlantic'', 2021, Pen & Sword, Great Britain, {{ISBN|9781399007528}}

==External links==

===Foreign Studies===
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191905/http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj02/fal02/corum.html Argentine Airpower in the Falklands War] - Analysis and Conclusions
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110721085335/https://research.maxwell.af.mil/papers/ay2005/acsc/3111%20-%20Green.pdf Argentina's Tactical Aircraft Employment in the Falklands Islands War ] - Air Command and Staff College, Air University, USAF

===Official Sites===
* {{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20061202084602/http://www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar/conflicto/index_conflicto.html Argentine Air Force (FAA) official site] about the Malvinas/Falklands Air War
* {{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20110820105721/http://www.prefecturanaval.gov.ar/institucional/castellano/malvinas.php Argentine Coast Guard (PNA) official site] about the Malvinas/Falklands War

=== Other sites ===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODalMZbmA_w YouTube video] Argentine Air Force on the Falklands War
* {{in lang|es}} [http://www.radarmalvinas.com.ar/informes/av%20naval%20ct.pdf "Historia de la Aviación Naval Argentina Tomo III (Conflicto del Atlántico Sur)"] Full book content at "Radar Malvinas" website (''accessed 2016-07-14'')

{{Falklands War|style=wide}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Argentine Air Forces In The Falklands War}}
[[Category:Military units and formations of Argentina in the Falklands War]]
[[Category:Argentine Air Force]]
[[Category:Argentine Naval Aviation]]
[[Category:Argentine Army]]
[[Category:Falklands War orders of battle]]
[[Category:Aerial operations and battles of the Falklands War]]
[[Category:Falklands War| ]]
[[Category:1982 in the Falkland Islands]]
[[Category:20th-century military history of the United Kingdom]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Falklands War order of battle: Argentine air forces