No matter how large or well-equipped it is, an army always needs to be able to call upon strike aircraft to quickly dispatch targets too dangerous for the infantry to defeat on their own. The IA-58 Pucara has provided South American nations such as Argentina with an inexpensive, easily maintained attack aircraft that can direct a sizeable load of munitions at a target of opportunity. The abundance of insurgents and similar hostiles constantly threatening the countries operating IA-58s will continue to ensure the Pucara a lengthy service life in the future.
A request was sent out to Argentina's indigenous FMA aviation company for a practical, light, and cost-effective aircraft that could be deployed against insurgents, drug and warlords, infantry, and other similar threats. It had to be able to operate from unconventional airports or rough airstrips and carry a heavy warload of air-to-ground ordnance. FMA decided on a simple design of intermediate size, to be powered by dual turboprop engines, with a two-person cockpit and glass canopy. However, the most important request filed by the Argentinean government for this new aircraft was that it would have to be able to perform the Close Air Support (CAS), COunter-Insurgency (COIN), and reconnaissance roles, and if required, it would have to perform several of these roles on the same mission.
The program began in 1966, and although a full-scale test model was developed in the following year, the first prototype was ready in late 1969. The prototype first flew under the designation AX-2 Delfin, and even with its dual Garrett U-303 turboprop engines, it proved itself to be an ergonomic, practical light strike aircraft. Finally, the pre-production prototype was given dual Astazou XVIG turboprops to replace the Garett powerplant, which became the standard engine for the aircraft which was now designated the IA-58A Pucara. The first of the Pucaras flew two years before the production models began to arrive, and the type slowly began to attract international interest among other South American countries.
The most popular variant of the Pucara was undoubtedly the IA-58A, which enjoyed a 10 year production run during which 108 examples were assembled. The IA-58A was piloted by two air officers, which sat in tandem, one to the fore of the cockpit and the other to the rear. The five-part (five-pane) glass canopy allowed the pilots an excellent view in front and to the sides, while the purposely drooped nose gave the aircrew a good line of sight towards the ground. Each wing had several hard points on which gun pods or unguided rockets could be mounted and held one of the aircrafts two Astazou XVIG turboprop engines. The 14.5 meter long wings each were bent in the middle to allow the aircraft to enter and exit a steep dive without the wings being ripped loose. As far as safety features go, the pilot and the co-pilot each sat in the proven Martin-Baker ejection seats, which when activated would blast through the cockpit. The glass canopy offered protection against small arms fire, and the frontal fuselage underneath the cockpit was heavily plated to prevent ground fire penetrating the aircrafts armour and killing the pilots. A tricycle style undercarriage is used in the IA-58A, and is specially designed to allow the aircraft to make hard landings on rough airstrips.
The IA-58A was not especially fast, barely being able to reach 500 KmH at high altitudes, but fully armed, it could pack a serious punch. The IA-58A hosted two HS804 20mm cannons for the CAS and COIN roles, with each gun receiving a total of 270 rounds to be used at leisure. Four .30 (7.62mm) Browning machine guns with 900 rounds each give the aircraft a fearsome anti-infantry arsenal, although the ammo stores are rarely emptied in a single mission. Rocket pods, free-fall bombs, and gun or cannon pods could also be mounted or even drop tanks, should the Pucara need the extra range for a mission.
The IA-58A was not a great export success, but nonetheless 40 were sold to Columbia. For years, Columbia had been fighting non-stop wars with insurgents, and especially drug lords. Since the drug lords built cocaine farms deep in the jungle or near civilian villages to prevent them from being attacked, Columbia had to rely on aircraft like the A-37 dragonfly and the IA-58 to hit these targets. IA-58s were phenomenal in service against the drug lords, being able to destroy cocaine processing plants, villas and camps owned by drug lords, and also could scout ahead performing both the reconnaissance and FAC (Forward Air Control) roles. Pucaras often worked in teams with infantry, who would locate targets and then radio in for air support, which often arrived within minutes. The IA-58A also served in the infamous Falklands war, and was deployed by Argentina against the British. Although the IA-58As were able to strafe British ships and even gun down Westland Scout helicopters, they were horribly outmatched by the Harriers deployed by the British. Many Pucaras were too slow to escape the Harriers and were brought down in flames by sidewinders. Even more Pucaras were destroyed by bombing raids while still on the ground, usually by Harriers but once by an RAF Vulcan bomber. In fact, the survival rate of Pucaras attacked by Harriers was so low that Argentina often only allowed one pilot to fly the Pucara instead of two, because experienced pilots were being killed off. Three IA-58As were captured after their airstrip was seized by the British, and are preserved in museums today. Six surplus IA-58As were sold by Argentina to Uruguay, where they were used in the COIN and reconnaissance roles but never saw as much action as the Argentinean or Columbian Pucaras.
In addition to the IA-58A, an IA-58B variant was also proposed with two 30mm cannons replacing the two 20mm cannons, but was never ordered and therefore cancelled. The IA-58C variant was more successful, and introduced a low IR signature for the engines to deter heatseeking missiles and radar. Interestingly, the IA-58C was the first Pucara variant to seat only one pilot. The subsequent IA-66 variant was unsuccessful but also seated one pilot.
Written by: Pace51