New helicopters for the Argentinian armed forces

Argentina is planning to expand its fleet of military helicopters.

Its Defense Minister, Jorge Taiana, has reportedly signed a letter of intent with Leonardo, an Italian aircraft manufacturer, for the acquisition of eight AW109 helicopters.

They will be used for surveillance operations in the South Atlantic, strengthening the Argentine Navy’s patrolling capabilities in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“In Argentina, our ocean patrol ships need light helicopters that can fit in the hangars of the OPV [offshore patrol vessel] ships. We are convinced that Leonardo is the right company to acquire these helicopters,” Taiana said. The AW109 model is therefore suitable to operate from the Navy’s newly purchased OPVs.

It is a medium twin-engine helicopter that can be configured to perform a variety of missions, including surveillance, medical evacuation, and search and rescue (SAR), for which it is equipped with a side hoist to facilitate air evacuations.

It can accommodate a pilot and co-pilot and six crewmembers and can operate for three hours with a range of approximately 574 kilometers.

Argentina’s Air Force Chief, Xavier Isaac, has suggested that the country has signed a contract with Columbia Helicopters to repair, modernize, and modify two CH-46s to replace a pair of Russian Mi-171E helicopters. They have been in use in Antarctica for over a decade and now require maintenance, which has been lacking due to sanctions against Russia. Companies the Air Force reached out to in Peru, Colombia, and Mexico are not certified to work with these engines.

Therefore, Argentina has reportedly shown interest in decommissioned US CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters for its Air Force. A delegation plans to visit the aircraft at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group in Arizona, USA.