The IA-58 Pucará Fénix is FAdeA's modernization path for Argentina's IA-58 Pucará airframes, shifting the former light-attack aircraft toward border surveillance, patrol, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance work. Public sources describe remotorization with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-62 turboprops, Hartzell four-blade propellers, cockpit and avionics updates, navigation and communication improvements, air conditioning, and obsolescence removal. Official 2023 material described one prototype and three series aircraft, later expanded to components for five series aircraft, while FAdeA reported that the remotorization certificate would allow series-aircraft work to begin.
Public reporting uses Pucará Fénix for the post-2019 ISR and patrol role, while IA-58H/Pucará II is tied to the PT6A-62 remotorization and four-blade propeller upgrade lineage. No separate baseline IA-58 catalog entry was found during related-record lookup.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| IA-58A Pucará | Baseline attack and counter-insurgency aircraft | Army Recognition describes the IA-58A as the serial Pucará version and the source airframe family for the Fénix modernization. |
| IA-58H Pucará / Pucará II | Remotorized upgrade lineage | Janes links the Fénix configuration to the IA-58H upgrade's PT6A-62 engines and four-blade propellers. Sources: Janes Argentina re-roles Pucara |
Army Recognition reports that the AX-2 Delfín prototype made its first flight on 20 August 1969 during the original IA-58 development program.
Sources: Army Recognition Pucara Fenix certification
Janes reported that Argentina formalized the Pucará Fénix role change during an Argentine Air Force ceremony on 4 October 2019, moving the type from light strike to border surveillance and patrol.
Sources: Janes Argentina re-roles Pucara
FAdeA and Argentina's defense ministry reported the Pucará Fénix cockpit modernization presentation and an added agreement for wing-structure components tied to serial remotorization.
Sources: FAdeA Pampa III and Pucara Fenix event, Argentina Pampa III and Pucara Fenix modernization
FAdeA said DIGAMC delivered the IA-58 Pucará Fénix remotorization certificate after more than 150 test hours and 109 flights, allowing work to begin on series aircraft and preceding operational inclusion with the Argentine Air Force.
Sources: FAdeA Pucara Fenix remotorization certificate
Army Recognition reported that Argentina's military airworthiness authority certified the Pucará Fénix remotorization, enabling the start of series-aircraft updates.
Sources: Army Recognition Pucara Fenix certification
The public source trail for the Pucará Fénix is strongest around modernization work rather than combat use. FAdeA and Argentina's defense ministry describe cockpit, avionics, navigation, communications, air-conditioning, obsolescence-removal, and series-aircraft component work. Janes adds the PT6A-62 engine, Hartzell propeller, Fixview EO/IR turret, datalink, and border-surveillance role context.
Official 2023 material described one prototype and three series IA-58 aircraft, later expanded to components for five series aircraft.
FAdeA reported the remotorization certificate on 29 December 2023 after more than 150 test hours and 109 flights; defense reporting described the milestone in January 2024.
Janes describes the Fénix as the new surveillance-role Pucará; Infodefensa reported in 2023 that the first aircraft would be an ISR platform while other restored airframes could retain an attack role.
