The Fuerza Aérea Argentina (Argentine Air Force, FAA) conducted a major exercise between November 10-14, at Río Gallegos. Despite a bleak budget situation in 2019, the FAA was able to complete an impressive number of exercises, with ‘Soberanía 2019’ rounding off the year and incorporating a very rare event.
Exercise ‘Soberanía 2019’ was a week-long advanced combat training exercise, held at Río Gallegos in the southern Patagonia region of Argentina. It included tactical navigation, air-to-air sorties, ground control co-ordination, plus combined air operations (COMAOs) and night flying. It was also an event that marked some important milestones for the FAA.
The A/OA-4AR Fightinghawks from V Brigada Aérea at Villa Reynolds returned to southern Argentina for the first time since 2012 — with five fighters deploying. In addition, VI Brigada Aérea at Tandil sent one IA-63 Pampa II and three brand new FADEA IA-63 Pampa IIIs, marking their first time here. One of the main objectives of the event was the live firing of an AIM-9M Sidewinder from one of the Fightinghawks.
The deployment south began on Saturday November 9 via support from a C-130 Hercules and a Saab 340B ferrying essential equipment. An Mi-171E from VII Brigada Aérea was …
