| field_i_picture | title (item) | field_cer_web | field_cer_navbox | g_geofield | |
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FMA IA 58 Pucará | Aircraft produced by FMA/LMAASA/FAdeA | |||
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FMA IA 58 Pucará | Aircraft produced by FMA/LMAASA/FAdeA | |||
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FMA IA 58 Pucará | Aircraft produced by FMA/LMAASA/FAdeA |
Aiming to improve its combat capability, the SLAF placed an order for four Argentine-made FMA IA.58 Pucara aircraft in 1991 and sent three pilots for a conversion course in Argentina. The low-wing twin-turboprop COIN strikers were delivered in two batches – one in 1992 and the other in 1993 – and saw intensive combat deployment against the LTTE. The usual armament (the total load carried by a Pucara was several times higher than that of the SF.260) consisted of pods for 68mm unguided rockets and locally manufactured SIG 125kg bombs, as shown here. Whilst their capability to carry 1,500kg of ordnance was highly appreciated, the Pucaras proved a handful to maintain and began suffering from corrosion problems. All four Sri Lankan Pucaras were painted in mid-grey on top surfaces and sides, and light grey-blue on undersurfaces: their registrations were CA.601–CA.604. (Artwork by Luca Canossa)