FEATURE

ARGENTINE FORCES PERSEVERE

by Mark Romanow
s the second largest nation on the South American continent, Argentina occupies the Atlantic side of the geostrategic choke point of Cape Horn, in conjunction with Chile. A past history of isolationism and the perception of surrounding nations as potential threats has, at least for the short- to mid-term, been replaced by co-operative efforts with neighbour/ partners over common interests with an increasing emphasis on combined operations. The long established modus vivendi between Brazil and Argentina, which tacitly admits respective regional spheres of influence, has reduced the prospect of another Argentine-Brazilian conflict to remoteness and led to much military co-operation of late. Territorial disputes with Chile, which was the only Latin American nation to side with Britain during the Malvinas/Falklands conflict, over conflicting claims to Patagonia almost led to war in the early 1980s and were resolved by the 1984 Treaty for Peace and Friendship. To date all border disputes have been solved. As noted in Janes World Armies, Bolivia and Peru, which share Argentinas suspicion of Chile, have emerged as Buenos Aires natural allies, although present diplomatic relations with Chile are relatively cordial with both nations having recently participated in combined exercises. Argentinas ill conceived, and politically motivated, attempt to recover (in their view) the Falkland Islands (IsLas

Malvinas) in 1982 led to the War with and subsequent defeat by Britain. With the recent lifting of the 17 year ban on travel to the Falklands by Argentine passport holders, diplomatic relations with the UK have become more friendly and sincere, with the lifting of the UKs arms embargo following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to work more closely together by the respective Defence Secretaries in December 1998. In early November warships of the Armada and Royal Navy exercised together in the South Atlantic off Argentinas most southerly naval base at Ushuaia to improve their ability to carry out SAR operations, supported by their respective air forces, for the first time since before the Malvinas/ Falklands conflict. Unfortunately, while this thaw has led to increased lines of communication with the Islands, mistrust of Argentina by the Islanders is widespread as claims to sovereignty have not been dropped and integration with continental Argentina is incorporated in the Argentine constitution and remains a fundamental national aspiration. This has been reflected in the Islanders continual rejection of Christmas gifts presented by the Argentine government each year. A positive side effect of the unsuccessful foray to the Falklands was the resumption of Argentinas democratic institutions and the end to years of autocratic and authoritarian Military rule. The role of the Military was redefined and limited to national defence against external threats, as the former

Basic Facts: ARGENTINA

Total Area Terrain Population Religion Languages Capitals to come. to come. to come. to come to come. to come

Ethnic Groups to come

Government to come

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CURRENT DEFENCE BUDGET

US$3.375 billion
(US$1.2 million dedicated to retirement and pensions)

Current Force Levels:

Army

41,500 personnel

(includes 15,500 Privates) 150 (Olifant Mk-1B) Tanks 256 TAM medium Tanks 281 AIFV and variants (TAM chasis) 25 VCA Self Propelled Artillery (TAM chasis) 165 Light Tanks and Tank Destroyers 48 Armoured Car 394 APCs: Tracked (314) and Wheeled (80) 186 Towed Artillery 50 Multiple Rocket Launchers 6 Roland SAM 6 Light Attack Helicopters 65 Light Transport Helicopters
Army Field Formations 3 Corps: 2nd [NE], 3rd [NW], 5th [South] 10 Brigades: Armour (2) and Infantry (8) [1st and 2nd Armoured,] [9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Mechanized] [6th and 8th Mountain, 5th Mixed] [4th Airborne] 12 Armoured (8) and Light Armoured (4) Bns 28 Infantry Regiments [1 Special Forces; 3 Airborne; 1 Jungle; 7 Mountain and 16 Infantry Bns] 11 Artillery Bns 9 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Groups

Air Force :

12,000 personnel

(plus 50,000 Reserves) 48 Fighter Aircraft (Mirage) 36 Strike Aircraft (A-4AR Fightinghawk) 25 Ground Attack Aircraft (Pucara) 3 Bombers (Canberra) 19 Transport and Tanker (707 and Hercules) 15 Scout and Light Attack Helicopters 18 Light Transport Helicopters 2 Support Helicopters (Chinook) 10 Air Defence Batteries

tasking against internal enemies was often used to rationalize the frequent Military intervention in politics. In an effort to boost the reputation of the Argentinean forces, and increase their profile on the world stage, the current civilian administration has made a major commitment to UN sponsored peacekeeping operations which has seen some 13,000 personnel deployed abroad over the past 8 years in combined operations with elements from other nations. Presently Argentina has, like Canada, almost a Brigades worth of forces deployed overseas on UN duties with major contingents in Cyprus, Croatia, Kuwait and Military observers in different regional conflicts worldwide. Almost half a Battalion, including a 150 man CIVPOL (Gendarmerie) Contingent, is deployed in Kosovo. Spending on the Argentine Military plummeted in the aftermath of the Falklands War and has resulted in drastic personnel reductions of 24% over the last 17 years. Since 1988 the economic recession severely impacted upon the Military and resulted in drastic spending restrictions which has hampered reform efforts and impacted upon operational readiness. The Argentine Army [Ejercito] has been particularly hard hit by these funding and resultant personnel cuts with the number of enlisted personnel down by some 42%. The overall size of the Army is 40% smaller than the early 1980s, with the

number of Corps reduced from five to three, and has seen its operational budget decline by some 90% with its overall budget down some 66%.

ARMY
Presently the Ejercito is about midway through its Plan 2000 modernization and rationalization initiatives to transform itself into a leaner more capable force by 2010 and has settled into groupings of three mobile defence forces, based on the three remaining Corps, which cover the Northwest, Northeast and Southern half of the country. The aim is to provide a more regionally dispersed and flexible, highly mobile force capable of force projection and rapid response. It will be divided into Regional Use Forces and mobile Variable Use Forces respectively equipped with Heavy and Light equipment, such as TAM variants and light infantry with helicopters. The rapid deployment force is presently comprised of the 10th Mech. Bde and the 4th Airborne Bde, centrally located at Santa Rosa and Cordoba, respectively. It presently has some 40 UH-1H/N models for tactical lift and would like to acquire an additional 10 helicopters, ideally the UH-60 Black Hawk. A supplementary constabulary force that is also under Ejercito command is the National Gendarmerie which is primarily employed as a frontier guard.

Navy:
3 13 2 ? 12 11 13 11 18

15,000 personnel

(includes 3,500 Marines)

Patrol Submarines Destroyers and Frigates Fast Attack Craft Tracked APC (LVTP7 AAV) Marines Light Transport Helicopters Marines Maritime Patrol (P-3B Orion and Tracker) Large and Light Maritime Helicopters Naval Strike Fighters (Super Etendard) Light Attack Aircraft

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The most prolific piece of equipment in service is the locally produced, 105mm gun equipped TAM (Tanque Argentino Mediano) medium tank developed by Thyssen Henschel in Germany and is based to a large extent on the chassis of the Marder Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle. It operates in conjunction with a variety of ubiquitous Infantry vehicles derived from the TAM chassis such as the VCTP AIFV, VCTM mortar carrier and the VCPC command vehicle. Together, they provide the Ejercito with armoured vehicles well suited to mixed operations as they all have similar operating capabilities and simplify spares requirements. The most recent variant to enter service is the VCA, which is a lengthened TAM chassis fitted with the turret of the Italian Palmaria 155mm self-propelled howitzer, with the VCRT ARV still only in prototype form due to funding restrictions. A further 120 TAM and 80 TAM variants are also being completed, by the recently reactivated TAMSE assembly line in Buenos Aries, for the Ejercito as assembly was originally started for export but had been halted when a buyer could not be found.

AIR FORCE
The Air Force [Fuerza Aerea Argentina] has a mixed, but capable, inventory of 2nd generation aircraft, although many of its aircraft are beginning to show their age and will begin requiring replacement within the next decade. The Fuerza Aerea is currently experiencing Severe Funding Difficulties which have effectively grounded most frontline fighter and attack aircraft, and severely curtailed operations by frontline aircraft. The only aircraft believed to be making regular sorties, as of July, are trainers at the Aviation school. In 1994 the Fuerza Aerea began a program to replace its few remaining A4B/C Skyhawks, which first entered service in 1965 and were finally retired in December 1998, by 36 essentially newbuild A-4AR Fightinghawks which have been rebuilt by Lockheed Martin from surplus US stocks. In addition, long term planning has led to 9 TA-4J/F Skyhawks being acquired from surplus US Navy stocks at the AMARC long-term storage facility at Davis Monthan AFB in Arizona, for the purposes of spares recovery. Another 18 TA-4Js are being

aquired for the fighter school (Escuela de Caza). The USAF offer of a surplus KC-135 tanker is expected to be taken up to support air-to-air refuelling needs for the new Fightinghawk.

NAVY
Of the three services, the Argentine Navy [Armada Republica Argentina] is actually in the best shape with eleven of its major units commissioned after the Malvinas/Falklands conflict with an average in service age of just 14.8 years. The Armada has been able to rationalize expenses and focus on operational activities, with more days spent at sea, by temporarily setting aside certain capabilities such as carrier aviation and heavy amphibious lift. Of Note, the Armada acquired the 17,900-ton underway replenishment tanker Durance from France in July, since renamed ARA PATAGONIA, under a US$15 million contract. Once it undergoes refit at Argentinas Puerto Belgrano shipyard it will restore a valuable capability lost when the fleet oiler ARA Punta Medanos was prematurely disposed.

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INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL ZABALA

By decommissioning, in 1997, the unserviceable Veinticinco de Mayo aircraft carrier and the Cabo San Antonio LST the Armada was able to fund the completion of two Meko 140 class frigates at the AFNE shipyard in Rio Santiago some 14 years after each was first launched, of which the first was commissioned this February, but had been incomplete and were due to be scrapped. Crucial to the future of the Armada is the lifting of the UKs arms embargo which will allow spares to be acquired for both Type 42 class destroyers, of which one has been a non-operational spares hulk since 1996, and restore their Sea Dart systems to operational status thus providing a sorely needed area air-defence capability to the fleet. Additionally, 6 long range maritime patrol P-3B Orions have been acquired to replace the former carrier borne capability. The Armada has its own Marine Corps with an operational strength of a reinforced Brigade with a full range of integral specialized supporting units such as Field Artillery, Anti-aircraft, Logistics, Communications and Amphibious Vehicles Bns, as well as an Amphibious Engineer Company. Unfortunately, the only amphibious lift available is now limited to four LCMs and sixteen LCVPs which provide short range coastal transport. There are Marine Security Companies at various bases along Argentinas long coast and the Naval Prefecture provides coast guard support to the Armada. b

Mark Romanow is an Independent Defence/Geopolitical Analyst based in Edmonton.

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