World Air Forces

Argentina

(República Argentina/Argentine Republic)

Capital City: 

Buenos Aires

Brief National History:

Argentinas first contact with the Spanish empire was in 1516, when Juan Diaz de Solis visited the country. From 1573 on Argentina was a part of the Spanish empire until 1816, when a national congress at Tucuman declared full independence. In 1930 the Armed Forces overthrew the civilian administration and established almost constant military rule until 1983. During the Second World War Argentinia was neutral. 1946 came Colonal Juan Peron to Presidency and was driven to go to exil in 1955 by the Armed Forces because of leading the country into economical disaster. In 1973 he came to power for a second time, but his Presidency lasted only nine months. In July 1974 his widow Isabelita Peron, as Vice-President, came to power but was overthrown by the military in March 1976 after driving her country into anarchy. In 1982 Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, which belong to Britain, in an attempt to distract public attention from its domestic problems. The following war brought a defeat to the Argentinian Armed Forces. 1983 saw the first free elections and Raul Alfonsin becoming President. In 1995 Carlos Menem was elected President. 

Further Information on Argentina: 

Yahoo Argentina page

Columbus World Travel Guide - South America - Argentina

HispanoLink: Argentina

Military Air Arms:

• Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina) 
• Naval Aviation (Comando de la Aviación Naval Argentina) 
• Army Aviation (Comando de Aviación del Ejercito) 

Central Government Agencies:

• Air Service (Servicio de Aviación de Prefectura Naval Argentina) 
• National Gendarmerie (Gendarmeria Nacional) 

Bibliography:

• Armed Forces of Latin America (Adrian English)
• Military Balance (IISS)
• World Air Power Journal Volume 31