CITEDEF
| Company type | Federal entity |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defense research and development |
| Predecessor | Institute of Scientific and Technical Research for the Armed Forces (CITEFA) |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Founder | Juan Domingo Perón (by decree) |
| Headquarters | Villa Martelli , Argentina |
Area served | Argentina |
| Products | Military weaponry, field artillery, rocket launchers, missile systems, renewable energy technology, naval sensor systems |
| Owner | Ministry of Defense (Argentina) |
| Parent | Ministry of Defense (Argentina) |
The Institute of Scientific and Technical Research for Defense (, abbreviated as CITEDEF) is an Argentine federal entity tasked with the research, development, and certification of military weaponry.
Located in Villa Martelli, within the Greater Buenos Aires area, CITEDEF functions under the authority of the Ministry of Defense and its Planning Secretariat. It forms part of the "Constituyentes Technological Hub," which includes organizations such as the Atomic Energy National Commission (CNEA), the University of San Martín (UNSAM), and the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI).
As a leader in scientific and technological initiatives in the region, CITEDEF acts as the foundational component in the supply chain for the Defense Production Industry. Its research and development efforts primarily support the Armed Forces, Military Manufactures (Fabricaciones Militares), and the Argentine Airplane Factory, ensuring all projects align with directives from the Ministry of Defense.
History
Founded through Decree "S" Nº441 in 1954 by President Juan Domingo Perón, the institute was originally named "CITEFA" (Institute of Scientific and Technical Research for the Armed Forces). Initially concentrating on arms and warfare materials, its scope gradually broadened to encompass various technological disciplines.
Operations were initially scattered across several sites until 1969, when all activities were unified at a 19-hectare campus in Villa Martelli, Buenos Aires province. This location features a 33,000 square meter complex equipped with laboratories and workshops, along with an additional property at the Villa María Military Factory in Córdoba province.
In 1973, the establishment of the Régimen para el Personal de Investigación y Desarrollo de las Fuerzas Armadas (RPIDFA) aimed to attract and retain specialized professionals dedicated to defense-related research and development.
The institute underwent a name change from "CITEFA" to "CITEDEF" following Presidential Decree 788 issued in 2007.
Products designed
- Field artillery pieces: L33, CALA 30, and CALIV light cannon 105mm
- Multiple rocket launcher systems: 105mm Pampero MRL and 127mm CP-30 video
- Rocket pods: 6 x 105mm Cohetera Yaguareté IIIvideo, 6 x 105mm Cohetera Microbio II, and 6 x 57mm ARM-657 Mamboretá, utilizing rockets compatible with Pampero MRLs
- Anti-armor missile systems: Mathogo and MARA video
- Missile platforms: Martin Pescador MP-1000, AS-25K, alongside upgraded versions of Aspide missiles
- Rocket developments: GRADICOM PCX-2009, two-stage high-altitude rocket GRADICOM II, and ORBIT orbital payload launcher
- Renewable energy technology: Wind turbine installed at Antarctic’s Marambio Base
- Naval sensor systems: SEON gyrostabilized TV/infrared/laser sensor designed for use on Intrépida class naval vessels
See also
References
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de las FFAA listed on GlobalSecurity.org