FAdeA IA 73
| Company type | State-owned company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Headquarters | Córdoba , Argentina |
| Products | Aircraft manufacturing |
| Owner | Argentine government |
The IA-73 represents an Argentine trainer aircraft project initiated by Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) starting in 2009. Its purpose is to succeed the outdated Beechcraft T-34 Mentor and Embraer EMB 312 Tucano currently operated by the Argentine Air Force (AAF), as well as to function as a training aircraft available for export to other nations within Latin America.
Development
FAdeA commenced evaluation of the IA-73 UNASUR 1 initiative in December 2009, a multinational collaboration involving Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador aimed at creating a contemporary trainer aircraft. FAdeA was designated to oversee manufacturing, with technical assistance provided by Brazil, Venezuela, and Ecuador, while Bolivia contributed financial resources. The project received approval from FAdeA’s board in August 2010, followed by consultations with the AAF. The prototype’s maiden flight took place in 2013; however, deployment has been postponed beyond the initial 2015 target to 2017 or later, with few recent developments reported.
For the IA-73, FAdeA opted for a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 engine, an American-Canadian powerplant. To broaden appeal in international markets, an arrangement with Chinese company CATIC was considered to provide an alternative engine choice for customers preferring to avoid U.S.-origin suppliers.
Cost and service
The expenditure for developing the initial IA-73 prototype amounted to roughly US$12 million. The overall budget for producing 52 aircraft—including 50 production models and two prototypes—is projected at about US$115 million, translating to an approximate unit price of US$1.8 million.
While no formal contracts have been secured yet, multiple countries have demonstrated interest in purchasing: the Argentine Air Force intends to acquire 50 units, Venezuela has plans for 24, and Ecuador seeks 18.