FMA SAIA 90
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1927 |
| Headquarters | Córdoba , Argentina |
| Products | Military aircraft, including IA 58 Pucará, IA 63 Pampa, SAIA 90 (concept) |
The FMA SAIA 90 was an air superiority fighter concept that never reached completion, developed by Fábrica Militar de Aviones (FMA) in partnership with Dornier during the mid-1980s. This project marked the concluding stage of the ACA (Avión Caza Argentino) program, initiated under the National Reorganization Process to produce a domestically designed Argentine fighter jet.
Development
By 1980, FMA and Dornier had forged a collaborative alliance following their joint efforts on the IA 63. This partnership led to the establishment of a shared office in Córdoba, Argentina, responsible for overseeing manufacturing, sales, and after-sales support for upcoming aircraft models.
FMA’s long-term plan, devised after developing the IA 58 Pucará in the 1960s, envisioned three sequential phases: beginning with a basic trainer, then advancing to the Pampa light trainer and combat aircraft.
Dornier contributed initial design concepts that addressed essential combat aircraft criteria adaptable to air force specifications. FMA anticipated a development period spanning 12 to 15 years after finalizing specifications, aiming for a prototype flight by 1989 and operational delivery by 1991.
Design
Dornier’s analyses focused on operational combat scenarios and weapon system integration. The SAIA 90 was engineered to sustain maneuvering at Mach 0.9 at 6,000 meters altitude, accelerate swiftly from Mach 0.9 to Mach 1.5 at 9,000 meters, achieve strong deceleration across speed ranges, maintain sufficient combat radius using internal fuel storage, and minimize radar and infrared detectability for stealth capabilities.
The armament suite planned included:
- A single Mauser 27mm cannon with ammunition capacity for 150 rounds
- Two infrared-guided air-to-air missiles similar to AIM-9 Sidewinders
- Four radar-guided air-to-air missiles comparable to AIM-120 AMRAAMs
- Up to 5,000 kilograms of air-to-surface ordnance
Avionics
The intended air-to-air radar system was designed to detect targets with a radar cross-section of approximately 5 m2 at distances up to 90 kilometers while maintaining resilience against electronic countermeasures (ECM). It could track six targets simultaneously with identification friend or foe (IFF) capabilities and provide terrain mapping support for ground attack missions.
Configuration
The design objective was to merge the advantages of a heavily loaded delta wing with lightweight construction; however, achieving optimal transonic and subsonic turn performance, longitudinal stability, and short-field takeoff within a single wing design proved unattainable.
To address this, the wing’s leading edge was extended to create a strong vortex flow, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency during high angle-of-attack maneuvers. Longitudinal stability was artificially maintained by generating positive lift forces on horizontal control surfaces to balance the aircraft dynamically.
The finalized layout featured sharply swept wings with blended wing-body junctions and twin vertical stabilizers positioned ahead of the horizontal tailplanes, bearing resemblance to the F/A-18C Hornet configuration.
Propulsion was provided by two turbofan engines delivering approximately 5,600 kilograms of thrust each—likely General Electric F404 units. The design targeted a top speed near Mach 2 while keeping an empty weight around 7,800 kilograms through extensive utilization of composite materials. Dornier’s experience with composites on projects such as the Alpha Jet and Do 228 influenced material selection: wings comprised roughly 65% carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), 20% aluminum alloys, and titanium; fuselage sections incorporated varying CFRP percentages up to 60%; stabilizers and vertical fins contained between 55% and 70% CFRP; intake ramps and landing gear components also employed these advanced composite materials.
Project Phases
The initiative was divided into three distinct phases:
- The FMA IA 63 Pampa, a trainer and attack aircraft, was the sole model that reached production. Its variant, the Vought Pampa 2000, competed in the US JPATS competition but was ultimately outperformed by the T-6 Texan II.
- The IA 67 Cordoba, envisioned as a light attack bomber, remained a conceptual design and was never constructed.
- The SAIA 90 was planned as an air superiority fighter incorporating "stealth" technology, featuring a minimized radar cross-section.
Collaborations
By the middle of 1980, Fábrica Militar de Aviones was experiencing significant financial difficulties, with annual losses reaching US$50 million. To ensure its continuation, the company sought partners willing to acquire up to 49% equity and share in the associated project risks.
Negotiations were held with several potential partners, including Aermacchi-Aeritalia, McDonnell Douglas, and Fairchild. The air force showed preference for incorporating McDonnell Douglas, which was involved in licensing agreements for the A-4M Skyhawk II (later known as the A-4AR Fightinghawk) and supplying ejection seats for the IA 63 Pampa trainer. Nevertheless, McDonnell Douglas declined participation due to existing commitments with other fighter programs.
Engagements with Aeritalia-Aermacchi were also explored but were eventually discontinued as Argentina's economic situation deteriorated further.