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The Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina, or FAA) operational organization has evolved over the years and reached a more or less stabilized lay out in the 1950s. At the time, regulation was adopted whereas an air brigade (brigada aérea) was established as the minimum autonomous operating unit in the service. Accordingly, all air brigades were to be formed by at least a flying group (grupo aéreo), formed by flying crews and responsible for air operations planning an execution, a technical group (grupo técnico), the technicians charged with caring and maintaining the unit's flying inventory, and a base group (grupo base), the ground staff responsible for base security and safety, air defense, general services, etc. In a few exceptional cases, certain air brigades have operated more than one flying group or have controlled other special groups (communications, anti-air artillery, etc.).


A-4C Skyhawk, V Br Aé (photo Carlos Ay)	IA-58 Pucará, III Br Aé (photo Carlos Ay)	Hughes 369, ESFA (photo Marcelo Mustone)	F.27 Friendship, II Br Aé (photo Esteban Brea)

Mirage IIIEA, VIII Br Aé (photo VIII Br Aé)	PA-28-236 Dakota, INAC (photo VIII Br Aé)	IA-50B G-II, II Br Aé (photo VIII Br Aé)	IA-58/AX-2 Pucará, CEV (photo CEV)

A number of other large units (training, maintenance, etc.), such as the Air Force Academy (Escuela de Aviación Militar, or EAM) and the material areas, also exist. These maintain an organization structure comparable to that of an air brigade by operating two or more specialised groups, such as the EAM's Cadets Corp (Cuerpo de Cadetes) or the material areas' maintenance groups. Emphasizing this definition, it is well worth mentioning that many air force sources refer to the EAM as the "Zero Air Brigade". Other relevant units, lacking the hierarchy and structure of an air brigade, should not be left out of this enumeration since several of them have made hefty contributions to service history. Worthy of mention here are several air bases (military and Antarctic), lower-level schools and training units, independent groups (flying or other), flight test centers, air regions and autonomous air squadrons operating overseas.


Mirage IIIEA, VI Br Aé (photo Carlos Ay)	IA-63 Pampa II, IV Br Aé (photo Carlos Ay)	Bell 212, BA Marambio (photo Rubén Lianza)	Learjet 35A, II Br Aé (photo Carlos Ay)

Rockwell Aerocommander 500U, RANE (photo Marcelo Allende)	Saab 340B, IX Br Aé (photo Ricardo M. Hermida)	C-130H Hercules, I Br Aé (photo Mariano Salcedo)	PA-31 Navajo, INAC (photo Gastón Labougle)

Even though the service's organizational lay out applies widely and has remained current for over half a century, Air Force history is full of "exceptions confirming the rule" which make it complicated to provide a detailed unit-by-unit story. Thus, in order to review the FAA's air order of battle, we found it more appropriate to do so by listing all air garrisons that the service operates or has operated from. The matrix below illustrates all the locations where air force garrisons have existed in any of its forms (air brigades and bases, logistics and material aireas, air regions, specific groups and even weapons testing ranges). Within every location, each line of the table lists the principal operating units and a synthetic profile depicting their historical profile (life time and preceding units), unit badge, succinct mission or function and the types of aircraft operated by the unit.

Unit	Badge	Remarks
Aeroparque (Autonomous City of Buenos Aires)
Destacamento Aeronáutico Militar Aeroparque (DAM Aeroparque) (circa 1980 to the present) Preceding units: Base Aérea Militar Aeroparque (1965-circa 1980), Destacamento Aeronáutico Militar Aeroparque (until 1965).	Unknown badge	Unit managing airport facilities.
Grupo de Guerra Electrónica (GGE) circa 2007 to the present?		Electromagnetic warfare unit operating Cessna 210 aircraft.
Antuna (Province of San Luis)
Campo Aéreo Táctico Antuna (circa 1970 to the present)	Unknown badge	Air-to-ground weapons range administered by the Villa Reynolds garrison.
Chamical, ex Gobernador Gordillo (Province of La Rioja)
Escuadrón Apoyo Operativo Chamical (Esc Chamical) 1997 to the present Preceding units: Destacamento Aeronáutico Militar Chamical (1990-1997), Base Aérea Militar Chamical (1981-1990), Centro de Experimentación de Lanzamiento de Proyectiles Autopropulsados 1 Chamical (1961-1981), Centro de Producción Chamical (1960-1961), DAM Chamical (1950-1960), Centro de Tiro y Bombardeo Chamical (1945-1950).		Operational deployment unit and weapons range employed in air and space and weapons development tests (not known to have operated aircraft of its own).
Comodoro Rivadavia (Province of Chubut)
IX Brigada Aérea (IX Br Aé) (1975 to the present) Preceding units: Base Aérea Militar Comodoro Rivadavia (1965-1975), Destacamento Aeronáutico Militar Comodoro Rivadavia (1952-1965).		Air transport and ground attack unit operating Cessna 180, de Havilland Dove, de Havilland Canada Twin Otter, Fokker F.27, FMA Pucará, North American Trojan, Saab 340 and other aircraft.
Región Aérea Sur (RAS) (1968-2009)		Civil aviation administration and control unit operating Cessna 182, de Havilland Canada Twin Otter and other liaison aircraft.
Córdoba (Province of Córdoba)
Escuela de Aviación Militar (EAM) (1937 to the present)		Air force officers academy and national and foreign military pilots training school operating Aero Boero 180, Beech Kansan and Mentor, Bölkow Phoebus, Centrair ASW 20FL, Embraer Tucano, Eiri Avion PIK 20, Fiat G.46, Focke-Wulf Stieglitz, Grob Standard Astir and Twin Astir, FMA DL and Ranquel, Schleicher Rhönadler, LET Blanik and Super Blanik, Morane Saulnier Paris, North American NA-16P and Trojan, Percival Prentice, Pezetel Pirat, Schempp-Hirth Janus and Nimbus and other aircraft.
Escuela de Suboficiales de la Fuerza Aérea (ESFA) (1989 to the present) Preceding units: ESFA Córdoba (1979-1989), ESFA (1959-1979), Escuela de Especialidades de Aeronáutica (1944-1959), Escuela de Mecánica de Aeronáutica (1950-1953).		Non-commissioned officers academy employing no-longer current airframes for ground instruction purposed (BAC Canberra, Douglas Skyhawk, Cessna 320, FMA Calquín, G-II, Pampa and Pucará; Hiller UH-12, Morane Saulnier Paris and other aircraft.).
Centro de Ensayos en Vuelo (CEV) (1958 to the present)		Flight tests unit operating FMA Carancho, G-II, IA-37, IA-38, Huanquero, Mamboretá, Pampa, Pucará, Pulqui, Querandí, Ranquel, Tehuelche, Urubú and other aircraft.
Grupo Administración de Material Córdoba (GAMCOR) (1995 to the present) Preceding units: Área de Material Córdoba (1968-1995).		Logistics unit (non-flying).
Región Aérea Noroeste (RANO) (1968-2009)		Civil aviation administration and control unit operating Cessna 182, Rockwell Aerocommander and other liaison aircraft.
Escuela Militar de Paracaidistas (EMP) (1944-1950) Preceding units: Escuela de Tropas Aerotransportadas (1943-1945).	Unknown badge	Airborne troops specialist training unit (not known to have operated aircraft of its own).
El Palomar (Province of Buenos Aires)
I Brigada Aérea (I Br Aé) 1949 to the present Preceding units: Base Aérea Militar El Palomar (1929-1949).		Air transport and ground attack unit operating Airspeed Consul, Avro Lancastrian, Beech Mentor, Bell Iroquois, Boeing 707, Bristol Freighter, Dewoitine D-333 and D-338, Douglas DC-3, DC-4 and DC-6; de Havilland Dove, Fokker F.27 and F.28, FMA G-II, Junkers Ju-52, Lockheed Electra and Hercules, North American Trojan, Sikorsky S-55, Sud Est Caravelle and other aircraft.
Área Logística Palomar (ALOGPAL) 2000 to the present Preceding units: Grupo 1 Construcción (hasta 2000) y Grupo Abastecimiento Palomar (hasta 2000).		Logistics unit (non-flying).
Escuela Militar de Aviación (EMA) 1912-1937		National and foreign military pilots training school operating "Bols" and Mazzoleni "Quo Vadis" hot air balloons and Ansaldo Balilla, SVA-5 and SVA-10; Avro Gosport and Trainer, Blériot XI, Bréguet 1913, Caproni Ca.33, Castaibert 912-IV, Caudron G-3, Henri Farman 50 hp, Levavasseur Antoinette VII, Marichal Estudiantil and Tipo Farman, Morane Saulnier A1, AR35, Parasol L and G; Nieuport 2-G and M.IV, Rumpler Taube, Santos Dumont 20, Voisin 5 and other aircraft.
Grupo de Guerra Electrónica (GGE) 1993 to the present?		Electromagnetic warfare unit operating Boeing 707, Cessna 210 and other aircraft.
El Plumerillo (Province of Mendoza)
IV Brigada Aérea (IV Br Aé) 1949 to the present Preceding units: Base Aérea Militar El Plumerillo (1935-1949), BAM Los Tamarindos (1933-1935).		Fighter, fighter-bomber, ground-attack and search and rescue unit operating Aerospatiale Lama, Curtiss Hawk 75-O, Dassault Mirage, Douglas Skyhawk, Fiat G.55, FMA Calquín, Huanquero and Pampa; Morane-Saulnier París, North American Sabre, Northrop 8A-2, Sukhoi Su-29 and other aircraft.
Ezeiza (Province of Buenos Aires)
Base Aérea Militar Ezeiza (BAM Ezeiza) 1991 to the present Preceding units: Escuela de Suboficiales de la Fuerza Aérea Ezeiza (1979-1989), Centro de Instrucción Profesional de Aeronáutica (1960-1979).		Ground training unit (non-flying)
Región Aérea Centro (RAC) 1968-2009		Civil aviation administration and control unit operating Cessna 182, Rockwell Aerocommander and other liaison aircraft.
Garabato (Province of Santa Fe)
Campo Aéreo Táctico Garabato (circa 1975 to the present)	Unknown badge	Air-to-ground weapons range administered by the Reconquista garrison.
General Roca (Province of Río Negro)
Base Aérea Militar Fuerte General Roca (BAM Fuerte General Roca) 1978	Unknown badge	Operational deployment unit activated during the Beagle Channel Conflict to operate FMA Pucará aircraft.
Gustavo Marambio Island (Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur)
Base Aérea Marambio (BA Marambio) circa 1984 to the present Preceding units: BAM Vicecomodoro Marambio (1969-circa 1984).		Antarctic air base operating Bell 212 and Iroquois, de Havilland Canada Twin Otter, Hughes 369/500 and other aircraft.
La Cruz (Province of Córdoba)
Campo de Tiro La Cruz (circa 1970 to the present)	Unknown badge	Air-to-ground weapons range administered by the Córdoba garrison.
Las Lajas (Province of Mendoza)
Campo de Tiro y Bombardeo Las Lajas (circa 1960-circa 1976)	Unknown badge	Air-to-ground weapons range administered by the El Plumerillo garrison.
Mar Chiquita (Province of Buenos Aires)
Campo de Tiro Mar Chiquita (circa 1970 to the present) Preceding units: Centro de Experimentación y Lanzamiento de Proyectiles Autopropulsados 2 (circa 1970-circa 1990).	Unknown badge	Weapons range employed in air and space and weapons development tests administered by the Mar del Plata garrison.
Mar del Plata (Province of Buenos Aires)
Base Aérea Militar Mar del Plata (BAM Mar del Plata) 1965 to the present Preceding units: Destacamento Aeronáutico Mar del Plata (1952-1959), Destacamento Aeronáutico Militar Mar del Plata (1959-1965).		Operational deployment base housing an anti-aircraft artillery unit.
Mariano Moreno (Province of Buenos Aires)
VII Brigada Aérea (VII Br Aé) 1988 to the present		Helicopter unit operating Bell 212 and Iroquois, Boeing-Vertol Chinook, Hughes 369/500, Morane Saulnier Paris, Rockwell Aerocommander, Sikorsky S-61, Swearingen Merlin and other aircraft.
VIII Brigada Aérea (VIII Br Aé) 1975-1988 Preceding units: Base Aérea Militar Mariano Moreno (1973-1975), Escuadrón Mariano Moreno (1968-1973).		Fighter-interceptor unit operating Dassault Mirage aircraft.
Base Oficial de Aviación Civil (BOAC) 1959-1968 Preceding units: Base Oficial de Vuelo con Motor (1956-1959), Dirección Nacional de Aviación Civil (1955-1956).		Civil application flying unit operating Beech Bonanza and Mentor, Bell 47, Cessna 180 and 182, Curtiss Commando, Champion 7, de Havilland Dove, de Havillanda Canada Beaver, Douglas DC-3, Max Holste Broussard, Percival Prentice, Piper PA-12, PA-18 and PA-22; Sikorsky S-51 and other aircraft.
Mazaruca Island (Province of Entre Ríos)
Campo de Tiro y Bombardeo Teniente Manuel Origone (hasta circa 1970)	Unknown badge	Air-to-ground weapons range administered by the Morón garrison.
Merlo (Province of Buenos Aires)
Grupo de Vigilancia y Control del Espacio Aéreo (GVYCEA) 1988 to the present Preceding units: Grupo 2 de Vigilancia y Control del Espacio Aéreo (1978-1988), Grupo 1 de Vigilancia Aérea Escuela (hasta 1988), Grupo de Instrucción de Vigilancia Aérea (1952).		Radar unit (both fixed and mobile).
Morón (Province of Buenos Aires)
Base Aérea Militar Morón (BAM Morón) 2009 to the present Preceding units: VII Brigada Aérea (1951-1988).	Unknown badge	Presently, an airport facilities managing unit. In the past, an air combat, ground attack, counter-insurgency and helicopter unit operating Beech Mentor, Bell 212 and Iroquois, Boeing-Vertol Chinook, de Havilland Canada Beaver and Otter, Douglas DC-3, Gloster Meteor, Grumman Albatross, Hughes 369/500, Morane Saulnier Paris, Rockwell Aerocommander, Sikorsky S-55, S-58 and S-61; Swearingen Merlin and other aircraft.
Instituto Nacional de Aviación Civil (INAC) 1973-2009 Preceding units: Grupo Aéreo Estatal (1972).		Civil pilots and mechanics training unit operating Bell 47, Cessna 182, Chincul Pawnee Biplaza, Douglas DC-3, FMA G-II, Hughes 369/500, Max Holste Broussard, Piper Arrow, Dakota, Navajo and Seneca and other aircraft.
Nicosia (Chipre)
Escuadrón Aeromóvil UNFICYP (Esc UNFICYP) 1994 to the present		Peace forces unit operating Bell 212 and Hughes 369/500 helicopters.
Nunatak Larsen (Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur)
Base Aérea Matienzo (BA Matienzo) 2006 to the present Preceding units: BA Matienzo (circa 1984-2000), BAM Teniente Matienzo (1964-circa 1984), Base Conjunta Teniente Matienzo (1961-1964).	Unknown badge	Antarctic air base operating de Havilland Canada Beaver and Otter, Douglas DC-3 and other aircraft.
Paraná (Province of Entre Ríos)
II Brigada Aérea (II Br Aé) 1949 to the present Preceding units: Base Aérea Militar Justo José de Urquiza (1925-1949).		Bomber, air transport, photo recconnaisance and medical evacuation unit flying BAC Canberra, Curtiss Hawk III and IV, de Havilland Dove, FMA DL, G-II, Huanquero and Tronco; Fokker F.27, Focke-Wulf Weihe, Learjet 35A and other aircraft.
Port-au-Prince (Haití)
Unidad Aérea Argentina MINUSTAH (UAA MINUSTAH) 2004 to the present	Unknown badge	Peace forces unit operating Bell 212 helicopters.
Pradera del Ganso/Goose Green (Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur)
Base Aérea Militar Cóndor (BAM Cóndor) 1982	Unknown badge	Operational deployment unit activated during the Malvinas War to operate Bell 212, Boeing-Vertol Chinook and FMA Pucará aircraft.
Puerto Argentino/Port Stanley (Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur)
Base Aérea Militar Malvinas (BAM Malvinas) 1982	Unknown badge	Operational deployment unit activated during the Malvinas War to operate Bell 212, Boeing-Vertol Chinook and FMA Pucará aircraft.
Puerto San Julián (Province of Santa Cruz)
Base Aérea Militar San Julián (BAM San Julián) 1982		Operational deployment unit activated during the Malvinas War to operate Douglas Skyhawk, FMA Pucará, IAI Dagger and other aircraft.
Puerto Santa Cruz (Province of Santa Cruz)
Base Aérea Militar Santa Cruz (BAM Santa Cruz) 1978 y 1982	Unknown badge	Operational deployment unit activated during the Beagle Channel Conflict and the Malvinas War to operate FMA Pucará aircraft.
Quilmes (Province of Buenos Aires)
Área de Material Quilmes (ARMAQUIL) 1981 to the present Preceding units: Taller Regional Quilmes (1943-1981).		Maintenance unit supporting and flying Aerospatiale Lama, Bell 212 and Huey, Bristol Freighter, de Havilland Dove, de Havilland Canada Twin Otter, Douglas DC-3, Hughes 369/500, Junkers Ju-52, Rockwell Aerocommander, Vickers Viking and other aircraft.
Reconquista (Province of Santa Fe)
III Brigada Aérea (III Br Aé) 1979 to the present Preceding units: Base Aérea Militar Reconquista (1965-1979), Destacamento Aeronáutico Militar Reconquista (1952-1965), III Br Aé (1949-1952), BAM Reconquista (1944-1949).		Training and ground attack unit operating Beech Mentor, FMA Calquín, Huanquero and Pucará and other aircraft.
Resistencia (Province of Chaco)
Centro de Vigilancia Aeroespacial Resistencia (CVA Resistencia) 2009 to the present	Unknown badge	Radar and operational deployment unit (not known to operate aircraft of its own).
Región Aérea Noreste (RANE) 1968-2009		Civil aviation administration and control unit operating Cessna 182, Rockwell Aerocommander and other liaison aircraft.
Retiro (Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires)
Jefatura del Estado Mayor de la Fuerza Aérea (JEMGFA) (1983 to the present) Preceding units: Comando en Jefe de la Fuerza Aérea (1976-1983), Comando General de la Fuerza Aérea (1973-1976) Comando en Jefe de la Fuerza Aérea (1947-1973), Comando de la Fuerza Aérea (1945-1947), Comando en Jefe de Aeronáutica (1944-1945).		Air Force Headquarters. For top brass transportation, operates FMA G-II, Learjet 60, Rockwell Sabre and other aircraft.
Río Cuarto (Province of Córdoba)
Área de Material Río IV (ARMACUAR) 1975 to the present Preceding units: Taller Regional Río Cuarto (1943-1975).		Maintenance unit supporting and flying Avro Lancaster, Lancastrian and Lincoln; BAC Canberra, Dassault Mirage, Douglas Skyhawk, IAI Dagger/Finger, Learjet 35A, Lockheed Martin Fighting Hawk, Martin 139, Morane Saulnier Paris, North American Sabre, Rockwell Sabre, Sukhoi Su-29 and other aircraft.
Centro de Ensayo de Armamentos y Sistemas Operativos (CEASO) 1985 to the present		Flight tests unit operating Dassault Mirage, Lockheed Martin Fighting Hawk and other aircraft.
Río Gallegos (Province of Santa Cruz)
Base Aérea Militar Río Gallegos (BAM Río Gallegos) 1998 to the present Preceding units: X Brigada Aérea (1984-1997), BAM Río Gallegos (1965-1984), Destacamento Aeronáutico Militar Río Gallegos (1952-1965).		Operational deployment unit activated during the Malvinas War to operate Dassault Mirage, Douglas Skyhawk and other aircraft. Also acted briefly as a fighter unit operating Dassault Mirage aircraft.
Río Grande (Province of Tierra del Fuego)
Base Aérea Militar Río Grande (BAM Río Grande) 1982	Unknown badge	Operational deployment unit activated during the Malvinas War to operate Douglas Skyhawk, IAI Dagger and other aircraft.
Tandil (Province of Buenos Aires)
VI Brigada Aérea (VI Br Aé) 1979 to the present Preceding units: Base Aérea Militar Tandil (1965-1979), Destacamento Aeronáutico Militar Tandil (1956-1965), VI Br Aé (1955-1956), BAM Tandil (1944-1955).		Figher-interceptor, fighter-bomber, search and rescue and Antarctic air operations unit flying Beech Kansan, Dassault Mirage, de Havilland Canada Beaver and Otter, Douglas DC-3, Focke-Wulf Stieglitz, Gloster Meteor, Grumman Albatross, IAI Dagger/Finger and other aircraft.
Trelew (Province of Chubut)
Base Aérea Militar Trelew (BAM Trelew) 1982	Unknown badge	Operational deployment unit activated during the Malvinas War to operate BAC Canberra and other aircraft.
Villa Reynolds (Province of San Luis)
V Brigada Aérea (V Br Aé) 1949 to the present Preceding units: Base Aérea Militar Coronel Pringles (hasta 1949), BAM Villa Mercedes (1938).		Fighter-bomber, bomber and training unit flying Avro Lancaster and Lincoln, Douglas Skyhawk, FMA Calquín, Focke-Wulf Stieglitz, Junkers K-43, Lockheed Martin Fighting Hawk, Martin 139, North American NA-16 and other aircraft.

Updated by Carlos Ay on 10 September 2009. E. Amores, O. Aranda, E. Brea, L. Cuniberti, G. Landa and C. Zambruno cooperated.