The ups and downs mark the end of the year FADEA, the aircraft factory of Cordoba. In parallel with the opening of a voluntary retirement program with the aim of cutting at least 200 jobs, the state announced presented the IA-100B, a training aircraft designed and manufactured according to the requirements of the Argentine Air Force (FAA).
The company stated that the new device will enable an expansion of the pilot training line along with the IA-63 Pampa III. And his job will be to facilitate the operational transition of pilots to more complex systems like those included in the F-16 fighters Recently purchased in Denmark. The company has just renewed the crisis prevention procedure (PPC) that began in June will now be extended until February 2026.
According to the state-owned company, the IA-100B will provide “initial and acrobatic training” for pilots. The two-seat aircraft has already completed more than 20 hours of test flights and features an optimized aerodynamic design, retractable landing gear, low cost per flight hour and excellent maneuverability.
More than 20 national suppliers are involved in the project which provide key components, “creating skilled jobs, strengthening industrial capabilities and promoting technology transfer. Its nationwide design and manufacturing with local suppliers make it an efficient option adapted to the needs of progressive training.”
“The IA-100B There are already declarations of interest from countries such as Paraguay and Uruguayand we are having advanced discussions with others,” explained Julio Manco, current head of FADEA.
FADEA: new aircraft and the prospects for jobs
As already mentioned, the project dates back to previous political administrations, but was restarted “with the intention of consolidating a regional supply of basic trainers and promoting the integration of national industry into international markets”.
“The IA-100B is not just an aircraft, it is a complete platform that reflects the joint work of technical teams, strategic suppliers and a productive network that is activated every time a bet is made on the Argentine industry,” Manco added.
It is worth noting that the design process of the IA-100B was not only limited to military training, but also thought about it Variants for the civil market with possible applications in flight schools, flying clubs and private operators.
The novelty comes at a very complicated moment within the aircraft factory. FADEA has just launched a voluntary retirement program with the goal of cutting at least 200 jobs.
At the same time, the management of the state-owned company maintains a work program that includes only three days a week, while FADEA workers receive only 80% of their salaries for this reason.
As mentioned, it is the intention of FADEA initially reduce the workforce from 670 to 470 employees. The company took a similar measure in 2024 and cut around 230 jobs, also through voluntary retirement.
The management of the state-owned company is striving to reduce the number of technicians in order to reduce labor costs. It was noted that the majority of these professionals earn salaries of more than one million pesos and FADEA expects that this foundation will require fewer resources in the future.
At the same time, a reduction in the hierarchical structure of the company, which is currently divided into almost twenty management boards, is proposed. In Córdoba they confirm this The goal is to reduce this structure by half..
Aircraft factory: staff cuts and retirements in times of new contracts
The special thing about the withdrawals that are now starting is that the Córdoba aircraft factory has just concluded very important agreements with the Air Force.
The contracts were expressly concluded via the electronic procurement portal COMPR.AR. How he could check iProfessional On the COMPRA.AR basis, the services for the Hercules aircraft form the direct contract file “EX-2025-128555957-APN-DCON#FAA”.
It details that “PDM/ISOCHRONIC inspection services are provided for.” C-130 aircraft registration TC-70 and registration TC-60 and restoring the operability of engines and components”.
Instead this “Maintenance and modernization” of the IA-63 Pampa occupies the file “EX-2025-128577702-APN-DCON#FAA”. The services provided by FADEA will reportedly include six of these aircraft.
Regarding these processes, specialized platforms such as Zona Militar claim that the agreements with the aircraft factory come “following the promise made by the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Defense, Luciana Carrasco, at the last meeting of the Defense Commission,” which would have guaranteed that the contracts “would be approved after a comprehensive review.”
“The Argentine Air Force undertakes to pay the amount for the services for the ‘maintenance and modernization of the Pampa weapons system’ $45,624,851.00“, indicated the platform. Working with the Hercules will bring him closer to FADEA another $19.5 million.
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