Learning from the past, working in the present,
developing the future
The Military Aircraft Factory (Fábrica Militar de Aviones) in Córdoba was the first of its kind in Latin America, founded on October 10, 1927, by Engineer Francisco de Arteaga. It became a formidable hub for industrial development, eventually producing the first military jet aircraft designed and manufactured in South America: the I Ae 27 Pulqui I. It later developed an exceptional fighter, the I Ae 33 Pulqui II. Throughout its history, it produced aircraft under license as well as original designs. The mass production of the I Ae 22 DL aircraft allowed the Military Aircraft Factory (FMA) to outsource the manufacturing of many components to private companies, leading to the birth of over one hundred factories and workshops, which later grew to more than three hundred. The Aerotechnical Institute (as the FMA was named starting in 1943) supervised technology transfers, providing technical advice and financial support when necessary. This laid the foundations for the metal-mechanical industry that would later enable the establishment of Argentina’s first automotive plants in Córdoba (Fiat in 1954 and Industrias Kaiser Argentina –IKA– in 1955).
In 1944, following the appointment of Major Engineer Juan Ignacio San Martín as director, the factory took a leap forward, employing over nine thousand people in an industrial complex. With the creation of I.A.M.E. (Industrias Aeronáuticas y Mecánicas del Estado) in 1952, it not only built aircraft, engines, propellers, and accessories, but also utility vehicles, automobiles, tractors, and motorcycles. In the late 60s, the IA-58 Pucará emerged from the factory—an excellent national support and light attack aircraft that was exported to various countries and is currently undergoing modernization.
In 1984, the IA-63 Pampa advanced trainer made its inaugural flight; it continues to be produced today in a modernized version.
Between 1995 and 2009, the company was under concession to Lockheed Martin. During this period, institutional emphasis, as well as investments and general resources, prioritized the maintenance sector.
In 2009, following a political decision, the National State acquired the shares from the U.S. firm Lockheed Martin, and the factory was renamed Fábrica Argentina de Aviones “Brig. San Martín” S.A. (FAdeA).
FAdeA aims to recover and modernize the Argentine Aeronautical Industry by incorporating cutting-edge technology, generating strategic partners in the region, and developing new production processes to achieve world-class standards of excellence.
Memories of an Industry
"Desarrollando Futuro" (Developing the Future) Book
The book "Desarrollando Futuro" graphically portrays the history of the Fábrica Argentina de Aviones "Brig. San Martín" through its products and key milestones since 1927. All illustrations were created by Architect Juan Ignacio San Martín, grandson of the Brigadier.
Our history in images
I Ae 27 Pulqui I
In 1946, a development unprecedented in South America began: the project for a jet-powered aircraft. It was named the I Ae 27 “Pulqui I.” Thirteen months after manufacturing began, it was ready for its first flight, which took place on August 9, 1947. The Argentine Aircraft Factory (then called the Aerotechnical Institute) solidified our country's entry into the jet age, joining a very small elite group of nations in the world.