SUPER ETENDARD AIRCRAFT BAHIA BLANCA/COMMANDANTE ESPORA NAB AIRFIELD, ARGENTINA (SANITIZED)

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP90T00784R000100120003-9
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
December 28, 2016
Document Release Date: 
September 9, 2011
Sequence Number: 
3
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
October 7, 1982
Content Type: 
REPORT
File: 
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PDF icon CIA-RDP90T00784R000100120003-9.pdf65.05 KB
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/09: CIA-RDP90T00784R000100120003-9 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/09: CIA-RDP90T00784R000100120003-9 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/09: CIA-RDP90T00784R000100120003-9 SECRET NOFORN (c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER Page 1 of Copy Z-12910/82 NPIC/IEG (10/82) 7 OCTOBER 1982 SUPER ETENDARD AIRCRAFT BAHIA BLANCA/COMMANDANTE ESPORA NAB AIRFIELD, ARGENTINA 1. (SWN) SIGNIFICANCE: THE FIRST OBSERVATION OF A SUPER ETENDARD AIRCRAFT IN ARGENTINA. 2. (SWN) REMARKS: A SUPER ETENDARD STRIKE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT WAS IDENTIFIED ON A HANGAR PARKING APRON AT BAHIA EXTERNAL FUEL TANKS WERE OBSERVED ON BOTH THE STARBOARD AND PORT WINGS OF THE AIRCRAFT. NO EXOCET AM-39 AIR-TO-SURFACE MISSILES WERE IDENTIFIED NEAR THE AIRCRAFT OR NEAR ANY OF THE HARDENED STORAGE BUILDINGS AT THE AIRFIELD. ALTHOUGH SUPER ETENDARD CARRYING EXOCET MISSILES WERE USED IN THE FALKLANDS CONFLICT, THIS IS THE FIRST IDENTIFICATION ON IMAGERY OF THIS AIRCRAFT IN ARGENTINA. OTHER AIRCRAFT SEEN ON THE PARKING APRON NEAR THE SUPER ETENDARD INCLUDED TWO A-4 SKYHAWKS AND ONE IA-50 GUARANI II. BLANCA/COMMANDANTE ESPORA NAB AIRFIELD (C/NOFORN) THE ARGENTINE NAVY RECEIVED FIVE OF.AN ORIGINAL ORDER OF 14 SUPER ETENDARD (EACH EQUIPPED WITH A SINGLE EXOCET AM-39 MISSILE) FROM FRANCE IN NOVEMBER 1981. THE DELIVERY OF THE REMAINING AIRCRAFT AND MISSILES HAS NOT YET BEEN CONFIRMED. THE SUPER ETENDARDS ARE ASSIGNED TO THE ARGENTINE 2ND NAVAL AIR FORCE AND ARE HOME-BASED AT BAHIA BLANCA/COMMANDANTE ESPORA NAB AIRFIELD. BAHIA BLANCA/COMMANDANTE ESPORA, APPROXIMATELY 325 NM SOUTHWEST OF BUENOS AIRES, SERVES BOTH MILITARY AND CIVILIAN AIR OPERATIONS. 3. (S)I (COORDINATES 38-43-34S 062-09-12W 4. (C/NOFORN) COLLATERAL REFERENCE: D:IAI'11S 4-82, "ARGENTINE NAVY ACQUIRES SUPER ETENDARDS" These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed ana- lytical work. Their use should be restricted to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of issue. WARNING NOTICE Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved SECRET NOFORN 25X1 25X1 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/09: CIA-RDP90T00784R000100120003-9