MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Two Sea Kings for Argentine Antarctic operations

The multipurpose helicopter ideal for search and rescue operations (Photo Nuestromar)

The Argentine Navy received at the end of June the second batch of two UH-3H Sea King helicopters out of a total of six which will replace losses experienced in Antarctic operations it was reported by Puerto Belgrano Marine’s Gazette.

The helicopters arrived in Argentina’s main naval base aboard the USS Oak Hill and are part of an agreement between the Argentine Defence ministry with the US Navy for the supply of decommissioned equipment and spares.

According to the report one of the new choppers will effectively be flown while the other is to be “cannibalized” for spares to help with the upkeep of the Argentine Navy’s wing of Sea King helicopters. The original plan agreed with the US Navy apparently was four in flying conditions and two for spares.

“This way we are recovering the crafts lost when icebreaker ARA Almirante Irizar caught fire (April 2007). These helicopters are vital tools for search and rescue operations such as those which are the Navy’s responsibility in the South Atlantic and Antarctic waters”, said Captain Rafael Cornejo Sola, commander of Air-naval Force 2.

The Argentine navy lost four Sea Kings in Antarctic operations: two of them when the ARA Bahía Paraíso went down in February 1989 and two more during the fire accident with icebreaker Irizar.

In related news an Argentine Air Force fighter bomber Mirage III was lost during a training exercise last week. The pilot managed to eject.

The aircraft belonged to the VIth air Brigade seated in Tandil.

French built, Argentina began receiving them in the seventies and they played a crucial role during the Falklands conflict, as was acknowledged by British forces.

Two years ago another Mirage III also crashed near to its base in Tandil during training exercises. The pilot was unable to jump and died in the accident.