Revised: February 1, 1999
Copyright © 1997-1999 by Juan Carlos Barroux R.
The first Grumman OV-1D Mohawks out of 23 arrived under a MAP contract in Argentina on December 24, 1992. Most of them were assigned to the Escuadrón de Aviación de Exploración y Reconocimiento 601 which was activated in 1993 for this purpose.
Tte. Carlos Spika flew the first two (AE-020 and AE-021) to Argentina in company of 3 Grumman employees (ex-US-ARMY Mohawk pilots) who helped in the initial set of trainings.
The remainder of the aircrafts went to the Escuela de Aviación Militar.
The aircrafts were locally modified with the addition of a GPS and a video camera link.
During the Exercise Thunder '95 between the Argentinian Navy and Army that took part between September 4 and 9 near Bahía Blanca at least 3 OV-1D Mohawks were present (AE-022 for sure). They fulfilled forward air control, photographic recce, naval gunfire spotting and various observations tasks. In addition to the normal Army crews, the Mohawks also flew with Navy officers in the right seat to evaluate operations of the Navy forces, and as adversary intruders against the Meko destroyer task group.
On Dec 18, 1995 OV-1D Mohawk AE-041 crashed near Bahía Blanca due to fuel starvation en route from Campo de Mayo to Comodoro Espora. Fate of the crew was not reported.
During FIDAE'96 in March 1996 two Argentinian's Mohawk (AE-025 and AE-033) could be seen in the static park.
It is likely that the remaining planes will get a FLIR in the future.
Current use of these planes is mostly to patrol the vast northern frontier areas as part of the large counter-drug operations.
A further batch (AE-043 to AE-049) should have been delivered but there is no evidence that it happened.
Designation: Grumman Mohawk OV-1D Manufacturer: Grumman, U.S.A. Crew: 2 Seats: Engine: x Engine Type: Turboprop Engine Thrust: KW ( shp) Propeller: x bladed constant speed Length: m Height: m Wing Span: m Wing Area: square meters Empty Weight: kg Max. Weight: kg Max. Speed at Sea Level: Max. Cruising Speed: km/h Normal Cruising Speed: km/h Ceiling: Range on Internal Fuel: km Range with Max. Fuel: km Range with Max. Payload: km Combat Radius: km () Radar: Motorola AN/APS-94F SLAR EW: Avionics: Camera KA-60C in the nose, system AAS-24 IR, photo-flasher LS-59A Weapons: Notes: S/N C/N Unit Built Bought Disposition Notes AE-020 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (69-17008) AE-021 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (68-15932) AE-022 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (67-18911) AE-023 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (68-15931) AE-025 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (68-15951) AE-026 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (68-16991) AE-027 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (62-5865) AE-028 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (67-18921) AE-029 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (69-17009) AE-030 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (62-5887) AE-031 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (68-15963) AE-032 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (67-18918) AE-033 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (69-19012) AE-034 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (68-15933) AE-035 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (67-18898) AE-036 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (69-17026) AE-037 -- EscAvEj -- -- -- (68-15954) (OV-1D-GR?) AE-038 -- EscAvEj -- -- -- (69-17002) (OV-1D-GR?) AE-039 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (69-16997) AE-040 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (69-17006) AE-041 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- Crashed 18/Dec/95 (69-17011) AE-042 -- EAEyR 601 -- -- -- (69-17016)
Designation: Mohawk Manufacturer: Grumman, U.S.A. Crew: 2 Seats: Engine: x Engine Type: Turboprop Engine Thrust: KW ( shp) Propeller: x bladed constant speed Length: m Height: m Wing Span: m Wing Area: square meters Empty Weight: kg Max. Weight: kg Max. Speed at Sea Level: Max. Cruising Speed: km/h Normal Cruising Speed: km/h Ceiling: Range on Internal Fuel: km Range with Max. Fuel: km Range with Max. Payload: km Combat Radius: km () Radar: Motorola AN/APS-94F SLAR EW: Avionics: Camera KA-60C in the nose, system AAS-24 IR, photo-flasher LS-59A Weapons: Notes: Double controls for flight training. Can be easily identified by the orange external tanks. S/N C/N Unit Built Bought Disposition Notes AE-024 -- EscAvEj -- -- -- (68-15941)
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Copyright © 1997-1999 by Juan Carlos Barroux R.
Juan Carlos Barroux R. - lamilitary@geocities.com