Breaking News
Argentine Air Force Revives Dardo 3 Glide Bomb Program.
The Argentine Air Force has officially relaunched the FAS 850 Dardo 3 glide bomb project, which was previously suspended, in collaboration with the Applied Research Center (CIA) of the General Directorate of Research and Development (DGID) and the Flight Test Center (CEV). This project, which had been dormant for a decade, has now been revived with flight tests using a prototype of the Pampa III (registration EX-03) light attack aircraft. The aircraft conducted a flight with an inert bomb envelope fixed under the wing, accompanied by a container equipped with cameras to analyze its performance. These tests mark a crucial first step toward reintegrating the Dardo into the operational capabilities of the armed forces.
Pampa III Light Attack Aircraft armed with Fabricaciones Militares Dardo 3 Glide Bomb (Picture source: Argentina MoD and Wikimedia)
The objective of the tests is to assess the safe separation of inert bombs from the Pampa III by 2025, before progressing to the launch of powered bombs. This process will culminate with the integration of GPS guidance systems and explosive warheads. Historically, the Dardo has evolved since the 1980s Dardo I, a conventional bomb equipped with a rocket engine. Its successor, the Dardo II, introduced deployable wings and a GPS guidance system. Initial tests with a Mirage IIIC showed promising results, but work was interrupted several times over the years.
The Dardo system is a glide bomb developed by Argentina. It was designed by the Argentine company Fabricaciones Militares, a state-owned enterprise specializing in the production of armaments and munitions. Fabricaciones Militares is under the supervision of the Argentine Ministry of Defense and plays a key role in the development and production of military equipment for the country's armed forces.
The program resumed in 2007 with tests on A-4AR Fightinghawk and Dassault Super Étendard aircraft. The development of the FAS-850 Dardo 2-B variant incorporated innovations such as an inertial navigator and GPS guidance, achieving a range of 60 km and a launch speed of up to Mach 0.9. Meanwhile, the Dardo 2-C variant, powered by a turbine from a Mirage APU, achieved an impressive range of 200 km before being renamed Dardo III. However, the project was suspended in 2012.
Now, the Applied Research Center (CIA) and the Flight Test Center (CEV) are working on its integration into the Pampa III, with tests planned through 2025. The program's revival opens new perspectives. If successful, the Pampa III could become a long-range strike platform, capable of accurately destroying targets while avoiding enemy air defenses. Although challenges remain, including potential integration with the F-16, subject to U.S. approval, the resumption of serial production of Dardo bombs could significantly enhance the Argentine military's tactical and strategic capabilities.
Furthermore, the Dardo system offers the Argentine armed forces a significant tactical advantage by enabling long-range precision strikes while minimizing exposure to enemy air defenses. With its guidance system combining inertial navigation, GPS, and an infrared camera for the final flight phase, the Dardo III can reach targets up to 200 km away. This capability extends the operational range of aircraft like the Pampa III, allowing them to effectively neutralize strategic targets from a secure distance, thus strengthening national defense while reducing risks to personnel and equipment.
The Dardo glide bomb, in its most advanced version, has impressive technical capabilities that make it a strategic asset for the Argentine Air Force. Equipped with a GPS guidance system coupled with an inertial navigator, it can hit targets with great precision. Its range varies depending on the version: the Dardo II reaches 60 km, while the Dardo III, equipped with a small turbine derived from a Mirage APU, can strike at a distance of 200 km. The bomb is designed to be released from a maximum altitude of 40,000 feet, at speeds of up to Mach 0.9. It can carry payloads such as a Mk.82 bomb or a 500-pound Expal BK-BR, with sophisticated guidance devices and proximity fuses. These features allow the carrying aircraft to make precision strikes while staying out of range of enemy air defenses, thus enhancing its operational effectiveness.
Armed forces around the world are currently using various laser-guided bomb systems to improve the precision of their airstrikes, and these technologies have also found crucial applications in the Ukraine conflict. For instance, the GBU-12 Paveway II bomb, based on a 500-pound Mk 82 bomb, is widely used by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and other air forces. It uses a laser seeker mounted on the nose and tailfins for guidance, enabling a precise trajectory to the designated target. Similarly, the Paveway IV, an advanced version with GPS/INS and laser guidance, is in service with the Royal Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force. In France, the Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM), also known as "Hammer," is a modular air-to-ground precision weapon used by the French Air and Space Force and the French Navy. This system, which combines inertial/GPS guidance with an option for terminal infrared or laser guidance, has also been used in Ukraine. In this conflict, laser-guided munitions, including those supplied by allies, have enabled Ukrainian forces to carry out precise strikes against strategic Russian targets, although sometimes hindered by enemy electronic countermeasures. These systems illustrate the widespread adoption of laser guidance technologies for precise airstrikes, even in complex electronic warfare environments.