Argentina to receive first prototype of locally-made IA-100B Malvina trainer after years of development.

On March 21, 2025, Valen Aviation Photos took the first images of the initial prototype of the IA-100B Malvina trainer aircraft on the flight line of the Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) in Córdoba, Argentina. The IA-100B is under development to serve as a primary trainer for the Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina, FAA). Its development marks the beginning of a new chapter in Argentina’s efforts to produce a locally manufactured military training aircraft, following several years of conceptual development and inter-institutional agreements.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The current IA-100B Malvina is an entirely new aircraft compared to the earlier IA-100A, as it is built from the ground up to meet modern military training standards. (Picture source: Twitter/Valen Aviation Photos)

The IA-100 program began in December 2014 as a project led by FAdeA to assess local design and production capabilities for a low-wing, tandem-seat trainer aircraft. Initially conceived as a technology demonstrator, the IA-100A flew for the first time on August 8, 2016, to demonstrate FAdeA’s production capabilities using composite materials. This early prototype, configured as a side-by-side, low-wing composite monoplane with fixed landing gear and powered by a 180 hp Lycoming AEIO-360 B1F engine, was not intended for series production but served as a technological benchmark.

After a hiatus, the project was restarted in 2020, and in August of that year, the Ministry of Defense officially designated the new version as Malvina. The current IA-100B version, however, is an entirely new aircraft built from the ground up to meet modern military training standards. It incorporates significant structural changes compared to the IA-100A, including new wing and fuselage designs, as well as a more powerful engine. Designed to meet FAR Part 23 certification in the aerobatic category, the IA-100B Malvina is powered by a Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 piston engine rated at 260 horsepower, driving a three-bladed propeller. Capable of withstanding load factors from +6g to -3g and performing inverted flight, it aims to fulfill operational training requirements for Argentina’s Joint Basic Military Pilot Course (CBCAM), covering piloting, navigation, instrument flying, formation flying, and basic aerobatics.

In December 2022, the Ministry of Defense signed a direct inter-administrative contract with FAdeA to fund the development, certification, and delivery of ten IA-100B aircraft. The contract allocated USD 10,051,796 for materials and ARS 439,705,272 (approximately USD 410,655.50) for labor. It also covered the procurement of 22% of the material value required for the construction of eight additional units. The total production goal ranges from 25 to 40 aircraft, initially intended for the Argentine Air Force and the Naval Aviation Command. On April 18, 2023, the Paraguayan Air Force signed a letter of intent with FAdeA. Commander General Arturo Javier González indicated that the aircraft is being considered as a replacement for the retired T-23 Uirapuru trainers and would serve in primary and basic flight instruction roles. He noted the aircraft’s price—under one million USD—as a contributing factor in Paraguay's interest. On June 29, 2023, the Uruguayan Air Force also signed a declaration of interest for future evaluation of the IA-100B. FAdeA has positioned the IA-100B within a regional framework for potential export, emphasizing reduced logistical costs due to geographical proximity.

The air forces of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay each operate different fleets of training aircraft and are evaluating or have expressed interest in acquiring the IA-100 for primary flight instruction. The Argentine Air Force currently fields 12 Beechcraft T-6C+ Texan II aircraft from the United States for basic training, 12 EMB-312 Tucano aircraft from Brazil, which serve in both training and light attack roles, 8 Grob G 120TP aircraft from Germany for basic instruction, and 16 IA-63 Pampa II advanced trainers produced locally in Argentina, with three undergoing conversion to the Pampa III configuration. The Paraguayan Air Force operates 9 T-35 Pillán basic trainers from Chile and has a gap in elementary pilot training following the retirement of the T-23 Uirapuru. The Uruguayan Air Force employs 5 Pilatus PC-7 aircraft from Switzerland and 10 SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 aircraft from Italy in its training pipeline. All three air forces are evaluating the IA-100 as a potential solution for the elementary and primary phases of pilot training.

The air forces of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay each operate different fleets of training aircraft and are evaluating or have expressed interest in acquiring the IA-100 for primary flight instruction. (Picture source: FAdeA)

The IA-100B has significant design differences from the IA-100A. The new model is configured with tandem seating and an optional third rear seat, retractable landing gear, and a Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 engine rated at 260 hp, driving a three-blade Hartzell propeller. The structure is built using composite materials and incorporates a new wing and fuselage layout. The aircraft’s design is specific to military training requirements rather than civilian conversion and aligns with the CBCAM syllabus, including aerobatics and formation flying. The engine mount is designed according to FAR 23.561 standards to distribute impact forces and prevent structural intrusion into the cockpit.

The aircraft's dimensions and structural components have changed. The IA-100B Malvina measures 8.40 meters in length and 2.70 meters in height, larger than the 7.80 meters and 2.40 meters of the IA-100A. The cockpit width is 1.45 meters. The wing surface area is 14 square meters, increased from 12.5 square meters in the IA-100A. The aircraft maintains a 7:1 aspect ratio and integrates a carbon fiber wing spar, omega-shaped rear spar, and internal ribs forming a semi-monocoque fuselage. The main spar passes through the fuselage using IPN or double-T profiles. The wing root uses a NASA/LANGLEY MS(1)-0317 airfoil, while the tip uses the MS(1)-0313-11 profile. The landing gear track width has been reduced from 3.50 meters to 3.20 meters, while the distance between the nose and main gear has increased from 1.90 meters to 2.30 meters.

The operational empty weight of the IA-100B is 964 kilograms, compared to 637 kilograms for the IA-100A. Its maximum takeoff weight is 1,350 kilograms. The fuel capacity is 130 kilograms, with a maximum wing loading of 96 kilograms per square meter. The cruise speed is projected at 145 knots, with a stall speed of 57 knots. The aircraft is designed to operate at altitudes up to 18,000 feet and has a range of up to 900 kilometers. The rate of climb is estimated at 5.15 meters per second. Takeoff and landing distances are 450 and 550 meters, respectively. The aircraft is rated for load factors between +6g and -3g and includes limited aerobatic capabilities, including inverted flight.

The cockpit includes Garmin G500 avionics with VFR and IFR instrumentation. The aircraft is equipped with air conditioning and offers a 1.45-meter-wide cockpit with improved visibility. The IA-100B is expected to comply fully with the requirements of Argentina’s CBCAM course, supporting training in multiple mission types. The development process includes collaboration with the Regional University Center Córdoba (IUA – UNDEF), focusing on areas such as aerodynamics, structural loads, flight mechanics, and computational fluid dynamics. Although subject to potential design modifications, the IA-100B is being developed in accordance with FAR Part 23 standards and U.S. military (MIL) certification criteria.