The Argentine Coast Guard – or Prefectura Naval Argentina to give them their local name – are reportedly in negotiations for two Eurocopter EC225s and an option for a third aircraft. They are expected to replace the 1980 delivered SA330 Pumas, of which they have two currently on charge – serialled PA-11 and PA-13. A third was originally delivered but captured by British forces during the Falklands conflict of 1982 and continues service in the UK with local serial ZE449.

With hoped for deliveries of the EC225s in 2014-5, these acquisitions would add to their current fleet
– four AS365N2 Dauphins (PA-40 to PA-43)
– two AS355NP Twin Squirrels (PA-80 and PA-81) delivered in 2011
– four Schweizer 300C (originally six delivered PA-90 to PA-95 – two in 1995, two in 1999, two in 2001) but two lost in accidents

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com