Argentina becomes one of Latin America's first to operationally deploy attack drones
On the occasion of its 216th anniversary, the Argentine Army turned a ceremonial parade into a statement of strategic intent, unveiling four domestically developed unmanned ground vehicles and operational attack drones before the nation's eyes. The display, held at the National Military College, was less a celebration of the past than a declaration about the future — one in which autonomous systems, not soldiers alone, will define the character of ground combat. Argentina joins a small and growing circle of Latin American militaries willing to invest in the technologies reshaping modern warfare, and in doing so, signals that its ambitions extend well beyond its borders.
- A military anniversary became a live demonstration of autonomous warfare capability, with a drone launched from a moving ground vehicle as it passed the reviewing stand — a moment designed to be seen and understood.
- Four distinct unmanned ground vehicles were unveiled, ranging from a subsurface-mapping scout tested in Antarctica to an armed platform capable of deploying seven FPV attack drones, revealing the breadth of Argentina's domestic robotics program.
- The transformation of the Kabuto from a reconnaissance drone into a machine-gun-armed, gyrostabilized combat platform illustrates how quickly these systems are evolving from observation tools into offensive weapons.
- Argentina's public deployment of FPV attack drones places it among Latin America's earliest military adopters, raising the regional bar for autonomous ground combat and signaling a shift in the continent's defense technology landscape.
- Beyond the unmanned systems, new Unimog trucks, TAM tanks in fresh livery, and announced plans for UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters point to a sustained and broad modernization effort, not a single showcase moment.
On May 29th, the Argentine Army marked 216 years with a ceremony at the National Military College that carried a message beyond commemoration. The parade became a deliberate showcase of the country's homegrown autonomous systems — a signal that Argentina is building capabilities designed for contemporary conflict.
Four unmanned ground vehicles anchored the display. The Skua, built by AR Robotics, combines optical cameras, LIDAR, GPS, and ground-penetrating radar, and can operate remotely or independently — it has already been tested in Antarctica. The Kabuto, developed by FixView, has evolved significantly since its 2025 defense expo debut: its satellite dome has been replaced by a gyrostabilized turret mounting a MAG machine gun, shifting it from reconnaissance into a fire-support role with day and infrared cameras. The Army's own engineering faculty contributed a third vehicle, an Autonomous Exploration Vehicle now similarly armed with a gyrostabilized MAG turret and under active evaluation.
The fourth vehicle, the PM EA 1 — developed jointly by the Army's DGID and the company EXA — proved the most striking. Originally designed as a 500-kilogram cargo mule, it appeared in an entirely different role: a mobile launcher for FPV attack drones. It carried seven, and during the parade one was launched as the vehicle passed the reviewing stand. It was the first time the Argentine Army publicly presented operational FPV attack drones, placing it among Latin America's earliest military adopters of the technology.
The ceremony also featured DJI reconnaissance drones already operating alongside 8x8 Stryker armored vehicles, newly arrived Unimog U4000 trucks making their public debut, and TAM 2CA2 tanks in a new solid green scheme that marked a departure from traditional camouflage. The INVAP RPA-200M radar was displayed on a mobile trailer, and two Bell 407GXi helicopters flew overhead. In his remarks, Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Oscar Zarich confirmed plans to incorporate UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to replace aging rotary-wing aircraft. The overall message was deliberate: Argentina is investing steadily in autonomous systems and modernized platforms, and it intends to be taken seriously.
On May 29th, the Argentine Army marked 216 years of existence with a ceremony at the National Military College that amounted to something more than ritual. The occasion became a showcase for the country's homegrown robotics and drone capabilities—a deliberate signal that the force is building autonomous systems designed for contemporary conflict.
Four unmanned ground vehicles led the terrestrial parade, each representing a different approach to remote or autonomous operation. The Skua, built by AR Robotics, arrived equipped with optical cameras, LIDAR sensors, GPS, and ground-penetrating radar capable of mapping subsurface terrain. It can be operated by remote control or function independently, and has already been tested across varied landscapes, including Antarctica, after years of development. The Kabuto, developed by FixView and previously shown at the 2025 CTID defense expo, has evolved since its last public appearance. The satellite control dome has been replaced with a gyrostabilized turret mounting a MAG machine gun, transforming it from a reconnaissance platform into a system capable of offensive and fire-support missions. The turret includes both daytime and infrared cameras, allowing operation regardless of hour or weather.
The Army's own engineering faculty contributed the third vehicle, an Autonomous Exploration Vehicle outfitted with cameras and LIDAR. Also presented at the 2025 CTID, it now carries its own gyrostabilized MAG turret and is undergoing active evaluation by the force with promising results so far. The fourth model, developed jointly by the Army's DGID and the company EXA, is called the PM EA 1. Originally conceived as a cargo mule with a 500-kilogram payload capacity, it was displayed today in a different role entirely: as a platform for deploying FPV attack drones. The version shown carried seven attack drones, though the design allows for expansion. During the parade, one of these drones was launched from the vehicle as it passed the reviewing stand. This marked the first time the Argentine Army has publicly presented operational FPV attack drones—a capability that places it among Latin America's earliest military adopters of this technology.
Beyond the unmanned systems, the ceremony displayed reconnaissance drones from DJI that were incorporated in 2025 and have already been shown operating alongside the 8x8 Stryker armored vehicles that also participated in the parade. The Unimog U4000 trucks, which arrived in the country just a week earlier, made their public debut. Four TAM 2CA2 tanks from a second delivery batch appeared in a new green paint scheme, matching the color applied to the Stryker vehicles when they arrived and notably also applied to TAM VCTP variants, an M1113, and a TAM VCA that participated—a departure from the traditional green-and-brown camouflage pattern those vehicles have historically carried.
The INVAP RPA-200M radar system drew attention as well, displayed on a transport trailer mounted to a Volkswagen truck, demonstrating the radar's mobility. Two Bell 407GXi helicopters from Army Aviation, the newest additions to the rotary-wing fleet, flew overhead. In his remarks, Lieutenant General Oscar Zarich, the Army's Chief of Staff, reiterated plans to incorporate UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to begin replacing the aging Bell UH-1H and Huey 2 aircraft. The message was clear: Argentina's military is investing deliberately in autonomous systems and modernized platforms, signaling a sustained commitment to updating its operational capabilities for contemporary warfare.
Citas Notables
The force plans to incorporate UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to begin replacing the Bell UH-1H and Huey 2— Lieutenant General Oscar Zarich, Chief of Staff of the Argentine Army
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why showcase these systems now, on an anniversary? Why not keep them quiet until they're fully operational?
Because the world watches how militaries evolve. Showing them signals capability and intent—it tells neighbors, allies, and potential adversaries that Argentina is serious about modernization. It's also a morale statement to your own force.
The FPV drones are the real story here, aren't they? That's the capability that changes things.
Yes. FPV attack drones are relatively new in Latin America. Ukraine showed the world what they can do. Argentina is saying: we can build this ourselves, we can integrate it into our systems, we're not dependent on imports for this critical capability.
But these are still in development. The Autonomous Exploration Vehicle is still being evaluated. Why parade incomplete systems?
Because development is iterative. You test in the field, you gather data, you refine. Showing them publicly accelerates that feedback loop and demonstrates progress to stakeholders—Congress, the public, the military itself.
The paint scheme change on the tanks—that seems minor compared to the drones.
It's not minor. It's standardization. When you're integrating new platforms like the Stryker, you adopt their visual identity. It signals that these systems are now part of a coherent force, not isolated experiments.
What's the real constraint here? Money? Technical expertise? Time?
Probably all three. But the fact that they're building these systems domestically—the Skua, the Kabuto, the PM EA 1—suggests they've found a way to work within those constraints. That's the story beneath the ceremony.