The future of the Argentine Medium Tank 2C-A2, at risk after the privatization of Impsa
The possible reorientation of activity under the new administration raises questions about the modernization of the Argentine Army’s main means of combat
The National Government and the province of Mendoza made official the transfer of Industrias Metalúrgicas Pescarmona (Impsa) to the U.S. consortium Industrial Acquisitions Fund (IAF), whose main partner is Arc Energy. This operation is part of the policy of the Government of Javier Milei to reduce the fiscal deficit and avoid the allocation of federal resources to the management of state-owned companies. This is the first major privatization of the current administration and marks the return of the company to private hands after its nationalization in 2021.
The recent privatization of Impsa has raised doubts about the continuity of the modernization program of the Argentine Medium Tank (TAM) to the TAM 2C-A2 standard, one of the main upgrade projects of the Argentine Army. The Mendoza company plays a key role in the production of components and the modification of the structure of the armored tower, which casts doubt on the future of the project under the new private management.
Since 2023, Impsa has had an agreement for the manufacture of the side skirts of the tank, in addition to carrying out welding tasks and training engineers. In parallel, based on an agreement signed in 2022 and financed through Fondef, the company is in charge of the machining of the turret, a process necessary for the installation of new technological systems that make up the A2 version of the armored vehicle.
The modifications include the replacement of the hydraulic tower control system with an electric one, the replacement of the analog stabilization system with a system of microcontrollers and solid-state gyroscopes, and the addition of a new Atmospheric Unit that allows the shooter to consider factors such as wind and temperature when firing.