Welcome to the third edition of AirForces of the World, the series of air power reviews from the teams behind Air Forces Monthly and Air Forces Intelligence. Each year, our network of contributors and analysts work their way around the globe to bring you exhaustive coverage of the world’s air arms, region by region. The latest installment puts the spotlight on South America, which comprises 12 sovereign states (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela).

Features include:
• ‘Last push for the Pucar’ - in a sad irony, the IA-58 Pucar may not be in service to mark this year’s half a century since its first flight. Santiago Rivas describes how its final operator is preparing for the rugged close air support aircraft’s last missions.
• ‘South America air forces update’ - AFM’s team of correspondents bring together the major stories from South America’s air forces over the last 12 months.
• ‘Argentine Air Force on ice’- Each year, units of the Argentine Air Force head to the Patagonian Andes to practice flying in an environment that closely simulates operations in the Antarctic. Horacio J Claria joined them.
• ‘Jungle lions at 30’ - Yissachar Ruas reports from Palanquero air base as AFOTW flies with the upgraded Kfir fighters of the Colombian Air Force’s Escuadron de Combate 111.