As space becomes increasingly important to security and defense, Argentina is strengthening its aerospace capabilities to enhance surveillance of its territory, integrate satellite-derived information, and expand cooperation with regional and international partners. Leading that effort is Major General Plinio Guillermo Poma, commander of the Argentine Armed Forces Joint Aerospace Command (COCAE).
An Argentine Air Force officer and fighter pilot, Maj. Gen. Poma has more than three decades of military service and assumed command of COCAE in December 2024. In that role, he oversees the organization responsible for monitoring and controlling Argentina’s aerospace domain while integrating joint capabilities to strengthen the country’s aerospace defense.
During the 2026 Space Conference of the Americas, held in April at U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) headquarters in Doral, Florida, Maj. Gen. Poma spoke with Diálogo about the evolution of Argentina’s aerospace capabilities, the integration of satellite information into military operations, the development of the next generation of aerospace professionals, and opportunities for regional cooperation.
Diálogo: How does the Joint Aerospace Command integrate space capabilities into its daily operations to monitor and protect Argentina’s airspace and national territory?
Argentine Air Force Major General Plinio Guillermo Poma, commander of the Argentine Armed Forces Joint Aerospace Command (COCAE): The Joint Aerospace Command is composed almost entirely of personnel from the Argentine Air Force. Unlike countries such as the United States, Argentina does not have a separate space force; instead, our space capabilities are integrated within the Air Force.
Although our personnel belong to the Air Force, the Command reports to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, just like the other operational commands. From our operations center, we receive information from the national radar network while gradually incorporating capabilities related to the space domain.
At present, we primarily monitor the reentry of space debris into the atmosphere. Most objects disintegrate before reaching the Earth’s surface, but occasionally larger fragments survive reentry, making it essential for us to maintain monitoring and warning capabilities.
We are also able to identify the satellites passing over Argentine territory. Naturally, we do not interfere with them, but knowing which satellites are operating overhead and understanding their declared capabilities helps us build a clearer picture of the space environment in which we operate.
This conference provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen cooperation with the United States and with countries across the region. Space activities require significant investment and involve a high level of complexity. No country can develop every capability on its own, which is why sharing knowledge, experience, and resources is essential to building stronger regional capabilities.
Diálogo: Beyond monitoring, how does the Command respond when there is a possibility that a space object could impact Argentine territory?
Maj. Gen. Poma: If we detected a large object with the potential to reach the Earth’s surface, we would immediately notify the Ministry of Defense. From there, coordination begins with national and provincial authorities in the areas that could be affected so they can issue warnings and activate emergency response protocols.
Once the object has landed, we work alongside specialized teams to recover it safely. Some components may contain hazardous materials, such as residual propellants or other substances that require special handling, so it is important to keep the public away from the site until the risks have been assessed.
Afterward, the object’s origin is determined and, depending on the circumstances, the appropriate international procedures are followed.
Diálogo: Argentina’s SAOCOM (Satélite Argentino de Observación con Microondas) satellite system provides advanced Earth observation capabilities. How are these space-based assets being integrated into operational decision-making for security and defense missions?
Maj. Gen. Poma: The SAOCOM satellites are operated by Argentina’s National Commission on Space Activities (CONAE), which is a civilian agency separate from the Armed Forces. However, we are working to integrate our capabilities more closely. In fact, just a few weeks ago [in April] we held meetings to strengthen coordination between our organizations.
The information generated by these satellites has many applications. Traditionally, it has been used for agriculture, flood monitoring, and wildfire response, but it also has enormous potential to support defense-related missions.
For example, satellite imagery can help monitor illegal fishing and provide valuable information to the Joint Maritime Command, which is responsible for those operations. Sharing information between civilian and military organizations strengthens situational awareness and improves coordination among different commands.
Diálogo: You mentioned illegal fishing as one area where space capabilities can make a difference. How does satellite information improve maritime domain awareness?
Maj. Gen. Poma: Space-based information allows us to integrate capabilities across different commands. In our case, the Joint Aerospace Command can provide information that complements the work of the Joint Maritime Command.
Combining space-derived data with maritime surveillance improves situational awareness and enables a more coordinated response to activities such as illegal fishing. At the same time, our cooperation with CONAE and the use of satellite imagery strengthen the State’s ability to monitor areas of strategic interest.
Diálogo: Argentina has promoted initiatives to develop sovereign access to space, including the Tronador launch vehicle project. What strategic value does that capability have for national defense, and how could it strengthen Argentina’s autonomy in the space domain?
Maj. Gen. Poma: Autonomy strengthens any nation’s ability to defend its interests because it reduces dependence on others to develop the capabilities it needs. In that sense, building national capabilities is always an important step forward.
Argentina has a long history in the space domain. More than 50 years ago, we were already developing pioneering space projects — even sending Juan, a monkey, into space. It is a legacy we are proud of. As has happened in other countries, including the United States, there was a period when that momentum slowed, but today we are rebuilding and strengthening those capabilities.
That said, autonomy does not mean working in isolation. As I mentioned earlier, space is an extremely complex domain, and no country can do everything on its own. The important thing is for each nation to develop the capabilities it can and then integrate them with those of its partners to strengthen regional capabilities. In my view, that is the greatest contribution Argentina and the Argentine Air Force can make.
Diálogo: Argentina has expanded cooperation with the United States in areas such as space domain awareness and information sharing. How do these capabilities contribute to strengthening Argentina’s aerospace capabilities?
Maj. Gen. Poma: One of the main objectives of this conference is to strengthen that cooperation at every level. We are not talking only about information sharing, but also about educating our personnel, training them, and developing the capabilities that will be essential in the future.
Education is the first step. Cadets and young officers entering our military academies need to understand that the operational environment is no longer limited to land, sea, and air. Space has become an increasingly important domain for defense.
Training comes next, and it must be a continuous process because technology is evolving at an extraordinary pace. Capabilities related to cyber defense, computing, artificial intelligence, and communications that seemed like science fiction only a few decades ago are now part of today’s operational environment.
At the same time, we must continue developing other essential areas, including legal frameworks, infrastructure, satellite development, and eventually national launch capabilities. Argentina already has significant experience in satellite development. An Argentine microsatellite built by a public university was selected as part of an initiative associated with the Artemis II mission, demonstrating the country’s scientific and technological potential.
This effort extends well beyond the military. Argentine society, our universities, and our young people have an enormous capacity to contribute. Robotics, for example, will become increasingly important. If we look at U.S. plans to establish a sustained presence on the Moon by 2030, many of those activities will not depend exclusively on astronauts. Robotic systems will perform many tasks without requiring the life-support systems that humans need.
That is why fields such as robotics, engineering, communications, cyber defense, and launch vehicle development will all play a critical role. Argentina has both the talent and the determination to continue advancing in these areas, and cooperation with the United States and countries across the region can help accelerate that progress while integrating our capabilities.
Diálogo: Building those capabilities also requires developing the next generation of professionals. How is the Argentine Air Force preparing future officers to operate in the space domain?
Maj. Gen. Poma: We are still in the early stages. This effort began only recently, and we are now training the officers who will eventually serve in these new roles.
Naturally, many young people join the Argentine Air Force with the dream of becoming pilots. At the same time, we are working to raise awareness of the important role that space will play in defense over the coming decades.
When we talk about the space domain, we are not thinking only about astronauts or missions to the Moon. We are talking about intelligence, communications, cyber defense, logistics, robotics, engineering, launch vehicle development, and many other disciplines.
The opportunities are enormous and will continue to grow. The important thing is for the next generation to understand that the space domain will offer many different ways to contribute to national defense and to the country’s development, regardless of the career path they choose.
Diálogo: Major General, what opportunities do you see for expanding space cooperation across the region? How can these partnerships, together with cooperation with the United States, strengthen countries’ capabilities while preserving their sovereignty?
Maj. Gen. Poma: During this conference, I had the opportunity to speak with colleagues from Colombia, Brazil, and Peru, as well as with our partners from the United States.
Some of these countries are further along than Argentina in developing space capabilities, so we are working to establish agreements that will allow us to learn from their experience and strengthen the training of our personnel.
The space domain is evolving very rapidly, and we want to be part of that process. I am convinced that Argentina has the capability to do so and, above all, the determination to keep pushing beyond its own limits.
Today, that “beyond” is space.
