The Argentine Air Force conducted the experimental launch of the MET 1-SO sounding rocket.

In a context of strategic redefinition of national priorities, the Ministry of Defense announced a milestone that promises to mark a turning point in Argentine aerospace history: the Air Force successfully carried out the experimental launch of the MET 1-SO "Escorpio" sounding rocket, becoming the first national experience to recover payload in Argentine sea waters.

The test, celebrated by the department led by Luis Petri, is part of a renewed policy of recovering critical capabilities for national defense, driven by the government of President Javier Milei. "This test represents a concrete step toward the technological self-sufficiency that was denied to us by decades of disinvestment and corruption", they claim from the Executive.

The operation was developed in conjunction with the Institute of Scientific and Technical Research for Defense (CITEDEF), with the aim of validating in real conditions the vehicle's propulsion system and other technologies associated with flight and recovery in the high seas.

The MET 1-SO "Escorpio" was designed as a sounding rocket for suborbital flights. The mission successfully met all the planned objectives, highlighting the implementation of telemetry systems, encrypted data transmission, and the use of artificial intelligence to locate the payload capsule once it impacted the South Atlantic Ocean.

This type of development once again positions the Air Force as a central player in the recovery of strategic technology, in a country that for years saw its defense capabilities deteriorate due to state neglect. The political decision to resume these paths, with a long-term vision, reestablishes Argentina as a serious and committed actor in protecting its sovereignty in the 21st century.

From the Ministry of Defense, they emphasized that it is "a firm step toward strengthening a modern, efficient, and autonomous national defense industry". The project, with a scientific and technological base, also opens new doors to international collaborations and dual development with civil applications, particularly in areas such as environmental monitoring, meteorology, and communications.