Río Grande Naval Air Base (Base Aeronaval Río Grande "Pioneros Aeronavales en el Polo Sur" (BARD); shares runway with Hermes Quijada International Airport)

Base Aeronaval Río Grande (BARD), also known as "Pioneros Aeronavales en el Polo Sur," is an Argentine Naval Aviation facility located in Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina. The Argentine Navy established the base on October 26, 1949, to provide support for military and security forces operating in the region.

During the Beagle conflict in 1978 and 1979, the base functioned as a deployment site for the Insular Naval Air Group. To support regional operations, the military paved local estancia runways for T-28, C-45, and PC-6 aircraft. Infrastructure additions included underground personnel shelters, depots, and operations centers. Additional subterranean shelters and an H-shaped operations center were constructed between 1980 and 1981.

During the 1982 Falklands War, the facility supported the South Atlantic Theater of Operations. The Argentine Air Force and Naval Aviation operated A-4B, A-4Q, and M-V Dagger fighter-bombers, alongside KC-130H tankers, from the installation. The Naval Air Exploration Squadron (EA2E) conducted preliminary flights for Operation Rosario and established a Joint Operations Center in the base's control tower. Marine and Army air defense and ground units deployed to the base, while a Coast Guard (Prefectura) Puma helicopter and Skyvan aircraft operated from the site for search and rescue missions.

Currently, the base remains active under the operation of Argentine Naval Aviation and houses Naval Air Force No. 3 (Fuerza Aeronaval N.º 3). The installation functions as a dual-use military and civil facility, sharing its infrastructure with Hermes Quijada International Airport. Its ongoing operations involve providing logistical and operational support for aircraft and crews operating in Tierra del Fuego, as well as sustaining Argentine operations in Antarctica. The base's military infrastructure includes the historical underground shelters, operations centers, and a Naval Air Control Tower.