Mexican Naval Aviation

Fuerza AeroNaval
Mexican Naval Aviation
Active since 1918
Country Mexico
Branch Mexican Navy
Type Naval aviation
Role Aerial Surveillance, Troop Transport, Search and Rescue
Insignia
Roundel

The Mexican Naval Aviation (Spanish: Fuerza AeroNaval ) or FAN literally meaning Naval Air Force, is the naval air arm of the Mexican Navy. The Mexican Navy is divided into two naval fleets: Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.[1][2]

Contents

History

Naval aviation for Mexico dates back its roots all the way to 1918, when a indigenous made float biplane was successfully tested at the Port of Veracruz, the aircraft was flown by Carlos Santa Ana. In the year 1926 a squadron of float planes were designed and made for the Mexican Navy, but without personnel. Carlos Castillo Breton, became the very first Naval pilot in 1927 after training in The U.S. and in Mexico. Between 1927 to 1943, some aircraft were acquired, with a total of seven naval officers gaining their wings, although some of these joined the Mexican Air Force. World War II saw the creation of the Naval Aviation school in 1943 at Las Bajadas, Veracruz. These were also ex-FAM aircraft, used to patrol the Gulf of Mexico for Nazi Germany submarines and were later used for training at the Naval Aviation School.

Years after the war, the role of Mexican Naval Aviation were assigned as supporting the ground and sea naval units in Search & Rescue, coastal patrol and assistance to the general population in case of emergencies or disasters.

Times of Modernization

In the nineties, the Mexican navy started to acquire Russian built aircraft and helicopters like the Mil Mi-2, Mil Mi-8 and Antonov An-32B, also purchasing French, U.S. and German made helicopters and even Finnish built L-90 Redigo. In 1999, the Mexican navy started a programme to build kit planes and light helicopters at Las Bajadas, Veracruz.

As of 2001, Mexican naval aviation reported to have 118 aircraft, of which 68 are fixed wing in 9 squadrons and 50 helicopters in 9 squadrons, either in land bases or assigned on board of ocean patrol boats and frigates.

More recent purchases to the fleet were three ex-IDF/AF E-2C Hawkeyes, the first arriving in early July 2004. At the end of the same month, the first two EADS upgraded C212-200 Aviocars flew back to Mexico, with the remainder six being upgraded at BAN Las Badajas. The most recent purchase are two AS565 Panthers. These helicopters will perform shipborne duties.[3]

Structure

The factor of the country's geographical position, requires the deployment of units and aircraft facilities, allowing The Mexican Navy to exercise its naval power.[4]

Gulf of Mexico Naval Air Force - HQ in Tuxpan, Veracruz

Pacific Naval Air Force - HQ in Manzanillo, Colima

Mexico City Naval Air Base

Aircraft fleet

Current aircraft

The aircraft quantities are approximate,[5][6] and estimated to be 68 airplanes and 54 helicopters.[7][8]

Aircraft Origin Type Version In service[9] Notes Images
Fixed wing
Antonov An-32  Ukraine Utility transport An-32B 4
de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo  Canada Utility transport 1
Bombardier Dash 8  Canada Utility transport DHC-8-202 1
CASA C-295[10]  Spain Utility transport 4
Turbo Commander  United States Transport 980 Turbo 4
Learjet  United States VIP transport LJ25
LJ31
LJ60		 1
1
1

Gulfstream IV  United States VIP transport G450 1
CASA C-212  Spain Surveillance C-212-400 7 All C-212 have been upgraded with FITS (Fully Integrated Tactical System).[11]
Lancair  United States Transport
Training		 IV-P
Super ES
Legacy 2000		 3
3
2		 One Super ES lost in accident
North American Sabreliner  United States Transport 60 2
Maule M-7  United States Training MX-7-180A 14
Valmet L-90  Finland Training L-90TP 8 Turboprop engine: 313 kW Allison 250-B17F
Zlin Z-242  Czech Republic Training Z-242L 8 Acquired in 2002. Two lost in accidents[12]
Aircraft Origin Type Version In service[9] Notes Images
Helicopters
Eurocopter Fennec  France Search & rescue AS555AF 2
Eurocopter Panther  France Combat AS656MB 5 Two lost in accidents.
Armed with gatling guns and/or rocket launchers when required for anti-narcotic operations.
Bölkow Bo 105  Germany Surveillance EC-Super Five 11 Armed with gatling guns and/or rocket launchers when required.
Robinson R-22  United States Training 1 One lost in an accident.
Robinson R-44  United States Training 1
MD Helicopters MD 500  United States Training MD-500 4
Mil Mi-2  Russia Transport 4
Mil Mi-17  Russia Transport Mu-17-1V 23 Armed with gatling guns and/or rocket launchers when required for anti-narcotic operations.
MD Helicopters MD Explorer  United States Combat MD-902 6 Side-mounted General Dynamics 0.5in multi-barrel GAU-19/A rotary machine-guns and M2 pods containing seven 2.75in rockets each, for anti-narcotic operations.[13]
Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk  United States Transport and combat 3 Received on August 25, 2011 under the Merida Initiative aid package.[14]

Future acquisitions

Aircraft Origin Type Version On Order Notes Images
EADS CASA  Spain surveillance CASA CN-235 6 + 4 6 purchased by Mexico,[15][16][17] and 4 from the Merida Initiative aide package.[14]

References

  1. ^ http://www.semar.gob.mx/fuerzas/pacifico/fuernavpa.html
  2. ^ http://www.semar.gob.mx/fuerzas/golfo/fuernavgo.htm
  3. ^ http://www.scramble.nl/mx.htm
  4. ^ http://semar.gob.mx/aeronaval/aeronautica.html
  5. ^ Mexican Navy Aircraft
  6. ^ Mexican Navy's new purchases
  7. ^ Aranda, Jesus (14 de diciembre de 2009). "La flota de Ejército y Armada consta de 480 aeronaves" (in Spanish). La Jornada. http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2009/12/14/index.php?section=politica&article=007n1pol. Retrieved 2009-12-14. 
  8. ^ Raúl Benítez Manaut, Abelardo Rodríguez Sumano, Armando Rodríguez Luna (2009). Atlas de la Seguridad y la Defensa de México 2009. México D. F.: Colectivo de Analisis de la Seguridad con Democracia (CASEDE). pp. 369 pp.. ISBN 978-607-95380-0-2. http://www.seguridadcondemocracia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1311&Itemid=69. 
  9. ^ a b [1] Rendición de cuentas SEMAR 2006 página 42
  10. ^ Airliners.net
  11. ^ http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Persuader-Patrol-Planes-for-Mexicos-Maritime-05372/
  12. ^ Moravan in the Armada de México
  13. ^ Armamento de los MD-902 en Inglés)
  14. ^ a b Blackhawks ready to fly for the Mexican Navy. (25 August 2011)
  15. ^ Mexican navy's budget increases by a fifth
  16. ^ Seis CN-235-300 Persuader para la Armada de México
  17. ^ "Presupuesto multimillonario para asegurar la viabilidad del Estado" (in Spanish). La Jornada. 10 de septiembre de 2008. http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2008/09/10/index.php?section=politica&article=003n1pol. Retrieved 2008-11-24.