Mexican Naval Aviation

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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]

History

A Dauphin Panther helicopter used by the Mexican Naval Infantry

Naval aviation for Mexico dates back its roots all the way to 1918, when an 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 German 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 Bajadas. 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

  • Tampico Naval Air Base, Tampico
  • Las Bajadas Naval Air Base, Veracruz
    • 1st Maritime Patrol Naval Air Squadron - operating CASA C-212PM
    • 1st Early Warning and Reconnaissance Naval Air Squadron - operating E-2C Hawkeye 2000
    • Naval Aviation School - operating MD 500, Robinson R22, Schweizer 300, Zlín Z 42
  • Campeche Naval Air Base, Campeche
    • 5th Air Mobility, Observation and Transport Naval Air Squadron - operating Mi-8
    • 1st Interception and Reconnaissance Naval Air Squadron - operating L-90TP, Sabre 60
  • Chetumal Naval Air Base, Chetumal
    • 1st Patrol Naval Air Squadron - operating Lancair Super ES, MX-7-180A, RC695
    • 3rd Air Mobility, Observation and Transport Naval Air Squadron - operating Mi-8

Pacific Naval Air Force - HQ in Manzanillo, Colima

  • Guaymas Naval Air Base, Guaymas
    • 1st Interception and Reconnaissance Naval Air Squadron - operating L-90TP, MX-7-180A
  • La Paz Naval Air Base, La Paz
    • 2nd Patrol Naval Air Squadron - operating RC695, Lancair IV-P
    • 2nd Air Mobility, Observation and Transport Naval Air Squadron - operating Mi-8
    • 2nd Shipborne Patrol Naval Air Squadron - operating Bo 105CBS-5
    • 2nd Transport Naval Air Squadron - operating An-32B
  • Lázaro Cárdenas Naval Air Base, Lázaro Cárdenas
    • 2nd Search and Rescue Naval Air Squadron - operating AS555 AF, Mi-2
  • Acapulco Naval Air Base, Acapulco
    • 2nd Search and Rescue Naval Air Squadron - operating AS555 AF, Mi-2
  • Salina Cruz Naval Air Base, Salina Cruz
    • 1st Search and Rescue Naval Air Squadron - operating AS555 AF, Mi-2
  • Tapachula Naval Air Base, Tapachula
    • 4th Patrol Naval Air Squadron - operating Mi-8
    • 4th Air Mobility, Observation and Transport Naval Air Squadron - operating MX-7-180A, Super Lancair ES

Mexico City Naval Air Base

Aircraft fleet

Current aircraft

The aircraft quantities are approximate,[5][6] and estimated to be 68 airplanes and 57 helicopters.[7][8][9]

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service Image
Combat aircraft
Valmet L-90  Finland Combat/Counter Insurgency L-90TP 8
Trainers
Zlin Z-242  Czech Republic Training Z-242L 8[10]
Maule M-7  United States Training MX-7-180A 8
Transports
Antonov An-32  Ukraine Tactical transport An-32B 3
CASA C-295[11]  Spain Tactical transport C295M 4
Bombardier Dash 8  Canada Tactical transport DH-8 1
Turbo Commander  United States Transport 980 Turbo 4
Learjet  United States VIP transport LJ25 1
Learjet  United States VIP transport LJ31 2
Learjet  United States VIP transport LJ60 1
Gulfstream IV  United States VIP transport G450 1
Reconnaissance and Intelligence
CASA C-212  Spain Surveillance C-212-400 7[12]
CASA CN-235  Spain Surveillance CN-235MP 300 2
Lancair  United States Reconnaissance IV-P
Super ES
Legacy 2000		 3
3
2
Helicopter
Bölkow Bo 105  Germany Surveillance EC-Super Five 11
Eurocopter Caracal  France Search & rescue EC-725AP 3[9]
Eurocopter Fennec  France Search & rescue AS555AF 2
Eurocopter Panther  France Combat AS656MB 4
MD Helicopters MD 500  United States Training MD-500 4
Mil Mi-2  Russia Transport Mi-2 Hopite 1
Mil Mi-17  Russia Transport Mi-17IV/V5 23
MD Helicopters MD Explorer  United States Combat MD-902 6
Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk  United States Transport and combat UH-60M 3[13]
UAV
UAV SEMAR  Mexico Reconnaissance/Intelligence T1 / T2 / T3 3

Recent purchases

Aircraft Origin Type Version On Order Notes Images
EADS CASA  Spain surveillance CASA CN-235 6 + 4 6 purchased by Mexico,[14][15][16] and 4 from the Mérida Initiative aide package.[13]
Mi-17  Russia Transport helicopter Mi-17V5 3

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 December 2009). "La flota de Ejército y Armada consta de 480 aeronaves". La Jornada (in Spanish). 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. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Air Forces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. April 2013. p. 21. 
  10. ↑ Moravan in the Armada de México
  11. ↑ Airliners.net
  12. ↑ http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Persuader-Patrol-Planes-for-Mexicos-Maritime-05372/
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Blackhawks ready to fly for the Mexican Navy. (25 August 2011)
  14. ↑ Mexican navy's budget increases by a fifth
  15. ↑ Seis CN-235-300 Persuader para la Armada de México
  16. ↑ "Presupuesto multimillonario para asegurar la viabilidad del Estado". La Jornada (in Spanish). 10 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-24. 
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