Mexican Naval Aviation
| Fuerza AeroNaval Mexican Naval Aviation Mexican Naval Air Force | |
|---|---|
 Mexican Naval AirForce seal | |
| Active | since 1918 |
| Country |
 |
| Branch | Mexican Navy |
| Type | Naval aviation |
| Role | Aerial Surveillance, Troop Transport, Search and Rescue |
The Mexican Naval Aviation (FAN; Spanish: Fuerza AeroNaval, literally "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
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 and 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
- 1st Air Mobility, Observation and Transport Naval Air Squadron – operating Mil Mi-17, Lancair IV-P
- 1st Shipborne Patrol Naval Air Squadron – operating AS565 MB, Bo 105CBS-5, MD902
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Acapulco Naval Air Base, Acapulco
- Salina Cruz Naval Air Base, Salina Cruz
- 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
- 1st Transport Naval Air Squadron – operating Gulfstream G450, Learjet 25, Learjet 31, Learjet 60, DHC-8-Q202
Aircraft fleet
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | ||||
| Valmet L-90 | Finland | Combat/Counter Insurgency | L-90TP | 7 |
| Beechcraft T-6 Texan II | US | Training/Counter Insurgency | T-6C+ | 2 [10][11] |
| Trainers | ||||
| Zlin Z-242 | Czech Republic | Training | Z-242L | 8[12] |
| Maule M-7 | U.S. | Training | MX-7-180A | 8 |
| Transports | ||||
| Antonov An-32 | Ukraine | Tactical transport | An-32B | 3 |
| CASA C-295[13][14] | Spain | Tactical transport | C295M | 8 |
| Bombardier Dash 8 | Canada | Tactical transport | DH-8 | 1 |
| Turbo Commander | U.S. | Transport | 980 Turbo | 4 |
| Learjet | U.S. | VIP transport | LJ25 | 1 |
| Learjet | U.S. | VIP transport | LJ31 | 2 |
| Learjet | U.S. | VIP transport | LJ60 | 1 |
| Gulfstream IV | U.S. | VIP transport | G450 | 1 |
| Beechcraft King Air | U.S. | Utility transport | 350ER | 1[15] |
| Reconnaissance and Intelligence | ||||
| CASA C-212 | Spain | Surveillance | C-212-400 | 7[16] |
| CASA CN-235 | Spain | Surveillance | CN-235MP 300 | 2 |
| Lancair | U.S. | Reconnaissance | IV-P Super ES Legacy 2000 | 3 3 2 |
| Helicopters | ||||
| Bölkow Bo 105 | Germany | Surveillance | EC-Super Five | 11 |
| Eurocopter Caracal | France | Search & rescue | EC-725AP | 6[9] |
| Eurocopter Fennec | France | Search & rescue | AS555AF | 2 |
| Eurocopter Panther | France | Combat | AS565MB | 10[17] |
| MD Helicopters MD 500 | U.S. | Training | MD-500 | 4 |
| Mil Mi-2 | Russia | Transport | Mi-2 Hopite | 1 |
| Mil Mi-17 | Russia | Transport | Mi-17IV/V5 | 23 + 3 |
| MD Helicopters MD Explorer | U.S. | Combat | MD-902 | 6 |
| Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk | U.S. | Transport and combat | UH-60M | 14 + 8 |
| UAV | ||||
| UAV SEMAR | Mexico | Reconnaissance/Intelligence | T1 / T2 / T3 | 3 |
References
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
- ↑ http://semar.gob.mx/aeronaval/aeronautica.html
- ↑ Mexican Navy Aircraft Archived 23 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Mexican Navy's new purchases
- ↑ Aranda, Jesus (14 December 2009). "La flota de Ejército y Armada consta de 480 aeronaves". La Jornada (in Spanish). Retrieved 2009-12-14.
- ↑ 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. Archived from the original on 24 February 2010.
- 1 2 Air Forces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. April 2013. p. 21.
- ↑ "Mexican Navy Places Initial Order for Beechcraft T-6C+ Trainers". 3 April 2014.
- ↑ "Beechcraft". Beechcraft Newsroom. Archived from the original on 24 November 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ↑ Moravan in the Armada de México Archived 25 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ http://www.sedena.gob.mx/revistae/2015/febrero/index.html
- ↑ http://www.militaryaircraft-airbusds.com/Portals/0/Images/Aircraft/OrdersAndDeliveries/AMOrdersDeliveries.pdf
- ↑ Gomora, Doris (21 August 2014). "Recibe Marina tres aeronaves para entrenamiento". El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- ↑ http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Persuader-Patrol-Planes-for-Mexicos-Maritime-05372/
- ↑ Recibe la Marina dos helicópteros Panther nuevos para intercepción y rescate. (in Spanish) Jorge Medellin, Estado Mayor. 8 December 2017.