Jump to content

Mexican Naval Aviation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mexican Naval Aviation
Fuerza AeroNaval
Active1918-Present
CountryMexico Mexico
BranchMexican Navy
TypeNaval aviation
RoleAerial Surveillance, Troop Transport, Search and Rescue
Insignia
Roundel

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

History

[edit]

Naval aviation in Mexico dates back to 1918, when a Mexican-made float biplane was successfully tested by Carlos Santa Ana at the Port of Veracruz, In 1926 a squadron of floatplanes were designed and made for the Mexican Navy, but without personnel. Carlos Castillo Breton became the first Mexican naval pilot in 1927 after training in the U.S. and Mexico.

Between 1927 and 1943, more aircraft were acquired, and seven naval officers qualified as pilots, some of whom 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, Mexican Naval Aviation was assigned to support the ground and sea naval units in search and rescue, coastal patrol, and assistance to the general population in case of emergencies or disasters.

1990s

[edit]

In the 1990s, the Mexican navy started to acquire Russian-built aircraft and helicopters, including the Mil Mi-2, Mil Mi-8 and Antonov An-32B. They also purchased French, U.S. and German-made helicopters and the Finnish-built L-90 Redigo. In 1999 the Mexican navy started a program to build kit planes and light helicopters at Las Bajadas, Veracruz.

2023

[edit]

In 2023 the Mexican naval aviation reported it had 120 aircraft, of which 68 were fixed-wing in 9 squadrons, and 54 helicopters in 9 squadrons, either land-based or aboard ocean patrol boats and frigates.

Later purchases 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 remaining six being upgraded at BAN Las Bajadas, Mexico. Two AS565 Panther helicopters were purchased for shipborne duties, and delivered in 2005.[3]

[edit]

Facilities

[edit]

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

Pacific Naval Air Force – HQ in Manzanillo, Colima

Map of the Naval Air Bases

[edit]

Aircraft

[edit]

Current inventory

[edit]
A Mexican Naval Air Force CASA C-212-400E Aviocar cargo plane in 2007
A Mexican Navy Mi-8 takes off from the flight deck of the USS Bataan
A CASA C-295M on the tarmac
An AS565 Panther of the Mexican Navy
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Maritime patrol
King Air United States surveillance 350 5[4]
CASA C-212 Spain maritime patrol 7[4]
CASA CN-235 Spain / Indonesia maritime patrol / SAR 6[4] equipped with a thermal imaging camera for surveillance.
Transport
Cessna 208 United States utility / transport 2[4]
Super King Air United States utility / transport 350 4[4]
CASA CN-235 Spain / Indonesia maritime patrol / SAR 6[4]
Bombardier Dash 8 Canada maritime patrol / SAR 2[4]
Turbo Commander United States transport 4[4]
Learjet 45 United States utility / transport 2[4]
Helicopters
Mil Mi-17 Russia utility 25[4]
MD Explorer United States utility 6[4]
Sikorsky UH-60 United States utility UH-60M 10[4]
Eurocopter EC725 France SAR / transport 3[4]
Eurocopter AS565 France SAR / utility 14[4] [5]
Eurocopter AS555 France utility 1[4]
Trainer aircraft
Zlín Z 42 Czech Republic trainer 242 26[4]
Zlin Z 43 Czech Republic trainer 143 2[4]
T-6 Texan II United States trainer T-6C+ 13[4]
Sikorsky S-333 United States rotorcraft trainer 10[4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Secretaria de Marina - Armada de México". Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
  2. ^ "Secretaria de Marina - Armada de México". Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  3. ^ "Mexican Naval Air Arms". Scramble. Archived from the original on 23 March 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  5. ^ "3 dead and 2 missing after navy helicopter crash in Michoacán".