Anápolis Air Force Base

Anápolis Air Force Base – ALA2 (ICAO: SBAN) is a base of the Brazilian Air Force, located in Anápolis, Brazil.

Anápolis Air Force Base
Base Aérea de Anápolis
Anápolis, Goiás in Brazil
Mirages 2000 at Anápolis in 2008
SBAN is located in Brazil
SBAN
SBAN
Location in Brazil
Coordinates16°14′19″S 048°58′20″W
TypeAir Force Base
CodeALA2
Area16,000 hectares (61.8 sq mi; 160.0 km2)
Site information
OwnerBrazilian Air Force
Controlled by Brazilian Air Force
Open to
the public		No
Websitefab.mil.br/organizacoes/mostra/34
Site history
Built1970-1972 (1970-1972)
In use1972-present (1972-present)
Garrison information
Current
commander		Cel. Av. Renato Leal Leite
Occupants
  • 1st Troop Transportation Group
  • 1st Air Defense Group
  • 2nd Squadron of the 6th Aviation Group
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO: SBAN, LID: GO9001
Elevation1,137 metres (3,730 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
06R/24L 2,233 metres (7,326 ft) Asphalt
06L/24R 3,300 metres (10,827 ft) Asphalt
Sources: History,[1] DECEA[2]

History

The history of Anápolis Air Force Base begins on 9 February 1970,[1] when its construction started, with the main purpose of receiving the new air force fighter at the time, the Mirage III,[3] designated by the Brazilian Air Force as F-103. For strategic reasons, was decided that the new air base would be close to the capital Brasília. After several studies (including issues of air traffic and radio interference) the choice was the city of Anápolis, located 160 km from Brasília.[1]

The facility became operational on 23 August 1972,[1] with the completion of the airstrip. A new air unit, specially created to operate the F-103, was then activated: the 1st Air Defense Wing (1º ALADA). This unit was decommissioned on 19 April 1979, transferring its mission to the 1st Air Defense Group (1º GDA), the unit was responsible for operating the F-103 until 2005. In 2006, started to operate the Mirage 2000,[4] already retired. Currently operates the F-5EM & FM.[5]

From 2021 operates the JAS 39 Gripen, designated by Brazil as F-39 E & F.[6]

Units

The following units are based at Anápolis Air Force Base:[1]

Aircraft Model Air unit
Embraer KC-390 1st Troop Transportation Group (1º GTT) Zeus[7]
Saab JAS F-39 Gripen E & F 1st Air Defense Group (1º GDA) Jaguar[8][9]
Northrop F-5 EM & FM
Embraer E-99 M & R-99 2nd Squadron of the 6th Aviation Group (2º/6º GAv) Guardião[10]

The base also operates a battery of surface to air missile called 3rd Air Defense Group (3º GDAAE).[11]

Retired aircraft
  • Dassault Mirage III
    Dassault Mirage III
  • Dassault Mirage 2000
    Dassault Mirage 2000
  • Embraer AT-26 Xavante
    Embraer AT-26 Xavante
  • Learjet R-35
    Learjet R-35

Access

The base is located 12 km from downtown Anápolis.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Base Aérea de Anápolis: o destino dos caças Gripen da FAB" (in Portuguese). 23 April 2014.
  2. "Campo Marechal Márcio de Souza e Mello (SBAN)". DECEA (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  3. "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  4. "Brasil renova acordo e prolonga a vida dos Mirage 2000" [Brazil renews agreement and extends Mirage 2000s' life]. Plano Brasil (in Portuguese). 5 October 2011. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  5. "World Air Forces 2019". Flightglobal Insight. 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  6. Thisdell, Dan (27 October 2014). "Saab, Brazil finalise Gripen NG deal". Flight Global.
  7. "1º GTT – Esquadrão Zeus". Spotter (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  8. "FAB: Esquadrão Jaguar, que receberá o Gripen, completa 43 anos". Aeroflap (in Portuguese). 11 April 2022.
  9. "1º GDA – Esquadrão Jaguar". Spotter (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  10. "2º/6º GAv – Esquadrão Guardião". Spotter (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  11. "3º GDAAE - Terceiro Grupo de Defesa Antiaérea". Spotter (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 June 2022.
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