Mexican Naval Aviation

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]

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

History

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

Between 1927 and 1943, some 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, 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.

1990s

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, also purchasing French, U.S. and German-made helicopters and the Finnish-built L-90 Redigo. In 1999 the Mexican navy started a programme to build kit-planes and light helicopters at Las Bajadas, Veracruz.

2023

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 on board 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]

The Navy needs 4,296 million pesos for the acquisition of 16 airplanes and 4 helicopters that will take care of the sea in Mexico.

Structure

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

A Mexican Naval Air Force CASA C-212-400E Aviocar cargo plane in 2007

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

Current inventory
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 8[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 1 on order[4]
Cessna 402 United States utility / transport 2[4]
Super King Air United States utility / transport 350 3 1 on order[4]
CASA CN-235 Spain / Indonesia maritime patrol / SAR 6[4]
Bombardier Dash 8 Canada maritime patrol / SAR 1[4]
Turbo Commander United States transport 5[4]
Helicopters
Mil Mi-17 Russia utility 22 [4]
MD Explorer United States utility 5[4]
Sikorsky UH-60 United States utility UH-60M 8 [4]
Eurocopter EC725 France SAR / transport 3[4]
Eurocopter AS565 France SAR / utility 14[4]
Eurocopter AS555 France utility 2[4]
Trainer Aircraft
Zlín Z 42 Czech Republic trainer 242 27[4]
Zlin Z 43 Czech Republic trainer 143 2[4]
T-6 Texan II United States trainer T-6C+ 13[4]
Lancair ES United States basic trainer 2[4]
Hughes 269 United States rotorcraft trainer 4[4] also used for shore patrol
Robinson R44 United States rotorcraft trainer 1[4]
Robinson R22 United States rotorcraft trainer 1[4]
Sikorsky S-333 United States rotorcraft trainer 10[4]
MD 500 Defender United States rotorcraft trainer 3[4]

See also

References
  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. "World Air Forces 2019". Flightglobal Insight. 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
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