Mexican Naval Aviation

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 a 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 Nazi Germany 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 built 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 Badajas. 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
  • 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
• Lazaro Cardenas Naval Air Base, Lazaro Cardenas
  • 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

• 1st Transport Naval Air Squadron - operating Gulfstream G450, Learjet 25, Learjet 31, Learjet 60, DHC-8-Q202

Aircraft fleet

Current aircraft

The aircraft quantities are approximate,^[5][6] and estimated to be 68 airplanes and 54 helicopters.^[7][8]

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Version	In service[9]	Notes	Images
Fixed wing
Antonov An-32	Ukraine	Utility transport	An-32B	4
de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo	Canada	Utility transport		1
Bombardier Dash 8	Canada	Utility transport	DHC-8-202	1
CASA c-295[10]	Spain	Utility transport		4
Turbo Commander	United States	Transport	980 Turbo	4
Learjet	United States	VIP transport	LJ25 LJ31 LJ60	1 1 1
Gulfstream IV	United States	VIP transport	G450	1
CASA C-212	Spain	Surveillance	C-212-400	7	All C-212 have been upgraded with FITS (Fully Integrated Tactical System).[11]
Lancair	United States	Transport Training	IV-P Super ES Legacy 2000	3 3 2	One Super ES lost in accident
North American Sabreliner	United States	Transport	60	2
Maule M-7	United States	Training	MX-7-180A	14
Valmet L-90	Finland	Training	L-90TP	8	Turboprop engine: 313 kW Allison 250-B17F
Zlin Z-242	Czech Republic	Training	Z-242L	8	Acquired in 2002. Two lost in accidents[12]

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Version	In service[9]	Notes	Images
Helicopters
Eurocopter Fennec	France	Search & rescue	AS555AF	2
Eurocopter Panther	France	Combat	AS656MB	5	Two lost in accidents. Armed with gatling guns and/or rocket launchers when required for anti-narcotic operations.
Bölkow Bo 105	Germany	Surveillance	EC-Super Five	11	Armed with gatling guns and/or rocket launchers when required.
Robinson R-22	United States	Training		1	One lost in an accident.
Robinson R-44	United States	Training		1
MD Helicopters MD 500	United States	Training	MD-500	4
Mil Mi-2	Russia	Transport		4
Mil Mi-17	Russia	Transport	Mu-17-1V	23	Armed with gatling guns and/or rocket launchers when required for anti-narcotic operations.
MD Helicopters MD Explorer	United States	Combat	MD-902	6	Side-mounted General Dynamics 0.5in multi-barrel GAU-19/A rotary machine-guns and M2 pods containing seven 2.75in rockets each, for anti-narcotic operations.[13]
Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk	United States	Transport and combat		3	Received on August 25, 2011 under the Merida Initiative aid package.[14]

Future acquisitions

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Version	On Order	Notes	Images
EADS CASA	Spain	surveillance	CASA CN-235	6 + 4	6 purchased by Mexico, [15][16][17] and 4 from the Merida Initiative aide package.[14]

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 de diciembre de 2009). "La flota de Ejército y Armada consta de 480 aeronaves" (in Spanish). La Jornada. http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2009/12/14/index.php?section=politica&article=007n1pol. 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. http://www.seguridadcondemocracia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1311&Itemid=69. 
9. ^ ^{a b} [1] Rendición de cuentas SEMAR 2006 página 42
10. ^ Airliners.net
11. ^ http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Persuader-Patrol-Planes-for-Mexicos-Maritime-05372/
12. ^ Moravan in the Armada de México
13. ^ Armamento de los MD-902 en Inglés)
14. ^ ^{a b} [http://www.app.com/article/20110824/NJNEWS/308240060/Joint-Base-preps-Blackhawks-for-transfer-to-Mexican-Navy Blackhawks ready to fly for the Mexican Navy. (25 August 2011)
15. ^ Mexican navy's budget increases by a fifth
16. ^ Seis CN-235-300 Persuader para la Armada de México
17. ^ "Presupuesto multimillonario para asegurar la viabilidad del Estado" (in Spanish). La Jornada. 10 de septiembre de 2008. http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2008/09/10/index.php?section=politica&article=003n1pol. Retrieved 2008-11-24.