Mexican Air Force
Mexican Air Force | |
---|---|
Fuerza Aérea Mexicana | |
Founded | 1913 |
Country | Mexico |
Branch | Mexican Army |
Type | Air force |
Role | Aerial warfare |
Size | 30,517 (2024) |
Part of | Mexican Armed Forces |
Nickname(s) | FAM |
Motto(s) |
|
Anniversaries | 10 February |
Engagements |
|
Website | www |
The Mexican Air Force (FAM;
History
Mexican Revolution
The foundation of the Mexican airforce was led by five Mexican flight pioneers who were sent to New York by President Francisco Madero to master flying: Juan Pablo and Eduardo Aldasoro, Alberto and Gustavo Salinas and Horacio Ruiz. They returned to Mexico in 1913 not only as founders, but also teachers for the next generation of pilots.
The official predecessor of the Air Force was the Army's Auxiliary Aerial Militia Squadron (Escuadrilla Aérea de la Milicia Auxiliar del Ejército), created during the Mexican Revolution in April 1913 by the Secretary of War and Navy General Manuel Mondragón, who authorized pilots Miguel Lebrija and Juan Guillermo Villasana to test out bomb targets on Campo de Balbuena, the first airport in Mexico, now located in Jardín Balbuena in Mexico City.[2]
The air force exclusively performed reconnaissance missions until 10 May 1913, when
On February 5, 1915, the leader of the Constitutionalist Army, Venustiano Carranza, founded the Military Aviation Arm (Arma de Aviación Militar), which would become the current air force. Its first commander was Lt. Alberto Salinas Carranza.[4]
Other rebellions
When WWI Ace U.S. Colonel
From 1923 to 1929, Mexico was immersed in a wave of violent territorial, religious and military armed rebellions, which required the new Air Force to quickly deploy support wherever the federal army requested them. These conflicts were resolved mostly by the assertive use of air superiority alone.
On December 7, 1923, former President
In 1925, due to the shortage of airplanes caused by World War I, Mexico set up the National Aviation Workshops (TNCA) to design and build its own airplanes and aeroengines.
A territorial war was that of the
When President Plutarco Elías Calles pushed for the creation of the 'Mexican Apostolic Catholic Church', independent of Rome, it unleashed a widespread religious war known as the Cristero War. This long civil war lasted from 1926 to 1929.
In May 1927, while General Obregón seemed keen to impose the presidency to General Calles, General Arnulfo R. Gómez launched a military coup against both Obregón and Calles. His command posts were located in the cities of
Then, on March 3, 1929, a serious military coup took place, led by General José Gonzalo Escobar and heeded by various other generals. In these days, the air force's remaining airplanes consisted of worn and shot
In May 1938, the Governor of
With the imminent collapse of the Spanish Republic in 1939, the Mexican government took delivery of military aircraft destined for the Republic, strengthening its arsenal.
World War II
The
Cold War era
The first jet aircraft operated by the Mexican Air Force was the subsonic de Havilland Vampire Mk.I. Mexico received 17 Vampires during late 1960 and early 1961. This jet was nicknamed "The Flying Avocado" by Mexican flight crews due to the ovoid shape of its fuselage and the dark green night camouflage adopted by its first units. The Vampires were not popular with Mexican fighter pilots because of its lack of ejection seats. The FAM finally retired them in 1970.
The Mexican Vampires were initially complemented by 15
In 1982, the FAM received 12
In 1983 one F-5E was lost in an accident that occurred during a target practice exercise in the state of Chihuahua.
Chiapas conflict
On January 1, 1994, the day the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect, hundreds of guerrillas from the previously unknown Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) occupied several towns and cities in the southern state of Chiapas.
The FAM was mobilized to support Army units, sending almost every available helicopter to the territory of operations. Units involved included the recently formed 214th and 215th Special Operations Squadrons, equipped with a mix of
By December 1994, FAM had bought additional 12 armed MD.530MG 'Defender' and four
Although the FAM received 18 surplus Bell 206s from the Attorney General's office (PGR) in the mid-1990s, the main need identified by the FAM High Command was for a new fleet of transport helicopters that would allow it to support the Army with an adequate airlift capability.[13]
Recent times
After more than 30 yearly military parade flights without incidents, an F-5E collided in mid-air with three Lockheed T-33s on the Air-military parade accident on September 16, 1995.[14] All aircraft were lost and a total of 10 deaths occurred. Since then, for safety reasons, military parade flyovers in Mexico have been smaller in participation.
In 2004, the Mexican Air Force recorded a UFO sighting over southern Campeche.
In 2007, after more than 45 years in service, the last operational T-33s were retired. In 2012, the supersonic F-5 fighter jets had their 30th anniversary in Mexican Air Force service.[11][15] Due to high operating costs, lack of parts, and the extreme age of the aircraft, the Mexican Air Force retired all but three F-5s in late 2017.[16] In early 2019, the Mexican Air Force received repaired engines for their F-5 fighters, as part of an effort to return a handful of the aircraft to operational status.[17] In early 2023, restoration work on F-5 airframes has begun with the intention to have a total of at least nine F-5s in active service.
Because of the ongoing
On 21 February 2021, a
Territorial organization
Air Force Regions
Air Force Regions (
Air Force Bases
Air Force Bases, also called Military Air Bases (Spanish: Base Aérea Militar) (BAM), are operational and administrative entities subordinate to the Air Regions, responsible for the technical and administrative aspects, as well as the coordination of aerial operations within the Air Regions. They comprise flight units and service organizations, overseeing the airspace assigned by the Air Force Command. The primary purpose of Air Bases is to conduct and support military aerial operations, ensuring the security and defense of the designated airspace, and contributing to internal security in accordance with directives from the Zone, Air Region, Air Force Command, and Ministry of Defense. The Mexican Air Force comprises 18 Air Force Bases, each associated with a specific Air Region in the country. Components of Air Bases include Headquarters, Flight Units, Technical Services of the Air Force, and Technical and Administrative Services.[21]
Air Group | Unit | Aircraft | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Estado de Mexico – Central Air Region
| |||
1st Air Group | 101 Air Squadron | UH-60 Black Hawk
|
Mexico received two of the twelve EC-725; the first two are assigned to the 101 Air Squadron.[22] |
112 Air Squadron | MD 530MG
|
||
3rd Air Group | 301 Air Squadron | C-295, IAI 101B/102/201 | |
302 Air Squadron | C-130 Hercules
|
||
303 Air Squadron | Mi-8T/MTV-1 | ||
Aerial Surveillance Squadron | |||
VIP Transport Squadron | Boeing 757, Super Puma | ||
Air Force Base No. 2 – Ixtepec, Oaxaca – Southeast Air Region | |||
1st Air Group | 401 Air Squadron | F-5E/F | [23] |
402 Air Squadron | PC-7 | ||
Air Force Base No. 3 – Ensenada, Baja California – Northwest Air Region | |||
5th Air Group | 106 Air Squadron | Cessna 182, Cessna 206
|
|
Air Force Base No. 4 – Cozumel, Quintana Roo – Southeast Air Region | |||
2nd Air Group | 201 Air Squadron | T-6C+ | [24] |
Air Force Base No. 5 – Zapopan, Jalisco – Central Air Region | |||
5th Air Group | 105 Air Squadron | Cessna 182, Cessna 206
|
|
111 Air Squadron | Bell 206, Bell 212 | ||
Air Force Academy | Preparatory Squadron | Beech F33C | |
Primary Squadron | Aermacchi SF.260
|
||
Advanced Squadron | Pilatus PC-7 | ||
Air Force Base No. 6 – Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas – Southeast Air Region | |||
2nd Air Group | 202 Air Squadron | PC-7, PC-9M | |
Air Force Base No. 7 – Pie de la Cuesta, Guerrero – Air Region | |||
2nd Air Group | 204 Air Squadron | PC-7 | |
5th Air Group | 102 Air Squadron | Bell 206, Bell 212 | |
Air Force Base No. 8 – Mérida, Yucatán – Air Region | |||
5th Air Group | 104 Air Squadron | Cessna 210
|
|
Air Force Base No. 9 – La Paz, Baja California Sur – Northwest Air Region | |||
2nd Air Group | 203 Air Squadron | PC-7 | |
Air Force Base No. 10 – Culiacán, Sinaloa – Northwest Air Region | |||
4th Air Group | Maintenance Center | Bell 206, Cessna 206 | |
5th Air Group | 109 Air Squadron | Cessna 182
|
|
Air Force Base No. 11 – Santa Gertrudis, Chihuahua – Northeast Air Region | |||
Air Force Airtactics Military School (EMAATFA) | PC-7 | ||
Air Force Base No. 12 – Tijuana, Baja California – Northwest Air Region
| |||
no flying units assigned | |||
Chihuahua, Chihuahua – Northeast Air Region
| |||
5th Air Group | 110 Air Squadron | Cessna 182
|
|
Air Force Base No. 14 – Apodaca, Nuevo León – Northeast Air Region | |||
4th Air Group | 102 Air Squadron | Bell 206, Bell 212 | |
5th Air Group | 108 Air Squadron | Cessna 182, Cessna 206
|
|
Air Force Base No. 15 – San Juan Bautista la Raya, Oaxaca – Air Region | |||
5th Air Group | 103 Air Squadron | Bell 212 | |
Air Force Base No. 16 – Ciudad Pemex, Tabasco – Air Region | |||
no flying units assigned | |||
Air Force Base No. 17 – Comitán, Chiapas – Air Region | |||
no flying units assigned | |||
Air Force Base No. 18 – Hermosillo, Sonora – Northwest Air Region
| |||
3rd Air Group | 3rd Aerial Surveillance Squadron | Pilatus PC-6 R/P-99
|
|
5th Air Group | 107 Air Squadron | Pilatus PC-6
|
|
Ciudad de Mexico – Central Air Region
| |||
General Coordination of the Presidential Air Transport Unit (CGTAP) | |||
High Command Special Air Transport Unit (UETAAM) | UH-60 Black Hawk
|
Air Force Stations
Air Force Stations, also called Military Air Stations (Spanish: Estación Aérea Militar) (EAM), are command and control units subordinate to Air Regions, designed to support military air operations. Typically situated within civilian airport facilities, these stations serve to direct, coordinate, and provide logistical support for military air operations occurring within, from, or to their installation. These stations are exclusively integrated with service organizations, catering to the requirements of military air operations and addressing their own living and operational necessities. They may have assigned crews and aircraft in support or transit, over which they exert technical, administrative, and disciplinary control for the duration of their stay.[21]
- Air Force Station No. 1, Guadalajara International Airport
- Air Force Station No. 2, Guerrero Negro Airport
- Air Force Station No. 3, Torreón International Airport
- Air Force Station No. 4, Tampico International Airport
- Air Force Station No. 5, Military Field No. 41-A, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
- Air Force Station No. 6, Military Field No. 16-A, Irapuato, Guanajuato
- Air Force Station No. 7, Minatitlán International Airport
- Air Force Station No. 8, Loma Bonita, Oaxaca
- Air Force Station No. 9, Atlangatepec
- Air Force Station No. 10, Tenosique, Tabasco
Map of Mexican Air Force facilities
Map of Mexican Air Force Facilities
Red = Air Force Base Green = Air Force Station |
Organization
Ranks
Air Force ranks are the same as in Mexico's Army, with the exception of generals. A national commander under the orders of the Secretary of National Defense is in charge of the Mexican Air Force. The second-in-command is the Air Force Chief of Staff, who supervises a Deputy Chief of Operations and a Deputy Chief of Management.[25]
- Officer ranks
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mexican Air Force[26] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General de división | General de ala | General de grupo | Coronel | Teniente coronel | Mayor | Capitan primero | Capitán segundo | Teniente | Subteniente | Sargento 1º de cadetes | Sargento 2º de cadetes | Cabo de cadetes |
- Other ranks
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mexican Air Force[26] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sargento primero | Sargento segundo | Cabo | Soldado de primera | Soldado |
Pilot selection and training
The FAM offers higher education, middle education, technical training, tactical training and specialized technical training in its various campuses:
Air Force Academy
Since the National School of Aviation was opened in 1915, it took different names over the years until finally, in 1959 it joined the military school of meteorology, mechanics and aviation specialists, forming the leading campus in military aviation education: 'El Colegio del Aire' (Air Force Academy), which since September 9, 1959, has guided the formation of Air Force officers.[27] The Air Force Academy is an all academic institution of the Mexican Air Force and comprises four schools: 'Military Aviation School', 'Maintenance and Supply Military School', 'Air Force Military Specialist School', and the 'Military Troops' Air Force Speciaslist School'.[28]
Military Aviation School (EMA)
Admission to the Air Force is through the mechanism of military recruitment that takes place every year at The Ministry of Defense. The FAM currently offers tertiary level studies – highlighting that of Military Pilot, which spans 4 years at the facilities of the Air Force Academy located on the Military Air Base No. 5 in Zapopan, Jalisco.[29]
The subjects taught in pilot training include: tactics of the branches of aviation, general aviation tactics,
Military Air Force Specialist School (EMEFA)
Military School of Air Force Specialist offers a comprehensive scholarship lasting three years for officer training meteorologists and flight control, obtaining at the graduate level of lieutenant. His duties are to provide meteorological information and control of military or civil aircraft.[31]
School of the Air Force Specialists (EMEFA)
Military School of the Air Forces specialists is an establishment of military education that has as its mission to train sergeants in seconds aviation maintenance, supply lines, electronic aviation and military aviation. The school is located in the St. Lucía military base.[32]
Military School of Maintenance and Supply (EMMA)
In this school, officers are trained as aviation maintenance specialists, aviation electronics specialists, weapons and air supply lines.[33]
Recruitment
To enter any of the campuses of the Air Force,
- Mexican citizenship and have no other nationality
- Be the son of Mexican born parents
- Minimum age of 15 years at December 31 of the year in course
- Maximum age of 20 years at December 31 of the year in course
- Have completed high school or equivalent
- Minimum height of 1.65 m (5’-5”)
In order to be admitted to any school of the Mexican Air Force Academy mentioned above, the applicant should also perform the following tests: physical, medical, cultural, and aviation psychology. In some cases, the psychological aeromedical 2nd level examination may also be required.[34]
Aircraft
Current inventory
See also
References
- ^ a b "Cambios en Sedena: Defensa 'estrena' subsecretario; Fuerza Aérea tendrá nuevo comandante". ElFinanciero.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ Nacional, Secretaría de la Defensa. "La Aviación Militar en la Revolución Mexicana". gob.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-8130-3249-8.
- ^ "Los Orígenes". Sedena.gob.mx. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
- ^ "Post-WWII Highlights in Latin American Aviation History". Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies. Archived from the original on July 3, 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2008.
- ^ Davila Cornejo, Hector (May 10, 2003). "The Azcarate Corsair". The Latin American Aviation Historical Society. Retrieved March 22, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ Davila Cornejo, Hector. "Los Corsarios Mexicanos" (in Spanish). Sistema Informativo Aeronáutico Latinoamericano. Archived from the original on March 26, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ External links to the battle at Jiménez, Chihuahua, in 1929:[1] Archived November 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, "Historia - Chihuahua". Archived from the original on May 27, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2008., "Journal of Big Bend Studies, Volume XIV". Archived from the original on October 30, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2008.
- ^ Time magazine. June 6, 1938.
- ^ Klemen, L. "201st Mexican Fighter Squadron". The Netherlands East Indies 1941–1942. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
- ^ a b Vega, Aurora (September 29, 2012). "Resguardan aviones F5 el cielo mexicano" (in Spanish). Excelsior En Línea. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
- ^ The Anarchives (December 28, 1995). "Summary of US Military Involvement in Chiapas, Mexico". A-Infos Hyper-Archive. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
- ^ Guevara, Inigo (April 13, 2005). "Aztec Rotors - Helicopters of Mexican Air Force". Central and Latin America Database. ACIG. Archived from the original on June 22, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
- ^ Visión Mx (September 15, 2014), "Accidente de la Fuerza Aerea Mexicana Desfile 16 de Septimbre de 1995", YouTube, archived from the original on February 19, 2020, retrieved October 9, 2019
- ^ Adrián, Jazmín (July 4, 2012). "Squadron 401 of F5 Northrop by Mexican Air Force celebrates 30 years". Demotix. Archived from the original on November 25, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ Raúl Rodríguez Cortés (September 16, 2016). "El último vuelo de los F-5". El Universal. Archived from the original on May 6, 2017.
- ^ Mariano García (February 12, 2019). "Ruag entrega tres de los seis motores a reparar de los Tiger II mexicanos". Infodefensa.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
- ^ Jordi Díez; Ian Nicholls (January 2006). "The Mexican Armed Forces in Transition" (PDF). Strategic Studies Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 3, 2008. Retrieved April 25, 2008.
- ^ "Mexican Air Force plane crashes near airport, killing 6". February 21, 2021.
- ^ "Regiones Aéreas. Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional".
- ^ a b "Bases Aéreas. Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional".
- ^ "Refuerzan la flota aérea de Sedena". Noroeste.com.mx. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
- ^ "Ruag entrega tres de los seis motores a reparar de los Tiger II mexicanos".
- ^ SIPSE, Grupo (November 12, 2016). "Aeronaves del Escuadrón 201 vigilan los litorales de Cozumel". SIPSE.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
- ^ "Comisión de Defensa Nacional / Senado de la República". May 2, 2007. Archived from the original on May 2, 2007.
- ^ Secretary of National Defense (June 27, 2019). "Manual gráfico para el uso de Uniformes, Divisas y Equipo del Ejército y F.A.M."[Graphic manual for the use of Uniforms, Badges and Equipment of the Army and Air Force] (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ Douglas, Lawrence; Hansen, Taylor (2006). "Los orígenes de la Fuerza Aérea Mexicana 1913 -1915" (in Spanish). Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Adiestramiento y Capacitación" (in Spanish). Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional. 2009. Archived from the original on March 22, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "FAMV Fuerza Aerea Mexicana Virtual". www.famvirtual.org. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
- ^ "Escuela Militar de Aviación" (in Spanish). Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional. March 2009. Archived from the original on April 2, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Escuela Militar de Especialistas de la Fuerza Aerea" (in Spanish). Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional. 2009. Archived from the original on March 10, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Escuela Militar de Tropas Especialistas de la Fuerza Aerea" (in Spanish). Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional. 2009. Archived from the original on March 31, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Escuela Militar de Mantenimiento y Abastecimiento" (in Spanish). Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional. 2009. Archived from the original on March 25, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Admisión 2009 a Planteles Militares" (in Spanish). Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional. 2009. Archived from the original on March 19, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ Garibian, Pablo (August 24, 2010). "Mexico buys drones, may use for marijuana search". Reuters.
Bibliography
- Hagedorn, Daniel P. (September–October 1996). "Talkback". Air Enthusiast (65): 80. ISSN 0143-5450.
External links
- History of the Mexican Air Force.(in Spanish)
- Planes and helicopters of the Mexican Air Force (in Spanish).
- [2]
- Ralph O'Neal en Mexico