Mexican Naval Aviation

Mexican Naval Aviation
Fuerza AeroNaval
Active	1918-Present
Country	Mexico
Branch	Mexican Navy
Type	Naval aviation
Role	Aerial Surveillance, Troop Transport, Search and Rescue
Insignia
Roundel

Mexican Naval Aviation (FAN; Spanish: Fuerza AeroNaval, lit. '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 Mexican Naval Air Force BO-105 helicopter in 2002

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 , Veracruz.

In 2001 the Mexican naval aviation reported it had 118 aircraft, of which 68 were fixed-wing in 9 squadrons, and 50 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]

Structure[]

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

• , 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
• , 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
  • 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
  • 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

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

Pacific Naval Air Force – HQ in Manzanillo, Colima

• , Guaymas
  • 1st Interception and Reconnaissance Naval Air Squadron – operating L-90TP, MX-7-180A
• , 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
  • 2nd Search and Rescue Naval Air Squadron – operating AS555 AF, Mi-2
• , Acapulco
  • 2nd Search and Rescue Naval Air Squadron – operating AS555 AF, Mi-2
• , Salina Cruz
  • 1st Search and Rescue Naval Air Squadron – operating AS555 AF, Mi-2
• , 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

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

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

See also[]

• Mexican Air Force

References[]