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 | |
Active | 1918-Present |
Country | Mexico |
Branch | Mexican Navy |
Type | Naval aviation |
Role | Aerial Surveillance, Troop Transport, Search and Rescue |
Insignia | |
Roundel |
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.
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.
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.
Gulf of Mexico Naval Air Force – HQ in Tuxpan, Veracruz
Pacific Naval Air Force – HQ in Manzanillo, Colima
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maritime Patrol | ||||||
King Air | United States | surveillance | 350 | 5[4] | ||
CASA C-212 | Spain | maritime patrol | 7[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 | 2[4] | |||
Super King Air | United States | utility / transport | 350 | 4[4] | ||
CASA CN-235 | Spain / Indonesia | maritime patrol / SAR | 6[4] | |||
Bombardier Dash 8 | Canada | maritime patrol / SAR | 2[4] | |||
Turbo Commander | United States | transport | 4[4] | |||
Learjet 45 | United States | utility / transport | 2[4] | |||
Helicopters | ||||||
Mil Mi-17 | Russia | utility | 15[4] | |||
MD Explorer | United States | utility | 5[4] | |||
Sikorsky UH-60 | United States | utility | UH-60M | 7[4] | ||
Eurocopter EC725 | France | SAR / transport | 3[4] | |||
Eurocopter AS565 | France | SAR / utility | 13[4] | 1 lost in March 2024[5] | ||
Eurocopter AS555 | France | utility | 1[4] | |||
Trainer Aircraft | ||||||
Zlín Z 42 | Czech Republic | trainer | 242 | 26[4] | ||
Zlin Z 43 | Czech Republic | trainer | 143 | 2[4] | ||
T-6 Texan II | United States | trainer | T-6C+ | 13[4] | ||
Sikorsky S-333 | United States | rotorcraft trainer | 10[4] |