Mexican Air Force

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Mexican Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Mexicana
Founded1913; 111 years ago (1913)
Country Mexico
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Part ofMexican Armed Forces
Nickname(s)FAM
Motto(s)
  • Honor, Valor y Lealtad
  • "Honour, Courage and Loyalty"
Anniversaries10 February
Engagements
Websitewww.sedena.gob.mx/index.php?id=95
Commanders
Current
commander
Gerardo Vega Rivera [1]
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
AttackPC-7, PC-9M, MD 500, T-6C+
Electronic
warfare
Embraer R-99
HelicopterMil Mi-8, Mil Mi-17, EC-725, UH-60, MD 500
InterceptorNorthrop F-5E
ReconnaissanceC-90A King Air, Sabreliner 75A, Fairchild C-26
TrainerPC-7, PC-9M
TransportC-130, Boeing 787, Boeing 757, IAI Arava, Antonov An-32

The Mexican Air Force (FAM; in Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Mexicana) is the air force branch of the Mexican Army, it depends on the Secretary of National Defense (SEDENA), the commander of this air force is Miguel Enrique Vallín Osuna (since 2017).

It has participated in different conflicts, During the Mexican Revolution, they participated in the Battles of Topolobampo,[2] where the first air-naval attacks in history would be carried out, During World War II sending the Well-known "Squadron 201"[3] which would fight in battles against the Forces Japanese in Luzon, during the Chiapas Rebellion where they would participate against the Zapatista Army of National Liberation[4] and in the Current War against Drug Trafficking.[5]

Aircrafts[change | change source]

Mexico’s Boeing 787 on touch down
A Eurocopter EC225 at Mexico City International Airport
A Bell 412EP of the Mexican Air Force
Fuerza Aerea Mexicana C-130
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Pilatus PC-7 Switzerland light attack 33[6]
Northrop F-5 United States fighter F-5E/F-5F 3 / 1[6]
AWACS
Embraer R-99 Brazil AEW&C 1[6] employes a Erieye radar system
Maritime Patrol
Embraer R-99 Brazil maritime patrol R-99 2[6]
Reconnaissance
King Air United States surveillance 350 2[6]
Cessna Citation I United States surveillance 2[6]
Transport
Boeing 787 United States VIP transport 787-8 1[7]
Boeing 737 United States Strategic Transport transport 737-200/737-300/737-800 3[6]
C-27J Spartan Italy utility transport 4[6]
C-130 Hercules United States transport C-130E/K/L-100 3[6]
CASA C-295 Spain transport 8[6]
Super King Air United States utility transport 90/300 3[6]
Turbo Commander United States transport 2[6]
Pilatus PC-6 Switzerland utility / transport 2[6] STOL capable aircraft
Helicopters
Bell 206 United States utility 25[6] 9 aircraft are used for training
Bell 407 United States utility 17[6]
Bell 412 United States utility 9[6]
Bell UH-1 United States utility UH-1H 1[6]
Sikorsky UH-60 United States utility UH-60M 16 7 on order[6]
Mil Mi-17 Russia utility Mi-8/17 26[6]
Eurocopter EC725 France SAR / utility 12 4 on order[6]
MD 500 Defender United States light utility 530F 13[6]
Trainer Aircraft
Pilatus PC-7 Switzerland trainer 31[6]
Pilatus PC-9 Switzerland trainer 1[6]
Grob G 120TP Germany basic trainer 25[6]
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 Italy trainer 25[6]
T-6 Texan II United States trainer T-6C 56[6]
UAV
Elbit Hermes 450 Israel surveillance 3[8]

References[change | change source]

  1. General de División Piloto Aviador Diplomado de Estado Mayor Aéreo Miguel Enrique Vallín Osuna. Archived February 19, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Comandante de la Fuerza Aérea Mexicana. SEDENA, 1 December 2017.
  2. J.H. Klein, “The Career Of The Mexican Gunboat Tampico”. Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Institute Proceedings, Vol. 44, No. 3 March 1918. https://archive.org/stream/proceedingsofuni44261918unit/ proceedingsofuni44261918unit_djvu.txt
  3. "Saga of the Aztec Eagles," Los Angeles Times July 25, 2004
  4. "How Mexico's guerrilla army stayed clear of organized crime". www.insightcrime.org. 9 January 2012.
  5. Zabludovsky, Karla (2 August 2012). "In Mexico, Reclaiming the Forests and the Right to Feel Safe". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  6. 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 6.25 "World Air Forces 2022". Flightglobal. 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  7. "Mexican air force 787 starts VIP conversion". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  8. Garibian, Pablo (2010-08-24). "Mexico buys drones, may use for marijuana search". Reuters.