Brazilian Air Force
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Brazilian Armed Forces |
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Military history of Brazil |
The Brazilian Air Force (Portuguese: Força Aérea Brasileira, FAB) is the air force branch of the Brazilian armed forces.
History
Formation
FAB was founded on January 20, 1941 in response to a growing number of German submarines on the Brazilian coast in the beginning of World War II.
Equipped with American airplanes, mainly the P-47 Thunderbolt, the FAB saw action on the Italian front, earning respect for its high number of sorties flown and the hard work of both pilots and support personnel.
Post World War II
After the war, the FAB begin operating the British Gloster Meteor jet fighter. The jet was bought from the British with 15,000 tons of crude cotton, as the Brazilian Republic had no foreign currency reserves to spare. The jet was operated by the FAB until the 1970s, when it was replaced by the Northrop F-5 Tiger. The FAB also had in its squads the F-80C and TF-33A, which was replaced by the F-5 and Mirage III jets.
Cold War
During the Cold War, The Brazilian Republic was an ally of the United States and NATO. This meant that the F-5 could be bought cheaply from the United States, who practically sponsored this jet as the Freedom Fighter. Many other countries, such as Mexico, benefited from this policy.
The now successful Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica, Brazilian Aeronautic Co.) has its origins as an enterprise directly managed and sponsored by FAB. Working with Italian corporations, it developed the new AMX fighter which makes up the backbone of the FAB's attack force. The successful Tucano T-27 trainer and the new light attack aircraft "A-29" (mainly based on the T-27 turboprop, but with a more powerful engine and fourth generation avionics and precision weaponry) are also developments from Embraer.
Present
The FAB was looking for a new jet fighter to replace its aging Mirage III. The former competitors were the General Dynamics F-16, the Dassault-Embraer Mirage 2000-BR, the SAAB-BAE Gripen, and the Sukhoi Su-35. The project, called F-X project, was cancelled; the FAB high command alleges that most competitors will soon become obsolete. Some specialists say the Gripen fighter does not have enough operational range for the FAB's purposes. The government stated that the money is needed for fighting poverty.
Some rumors circulated about the FAB and Embraer joining the French fighter programme Dassault Rafale. Other rumors stated the FAB made a deal with Sukhoi and Avibras in order to obtain Sukhoi Su-35 fighters and its technology as soon as they start being manufactured in large scale. However, until these rumors can be confirmed, or another program initiated, the Brazilian Air Force will need a step fighter, for the Mirage III has retired in 2005. The F-5 (currently being upgraded by Embraer) is an option, since many F-5s in good condition are spoiling in the inventory of other nations, available for low prices. However, the Brazilian government recently bought one squadron (12 units) of used Mirage 2000s from the French. FAB still has in mind the purchase of new aircraft until 2011. Rafale, EF-2000 and SU-35 are the preferred aircraft of Brazilian pilots, but Brazilian Air Force's lack of funds may change the result.
Command Structure
The Brazilian Air Force is the aerospace branch of the Brazilian armed forces and it is managed by the "Comando da Aeronáutica” (COMAer). The COMAer was created in 1999 [1] and replaced the “Ministério da Aeronáutica”. Now the COMAer is one of the three armed forces currently assigned to the “Ministério da Defesa” (like the US Department of Defense).
The COMAer is lead by the "Comandante da Aeronáutica" (the same as Secretary of the Air Force). Unlike USAF, the "Comandante da Aeronáutica" is a “Major-Brigadeiro-do-Ar” (the most senior rank currently used in the Air Force, witch is the same as USAF four-star general). He is nominated by the President and reports directly to the "Ministro da Defesa" (same as Secretary of Defense).
It currently comprises six major components or organizations (four "Comandos-Gerais" and two "Departamentos"). The “Comando-Geral de Operações Aéreas” (COMGAR or General Air Command), with head quarter in Brasília, supervises most of the flying operations. As the main flying element, COMGAR administers several sub-formations in the form of four “Forças Aéreas” (FAe or Air Forces) and seven “Comandos Aéreos Regionais” (COMAR or Regional Air Commands).
Besides COMGAR, other major parallel organizations, which also report directly to the COMAer, are the “Comando-Geral de Apoio” (COMGAP or Support Command), “Comando-Geral do Pessoal” (COMGEP or Personel Command), “Comando-Geral de Tecnologia Aeroespacial” (DEPED or R&D Department), “Departamento de Ensino da Aeronáutica” (DEPENS or Training Department), “Departamento de Aviação Civil” (DAC or Civil Aviation Departament) and “Departamento de Controle do Espaço Aéreo” (DECEA or Airspace and Traffic Control Departament).
Air Units Organization
At unit levels, "Grupo" (wings) usually comprise anything from one to sixteen consecutively-numbered "Esquadrões" (squadrons), each with varying numbers of aircraft from half dozen to 12 or more. Smaller formations are known as "Esquadrilhas" (flights). According to its tasks, a "Grupo" has the following designations:
- Grupo de Defesa Aérea (GDA): air defense fighter
- Grupo de Transporte (GT): transport, flight refuelling
- Grupo de Aviação (GAv): fighter, attack, reconnaissance, SAR, rotary wing
- Grupo de Aviação de Caça (GAvCa); fighter, attack
- Grupo de Transporte de Tropas (GTT): transport, troop carrying, parachutist drop
- Grupo Especial de Inspeção em Vôo (GEIV): calibration
- Grupo Especial de Ensaios de Vôo (GEEV): flight test
- Grupo de Transporte Especial (GTE): VIP transport
Commom used designations for squadrons are:
- ETA - Esquadrão de Transporte Aéreo: general transport
- EIA - Esquadrão de Instrução Aérea: basic and advanced training
- EDA - Esquadrão de Demonstração Aérea (also called "Esquadrilha da Fumaça"): demonstration flying team
The air units are organized as follows:
COMGAR sub-formation | Air unit | Aircraft type | Air base |
---|---|---|---|
I FAe | 1º/5º GAv | C-95 | Fortaleza |
2º/5º GAv | A-29A,A-29B | Natal | |
1º/11º GAv | UH-50 | Santos | |
II FAe | 1º/7º GAv | P-95B | Salvador |
2º/7º GAv | P-95B | Florianópolis | |
3º/7º GAv | P-95A | Belém | |
4º/7º GAv | P-95A | Santa Cruz | |
1º/8º GAv | UH-1H | Belém | |
2º/8º GAv | UH-50 | Recife | |
3º/8º GAv | CH-34 | Campo dos Afonsos | |
5º/8º GAv | UH-1H | Santa Maria | |
7º/8º GAv | UH-1H,H-60L | Manaus | |
2º/10º GAv | UH-1H,SC-95B | Campo Grande | |
III FAe | 1º GAvCa | F-5E,AT-27 | Santa Cruz |
1º GDA | F-2000,AT-26,AT-27 | Anápolis | |
1º/3º GAv | AT-27 | Boa Vista | |
2º/3º GAv | AT-27,A-29A | Porto Velho | |
3º/3º GAv | AT-27 | Campo Grande | |
1º/4º GAv | AT-26 | Natal | |
1º/6º GAv | R-35A,R-95 | Recife | |
2º/6º GAv | R-99A/B,C-98 | Anápolis | |
1º/10º GAv | A-1,A-1B | Santa Maria | |
3º/10º GAv | RA-1,RA-1B | Santa Maria | |
1º/14º GAv | F-5EM,F-5FM,AT-27 | Canoas | |
1º/16º GAv | A-1,A-1B | Santa Cruz | |
V FAe | 1º GTT | C-130E/H | Campo dos Afonsos |
1º/1º GT | C-130H/KC-130H | Galeão | |
1º/2º GAv | C-99 | Galeão | |
2º/2º GAv | KC-137 | Galeão | |
1º/9º GAv | C-115 | Manaus | |
1º/15º GAv | C-95B | Campo Grande | |
I COMAR | 1º ETA | C-95B,C-98 | Belém |
II COMAR | 2º ETA | C-95 | Recife |
III COMAR | 3º ETA | C-95B,C-97 | Galeão |
IV COMAR | 4º ETA | C-95A | São Paulo |
V COMAR | 5º ETA | C-95A | Canoas |
VI COMAR | 6º ETA | C-95c, VU-9,VC-97 | Brasília |
VII COMAR | 7º ETA | C-95B,C-97,C-98 | Manaus |
Other air units are:
major component | Air unit | Aircraft type | Air base |
---|---|---|---|
DECEA | GEIV | EC-95B/C,EU-93/A | Santos Dumont |
DEPED | GEEV | A-1,XU-93,T-27,CH-55 | São José deos Campos |
DEPENS | 1º EIA | T-27 | Pirassununga |
DEPENS | 2º EIA | T-25A/C | Pirassununga |
DEPENS | Clube de Vôo a Vela | U-19,Z-15,Z-16,TZ-13 | Pirassununga |
DEPENS | Suport | C-95A, UH-50,U-7 | Pirassununga |
Reporting direct to Air Force cabinet | GTE | VC-1A,VC-96,VU-93,VH-34,VH-55 | Brasília |
Reporting direct to Air Force cabinet | EDA | T-27 | Pirassununga |
Operations
One of the most recent operations of the FAB was the bombing of illegal landing sites in the Amazon Forest, used by drug dealers to transport drugs into and out of Brazil (see SIVAM). The operation also had support from the Brazilian Army and Brazilian Federal Police with many drug dealers being arrested as a result. The AMX Bomber/Fighter was used in this operation.
The FAB is currently working on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) supporting the United Nations force (a joint Brazilian, Uruguaian and Argentinian force) currently deployed there.
SIVAM
FAB is responsible for the aerospace vigilance and defence on program Sistema de Vigilância da Amazônia (Amazon Surveillance System).
Aircraft
Aircraft | FAB Designation | Role | Number |
---|---|---|---|
Airbus A319 | VC-1A | VIP Transport | 1 |
AMX International AMX | A-1A/B | Attack/Recon | 53 |
Bell 205 | UH-1H | Attack/SAR/Utility | 42 |
Bell 206B Jet Ranger | H-4B | Utility | 2 |
Boeing 707-320C | KC-137 | Aerial refueling/VIP/Transport | 4 |
Boeing 737-200 | VC-96 | VIP Transport | 2 |
British Aerospace BAe 125-400 | EU-93/VU-93/XU-93 | Calibration/VIP Transport/Flight test | 10 |
Cessna 208 Caravan/208B Gran Caravan | C-98/B | Transport/Utility | 7/10 |
Dassault Mirage 2000B/C** | F-2000B/C | Interception/Training | 10/2 |
De Havilland Canada DHC-5A Buffalo | C-115 | Transport | 10 |
EADS/CASA C-212 Aviocar** | Transport | 50 | |
EADS/CASA C-295** | C-105A | Transport | 12 |
Embraer EMB 145SA/RS | R-99A/B | AEW/SR | 5/3 |
Embraer EMB 110/K1/P1K/P1A/A Bandeirante | C-95/A/B/C/EC-95/SC-95B | Transport/Calibration/SAR | 90 |
Embraer EMB 111A/B Bandeirulha | P-95A/B | MPA | 19 |
Embraer EMB 120RT Brasília | C/VC-97 | Transport/VIP Transport | 23 |
Embraer EMB 121 Xingu | VU-9 | VIP/Transport | 6 |
Embraer ERJ 145 | C-99 | Transport/VIP Transport | 10 |
Embraer EMB 210R Ipanema | U-19 | REB | 2 |
Embraer EMB 312 Tucano | AT/T-27 | Attack/Liaison/Training/Demonstration | 107 |
Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano** | A-29A/B | Attack/Training | 99 |
Embraer EMB 326GB Xavante/Atlas Impala Mk I/II | AT-26/A | Attack/Training | 30/12 |
Embraer EMB 810 Seneca II/III | U-7/7A | Liaison/Utility | 9 |
Eurocopter AS 332M Cougar | CH-34/VH-34 | Transport/VIP Transport | 10/1 |
Lear Jet VC/R-35A | VC/R-35A | VIP Transport | 9/3 |
Lear Jet VC-55 | VU-55C | VIP Transport | 1 |
Glasflügel H-201B | Z-15 | PLA | 1 |
Helibras HB 350B | H-50 | Liaison/SAR/Transport | 25 |
Helibras HB-355 | H-55 | Utility/VIP Transport | 3 |
IPAE Quero-quero | Z-16 | PLA/Trainer | 6 |
LET Blanick L-13/L-23/L-33 Solo | TZ-13 | PLA/Trainer | 3/4/2 |
Lockheed KC/C-130E/H Hercules | C-130 | Transport | 23 |
Lockheed P-3BR Orion* | P-3M | MPA/ASW | 8 |
Neiva Regente | U-42 | Liaison/Utility | 21 |
Neiva T-25 Universal | T-25A/B/C | Basic Trainer | 96 |
Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II*** | F-5E/F | Interception/Fighter/Attack/Trainer | 49/6 |
Raytheon BAe Hawker 800XP | EU-93A | Calibration | 4 |
Schleicher ASW 20 | Z-20 | PLA | 1 |
Sikorsky S-70** | H-60L | C-SAR | 6 |
*Order placed
**Order placed (delivery underway) / One Mirage 2000C and one B delivered on September 2006, the others should be delivered up to 2008
***Undergoing modernization to reach M standard
Notes
See also
- Brazilian Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron - Esquadrilha da Fumaça
- Brazilian Navy
- Brazilian Army