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 unit of the Mexican Navy. The Mexican Navy is divided into two naval fleets: Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

History

Naval aviation in Mexico dates back to 1918, when a Mexican-made float biplane was successfully tested by Carlos Santa Ana at the Port of Veracruz, In 1926 a squadron of floatplanes were designed and made for the Mexican Navy, but without personnel. Carlos Castillo Breton became the first Mexican naval pilot in 1927 after training in the U.S. and Mexico.

Between 1927 and 1943, more 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, Mexican Naval Aviation was assigned to support the ground and sea naval units in search and 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. They also purchased French, U.S. and German-made helicopters and the Finnish-built L-90 Redigo. In 1999 the Mexican navy started a program to build kit planes and light helicopters at Las Bajadas, Veracruz.

2023

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 aboard 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.

Naval Air Bases

Facilities

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

• Tampico Naval Air Base, 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
• Las Bajadas Naval Air Base, 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 Naval Air Base, 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 Naval Air Base, 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

Pacific Naval Air Force – HQ in Manzanillo, Colima

• Guaymas Naval Air Base, Guaymas
  • 1st Interception and Reconnaissance Naval Air Squadron – operating L-90TP, MX-7-180A
• La Paz Naval Air Base, 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 Naval Air Base, Lázaro Cárdenas
  • 2nd Search and Rescue Naval Air Squadron – operating AS555 AF, Mi-2
• Mexico City Naval Air Base
  • 1st Transport Naval Air Squadron – operating Gulfstream G450, Learjet 25, Learjet 31, Learjet 60, DHC-8-Q202

• Acapulco Naval Air Base, Acapulco
  • 2nd Search and Rescue Naval Air Squadron – operating AS555 AF, Mi-2
• Salina Cruz Naval Air Base, Salina Cruz
  • 1st Search and Rescue Naval Air Squadron – operating AS555 AF, Mi-2
• Tapachula Naval Air Base, 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

Aircraft

Current inventory

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

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

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Maritime patrol
King Air	United States	surveillance	350	5
CASA C-212	Spain	maritime patrol		7
CASA CN-235	Spain / Indonesia	maritime patrol / SAR		6	equipped with a thermal imaging camera for surveillance.
Transport
Cessna 208	United States	utility / transport		2
Super King Air	United States	utility / transport	350	4
CASA CN-235	Spain / Indonesia	maritime patrol / SAR		6
Bombardier Dash 8	Canada	maritime patrol / SAR		2
Turbo Commander	United States	transport		4
Learjet 45	United States	utility / transport		2
Helicopters
Mil Mi-17	Russia	utility		25
MD Explorer	United States	utility		6
Sikorsky UH-60	United States	utility	UH-60M	10
Eurocopter EC725	France	SAR / transport		3
Eurocopter AS565	France	SAR / utility		14
Eurocopter AS555	France	utility		1
Trainer aircraft
Zlín Z 42	Czech Republic	trainer	242	26
Zlin Z 43	Czech Republic	trainer	143	2
T-6 Texan II	United States	trainer	T-6C+	13
Sikorsky S-333	United States	rotorcraft trainer		10

See also

• Mexican Air Force
• List of Mexican military installations
• List of airports in Mexico
• List of airports by ICAO code: M