Mexican Air Force

Mexican Military

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The Mexican Air Force (in Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Mexicana) is the aviation branch of the Mexican defense forces and depends on the National Defense Secretariat. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, it has 11,770 men, 107 combat aircraft and 71 armed helicopters.[1] As of 2005, its national commander is Gen. Manuel Víctor Estrada Ricardez.

The Air Force was created on February 5 1915 by the leader of the Mexican Constitutionalist Army, Venustiano Carranza, as Arma de Aviación Militar (in English: Military Air Weapon). Its first commander was Lt. Alberto Salinas Carranza.

The Escuadrón 201, a P-47 fighter squadron of the FAM, served in the Pacific against Japan during World War II.

Structure

A national commander under the orders of the Secretary of National Defense is in charge of the Mexican Air Force. The second in command is the Air Force Chief of Staff, who supervise a Deputy Chief of Operations and a Deputy Chief of Management. The Air Force divides the Mexican territory in four regions: Northwestern, Northeastern, Central and Southeastern. Each region is commanded by a general and the regional headquarters are located in Hermosillo, Sonora, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico City, and Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, respectively. The regional headquarters are in charge of 18 air bases across the country:

1	Santa Lucía, México	10	Culiacán, Sinaloa
2	Ixtepec, Oaxaca	11	Santa Gertrudis, Chihuahua
3	Ciprés, Baja California	12	Tijuana, Baja California
4	Cozumel, Quintana Roo	13	Chihuahua, Chihuahua
5	Zapopan, Jalisco	14	Escobedo, Nuevo León
6	Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas	15	San Juan Bautista de la Raya, Oaxaca
7	Pie de la Cuesta, Guerrero	16	Ciudad Pemex, Tabasco
8	Mérida, Yucatán	17	Copalar, Chiapas
9	La Paz, Baja California Sur	18	Hermosillo, Sonora

Fleet

• Tactical fighters: Northrop F-5E and F5F-Tiger.
• Transportation: Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Antonov An-32 and Boeing 727.
• Reconnaissance: Shrike Commander, Beechcraft King Air and Cessna 182S.
• surveillance: Embraer EMB-145AEW&C, Embraer EMB-145MP.
• Helicopters: Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, MD-500, Mil Mi-2, Mil Mi-8, Mil Mi-17, Mil Mi-26 and Bell 212.
• Trainers: Lockheed T-33, Pilatus PC-7 and Aermacchi F-260 (SIAI Marchetti).

External links

• History of the Mexican Air Force (in Spanish).
• Planes and helicopters of the Mexican Air Force (in Spanish).