Peruvian Air Force

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Peruvian Air Force

Peruvian Air Force Sukhoi Su-25
Active 1950 -
Country Peru
Part of Ministry of Defense
Headquarters The "Little" Pentagon
Engagements Ecuadorian-Peruvian war
Cenepa war
Commanders
Leadership Miguel Ángel Gómez Vizcarra
(Commander-In-Chief),
Fernando Villacorta Bazán
(Chief of Staff)
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack A-37B, Su-25
Electronic
warfare		 C-26B
Interceptor MiG-29, Mirage 2000
Reconnaissance Lear Jet 25, Lear Jet 36
Trainer EMB-312, MB-339,

Zlin 242L
Transport An-32, Boeing 737, DHC-6, Falcon 20, F-28, C-130 Hercules, PC-6, Y-12

The Peruvian Air Force (Spanish: Fuerza Aérea del Perú, abbreviated FAP) is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with defending the nation and its interests through the use of air power. Additional missions include assistance in safeguarding internal security, conducting disaster relief operations and participating in international peacekeeping operations.

Contents

[edit] History

On May 20, 1929, the aviation divisions of the Peruvian Army and Navy were merged into the Cuerpo de Aviación del Perú (Peruvian Aviation Corps, abbreviated CAP). During the Colombian-Peruvian War of 1933, its Vought O2U Corsair and Curtiss F11 Hawk planes fought in the Amazon region. The corps was renamed Cuerpo Aeronáutico del Perú (Peruvian Aeronautical Corps, also abbreviated CAP) on March 12, 1936. In 1941, the CAP participated in the Peruvian-Ecuadorian War. At that time, the CAP were equipped with Caproni Ca.114 and North American NA.50 Torito fighters, Douglas 8A-3P attack fighters and Caproni Ca.310 Libeccio bombers,[1] among others.

During the presidency of Manuel A. Odría the corps was reorganized again and on July 18, 1950 it became the Fuerza Aérea del Perú (Air Force of Peru, abbreviated FAP). The service underwent a period of considerable expansion through out the 1970s and early 1980s which included the introduction of an important number of soviet-made aircraft. In 1982, during the Falklands War, the Peruvian Air Force transferred ten of their Mirage 5P to the Argentine Air Force as a measure of solidarity. The economic crisis of the later 1980s forced reductions in the fleet size as well as cuts in training and general readiness.

Under those conditions the FAP fought the Cenepa War against Ecuador in 1995 and lost nine planes and helicopters. After the war, the FAP acquired new material, including MiG-29 fighters and Su-25 attack fighters which, along with Mirage 2000 fighters, are currently the main combat elements of the FAP.

[edit] Organization

A-37Bs are based at Piura with the 7th Air Group
A-37Bs are based at Piura with the 7th Air Group

The current Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of Peru is General Miguel Ángel Gómez Vizcarra. Aerial forces are subordinated to the Ministry of Defense and ultimately to the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Peruvian Armed Forces. Operational units are organized as follows:

[edit] Ala Aérea Nº 1

1st Air Wing, headquarterd at Piura

  • Grupo Aéreo Nº 6 (6th Air Group) based at Chiclayo
    • Escuadrón Aéreo 612 (Fighter Squadron 612 "Cock Fighters") - operating MiG-29S/SE/UB
  • Grupo Aéreo Nº 7 (7th Air Group) based at Piura
    • Escuadrón Aéreo 711 (Fighter Squadron 711 "Scorpions") - operating A-37B
  • Grupo Aéreo Nº 11 (11th Air Group) based at Talara
    • Escuadrón Aéreo 112 (Fighter Squadron 112 "Tigers") - operating Su-25/UB
Peruvian MiG-29 at Halcon-Condor 2007 festival.
Peruvian MiG-29 at Halcon-Condor 2007 festival.

[edit] Ala Aérea Nº 2

2nd Air Wing, headquarterd at Callao

  • Grupo Aéreo Nº 3 (3rd Air Group) based at Callao
    • Escuadrón Aéreo 332 (Medium-Airlift Helicopter Squadron 332) - operating Mi-17
  • Grupo Aéreo Nº 8 (8th Air Group) based at Callao
    • Escuadrón Aéreo 811 (Transport Squadron 811)

[edit] Ala Aérea Nº 3

The Mirage 2000P are deployed in La Joya Air Base, Arequipa.
The Mirage 2000P are deployed in La Joya Air Base, Arequipa.

3rd Air Wing, headquarterd at Arequipa

  • Grupo Aéreo Nº 2 (2nd Air Group) based at Vítor
    • Escuadrón Aéreo 211 (Attack Helicopter Squadron 211) - operating Mi-25D
  • Grupo Aéreo Nº 4 (4th Air Group) based at La Joya
    • Escuadrón Aéreo 411 (Fighter Squadron 411 "Hawks") - operating Mirage 2000P/DP
    • Escuadrón Aéreo 513 (Advance Training Squadrons 513) - operating MB-339AP
  • Grupo Aéreo Nº 51 (51st Air Group) based at Pisco
    • Escuadrón Aéreo 511 (Basic Training Squadron 511) - operating Zlin 242L
    • Escuadrón Aéreo 512 (Intermediate Training Squadron 512) - operating EMB-312

[edit] Ala Aérea Nº 5

5th Air Wing, headquarterd at Iquitos

  • Grupo Aéreo Nº 42 (42nd Air Group) based at Iquitos

[edit] Personnel

MB-339s are used for advanced training.
MB-339s are used for advanced training.
SA-3 Pechora SAM on display at Las Palmas Airbase - 2006
SA-3 Pechora SAM on display at Las Palmas Airbase - 2006
Personnel (as of 2001) [2]
Commissioned Officers 1,909
Non-commissioned officers 7,559
Cadets 325
NCO in training 296
Enlisted 7,880
Civilians 8,708
Total 17,969
(excl. civilians)

[edit] Equipment

Numbers shown below are derived from open sources, they should be regarded as estimates due to lack of confirmation from official sources.

MiG-29 on display, Las Palmas Air Base
MiG-29 on display, Las Palmas Air Base
Mirage 2000P on display at Halcon-Condor 2007 festival
Mirage 2000P on display at Halcon-Condor 2007 festival
The Sukhoi Su-22 was the backbone of the Peruvian Air Force until the late 90s.
The Sukhoi Su-22 was the backbone of the Peruvian Air Force until the late 90s.
Antonov An-32B taxing at Quiñones Air Base, Chiclayo
Antonov An-32B taxing at Quiñones Air Base, Chiclayo
A-37B on display at Capitan Concha Air Base, Piura.
A-37B on display at Capitan Concha Air Base, Piura.
Bell 212 armed with rocket pods.
Bell 212 armed with rocket pods.
Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service Notes
English Electric Canberra Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom bomber aircraft B.Mk.12/56
T.Mk.4		 4
1		 In storage, awaiting disposal
Dassault Mirage 5 Flag of France France attack aircraft Mirage 5P4
Mirage 5DP4		 10
2		 In storage, awaiting disposal
Sukhoi Su-22 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union attack aircraft Su-22M3
Su-22UM3		 10
1		 In storage
Dassault Mirage 2000 Flag of France France multirole fighter Mirage 2000P
Mirage 2000DP		 10
2
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Flag of Russia Russia tactical fighter MiG-29S
MiG-29SE
MiG-29UB		 14
3
2
Sukhoi Su-25 Flag of Russia Russia attack aircraft Su-25
Su-25UB		 10
8
Cessna A-37 Dragonfly Flag of the United States United States light attack aircraft A-37B 10
Aermacchi MB-339 Flag of Italy Italy trainer aircraft MB-339AP 14
Embraer EMB 312 Tucano Flag of Brazil Brazil trainer aircraft EMB-312 18
Zlin Z 142 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic trainer aircraft Zlin 242L 17
Fairchild C-26 Metroliner Flag of the United States United States ELINT C-26B 3
Boeing 707 Flag of the United States United States aerial refueling
transport		 707-323KC 1 Grounded, awaiting disposal
Boeing 737 Flag of the United States United States transport
transport
VIP transport		 737-200
737-300
737-500		 2
3
1
Douglas DC-8 Flag of the United States United States transport DC-8-62CF 1 Grounded, awaiting disposal
Lockheed C-130 Hercules Flag of the United States United States transport L-100-20 5 2 in storage
Antonov An-32 Flag of Ukraine Ukraine transport An-32B 5
Harbin Y-12 Flag of the People's Republic of China China transport Y-12 II 5
Dassault Falcon 20 Flag of France France VIP transport Falcon 20F 1
Fokker F-28 Fellowship Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands transport F-28 1
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Flag of Canada Canada utility aircraft
seaplane		 DHC-6 5
Lear Jet 25 Flag of the United States United States light transport
reconnaissance		 Lear Jet 25B 2
Lear Jet 36 Flag of the United States United States light transport
reconnaissance		 Lear Jet 36A 2
Pilatus PC-6 Flag of Switzerland Switzerland liaison PC-6 9
Mil Mi-17 Flag of Russia Russia transport helicopter Mi-17 14 5 under major overhaul in SPARC, Russia
Mil Mi-24 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union attack helicopter Mi-25D 16 At least 5 operational
Bell 212 Flag of the United States United States utility helicopter Bell 212 6
Bell 412 Flag of the United States United States utility helicopter Bell 412EP 1 Originally 2, second unit fate is unknown
Bölkow Bo 105 Flag of Germany Germany utility helicopter Bo-105LS 5
Schweizer 300 Flag of the United States United States utility helicopter Schweizer 300C 6

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Acig.org: The Most Powerful Air Force in Latin America
  2. ^ http://www.resdal.org/art-rial.htm, based on Supreme Decree DS No. 69 DE/SG of 2001.

[edit] Sources

  • Cobas, Efraín, Las Fuerzas Armadas Peruanas en el Siglo XXI. CESLA, 2003.
  • Marchessini, Alejo, "La Fuerza Aérea del Perú".
    Defensa 295: 30-42 (November 2002).
  • Marchessini, Alejo, "La aviación de combate de origen ruso de la FAP".
    Defensa 342: 34-36 (October 2006).
  • Marchessini, Alejo, "El Servicio de Material de Guerra de la FAP" Fuerzas de Defensa y Seguridad (FDS) 355: 48-50 (November 2007).
  • Marchessini, Alejo, "SEMAN: Pilar fundamental de la Fuerza Aerea del Peru".Fuerzas de Defensa y Seguridad (FDS) 360: 34-36 (March 2008).

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

 
Military of Peru		 Flag of Peru
Peruvian Army | Peruvian Navy | Peruvian Air Force
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