Mexican Naval Aviation


Mexican Naval Aviation, is the naval air arm 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 from 1918, when a Mexican-made float biplane was successfully tested by Carlos Santa Ana at the Port of Veracruz, In 1926 a squadron of float-planes were designed and made for the Mexican Navy, but without personnel. Carlos Castillo Breton, became the first Naval pilot in 1927 after training in The U.S. and in Mexico.
Between 1927 and 1943, some 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, the role of Mexican Naval Aviation were assigned as supporting the ground and sea naval units in Search & 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, also purchasing French, U.S. and German-made helicopters and the Finnish-built L-90 Redigo. In 1999 the Mexican navy started a programme to build kit-planes and light helicopters at Las Bajadas, Veracruz.
In 2001 the Mexican naval aviation reported it had 118 aircraft, of which 68 were fixed-wing in 9 squadrons, and 50 helicopters in 9 squadrons, either land-based or on board 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.

Structure

Gulf of Mexico Naval Air Force – HQ in Tuxpan, Veracruz
in 2007
Pacific Naval Air Force – HQ in Manzanillo, Colima
Mexico City Naval Air Base

Current inventory