Mexican Naval Aviation (FAN; ) 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 (Base Aeronaval)
Facilities Naval Air Force BaseAdjacent Civil AirportLocationStateUnitAircraftGulf of Mexico Naval Air Force – HQ in Tuxpan, VeracruzTuxpan Naval Air Base Tuxpan Naval Air BaseTuxpanVeracruzTampico Naval Air BaseTampico International AirportTampicoTamaulipas1st Air Mobility, Observation and Transport Naval Air SquadronMil Mi-17, Lancair IV-P1st Shipborne Patrol Naval Air SquadronAS565 MB, Bo 105CBS-5, MD902La Pesca Naval Air BaseLa Pesca Naval Air BaseLa PescaTamaulipasLas Bajadas Naval Air BaseVeracruz International AirportVeracruzVeracruz1st Maritime Patrol Naval Air SquadronCASA C-212PM1st Early Warning and Reconnaissance Naval Air SquadronE-2C Hawkeye 2000Naval Aviation SchoolMD 500, Robinson R22, Schweizer 300, Zlín Z 42Campeche Naval Air BaseCampeche International AirportCampecheCampeche5th Air Mobility, Observation and Transport Naval Air SquadronMi-81st Interception and Reconnaissance Naval Air SquadronL-90TP, Sabre 60Chetumal Naval Air BaseChetumal International AirportChetumalQuintana Roo1st Patrol Naval Air SquadronLancair Super ES, MX-7-180A, RC6953rd Air Mobility, Observation and Transport Naval Air SquadronMi-8Isla Mujeres Naval Air StationIsla Mujeres AirportIsla MujeresQuintana RooPacific Naval Air Force – HQ in Manzanillo, ColimaManzanillo Naval Air Base -ManzanilloColimaGuaymas Naval Air BaseGuaymas International AirportGuaymasSonora1st Interception and Reconnaissance Naval Air SquadronL-90TP, MX-7-180ALa Paz Naval Air BaseLa Paz International AirportLa PazBaja California Sur2nd Patrol Naval Air SquadronRC695, Lancair IV-P2nd Air Mobility, Observation and Transport Naval Air SquadronMi-82nd Shipborne Patrol Naval Air SquadronBo 105CBS-52nd Transport Naval Air SquadronAn-32BLázaro Cárdenas Naval Air BaseLázaro Cárdenas AirportLázaro CárdenasMichoacán2nd Search and Rescue Naval Air SquadronAS555 AF, Mi-2Acapulco Naval Air BaseAcapulco International AirportAcapulcoGuerrero2nd Search and Rescue Naval Air SquadronAS555 AF, Mi-2Salina Cruz Naval Air BaseSalina Cruz Airport (Defunct)Salina CruzOaxaca1st Search and Rescue Naval Air SquadronAS555 AF, Mi-2Tapachula Naval Air BaseTapachula International AirportTapachulaChiapas4th Patrol Naval Air SquadronMi-84th Air Mobility, Observation and Transport Naval Air SquadronMX-7-180A, Super Lancair ESTeacapán Naval Air Station -TeacapánSinaloaIsla Socorro Naval Air Station -Isla SocorroColimaIsla María Madre Naval Air StationPuerto Balleto AirfieldPuerto BalletoNayaritMexico City Naval Air StationMexico City International AirportMexico CityMexico City1st Transport Naval Air SquadronGulfstream G450, Learjet 25, Learjet 31, Learjet 60, DHC-8-Q202
Map of Naval Air Force Facilities
Aircraft Current inventory
AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn service 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 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 6Bombardier Dash 8Canadamaritime patrol / SAR2 Turbo Commander United States transport 4Learjet 45 United States utility / transport 2 Helicopters Mil Mi-17 Russia utility22MD ExplorerUnited States utility 6Sikorsky UH-60 United Statesutility UH-60M9 Eurocopter EC725 FranceSAR / transport3Eurocopter AS565 FranceSAR / utility 14Eurocopter AS555 Franceutility 1 Trainer aircraft Zlín Z 42 Czech Republic trainer 242 26Zlín Z 43Czech Republictrainer1432 T-6 Texan II United Statestrainer T-6C+13 Schweizer S333 United Statesrotorcraft trainer 10
See also
Mexican Armed Forces Mexican Department of Defense Mexican Army Mexican Air Force Mexican Department of the Navy Mexican Navy Mexican Naval Aviation Mexican National Guard List of airports in Mexico List of Mexican military installations List of airports in Mexico List of airports by ICAO code: M
References
External links Mexican Navy