The National Aeronaval Service of Panama, also called SENAN (abbreviation for ), is a branch of the Panamanian Public Forces which is responsible for carrying out naval and air operations. Its role is to perform protection, surveillance, security and defense of the air and maritime jurisdictional areas. The service has approximately 3,700 personnel, with 19 boats and approximately 24 aircraft.

Introduction

The SENAN is the result of a merger between the former National Maritime Service and the National Air Service of Panama in 2008. The unit was created as civilian police forces and component of the Public Forces attached to Ministry of Public Security, protect rights and freedoms of people, maintain public order, prevent and investigate crimes, and protect the air and maritime jurisdictional areas, thus contributing to public policy, humanitarian relief and facilitating an environment for development social and economic development of Panama.

According to the national law, the SENAN will act as a public security entity in the maritime, air, port and airport areas throughout the national territory, by performing the following functions:

Organisation The organisation of SENAN consist of: Political-Director Level Director General as head of SENAN. Deputy Director General, along with Director General are appointed by President of Panama with recommendation of Ministry of Public Security. Advisory Level: General Directory, General Inspectorate, General Secretariat and Legal Department. Investigator Level: Internal Auditor and Internal Affairs. Auxiliary Support Level: National Directorate of Comprehensive Action, National Directorate of Human Resources, National Directorate of Logistics and General Services, National Directorate of Administration and Finances, National Directorate of Aerial Maintenance, National Directorate of Naval Maintenance and National Directorate of Teaching. Operational Level: National Directorate of Intelligence, National Directorate of Operations, National Directorate of Technology, National Directorate of Territorial Surveillance and three Aeronaval Region.

Base The SENAN's bases and stations are located within three region of Aeronaval. 1st Region () 2nd Region () 3rd Region () Chiriqui Grande Aeronaval Station Quebrada de Piedra Aeronaval Station Coiba Aeronaval Station De Rambala Air Station Mayor Azael Adames Air Station Subteniente Vicente Vargas Air Station Captain Lloyd Nunez Command Base Almirante Cristobal Colon Aeronaval Base Vasco Nuñez de Balboa Naval Base Captain Juan Delgado Air Base Isla Chapera Aeronaval Station Punta Coco Aeronaval Station Mensabe Aeronaval Station de Chame Air Station Octavio Rodriguez Garrido Air Station Major Salvador Cordoba Air Station

Personnel , SENAN personnel consist of approximately 3,700 sworn officers and 200 administrative personnel. Sworn officers perform SENAN tasks and missions, while administrative personnel only conduct administrative and technical functions.

Sworn offices are consist of following levels:

Commissioned officer ranks

Other ranks

As branch of Public Forces, SENAN personnel can be transferred to another police service according to service needs and vice versa.

Equipment Aircraft

AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotesAttack Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano Brazil light attack 4 (on order) TransportCASA 295SpainTactical transport2 (on order) Super King Air United States utility 100/250/350 3 DHC-6 Twin Otter Canada utility transport2STOL capable aircraft CASA C-212 Spainutility / transport3Cessna 152United Statestransport2Cessna 172United Statestransport1Cessna 208United StatesMEDEVAC 2Cessna 210United Statestransport1Embraer ERJ-135BJBraziltransport1Piper PA-31United Statestransport / patrol 1Piper PA-34United Statesutility 2 HelicoptersAgustaWestland AW139ItalySAR8 Bell 412 United StatesSAR / utility 1 McDonnell Douglas MD500 United Statespatrol 1 AgustaWestland AW109ItalyMEDEVAC 1 Bell 212 United States transport 2 Bell 407 United States transport 2 Bell UH-1United States utility UH-1H6donated by United States Trainer aircraft T-35 Pillán Chile trainer 4

Vessels

Vessel Origin Type Class Notes Patrol boat P-901 Italy coastal enforcement Class 900 P-302 Ligia Elena United Kingdom patrol boatVosper class P-301 Panquiaco United Kingdom patrol boat Vosper class P-204 3 de Noviembre United States patrol boat Point class P-206 10 de Noviembre United States patrol boat Point class P-207 28 de Noviembre United States patrol boat Point class P-208 4 de Noviembre United States patrol boat Point class P-209 5 de Noviembre United States patrol boat Point class P-220 Pdte. Guillermo Endara Italy patrol boatSuper 200 class P-221 Pdte. Ernesto P. Balladares Italy patrol boatSuper 200 class P-222 Pdte. Mireya Moscoso Italy patrol boatSuper 200 class P-223 Pdte. Martin Torrijose Herrera Italy patrol boat Super 200 class P-814 Coclé United States patrol boat Mark-II class P-843 Bocas del Toro United States patrol boat Mark-IV class Support vessels L-24 Lina Maria Colombia Support vessel Logistica class A-401 Independencia United States Support vessel Buoy Tender class A-402 General Esteban Huertas United States Support vessel Barcaza class second hand from the U.S. Navy L-403 Presidente Manuel A. Guerrero United States Support vessel Special boat Hunter ClassHonduras fast boat 2 in service Nor-Tech United States maritime interdiction BIM 43 Class 4 in service Eduardoño Class Colombia fast boat 5 in service Donzin Class United States fast boat 2 in service

References

External links SENAN website