Venezuelan Air Force

Venezuelan Air Force
Aviación Militar Bolivariana
Coat of arms of the Bolivarian Military Aviation
Founded10 December 1920; 103 years ago (1920-12-10)
Country Venezuela
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Part ofBolivarian Armed Forces
Nickname(s)AMB
PatronOur Lady of Loreto
Motto(s)
  • Latin: Spatium superanus palatinus
  • "The paladin of the sovereign space"
ColoursBleu celeste
March
  • Spanish: Himno de la Aviacion Militar Nacional
  • "Hymn of the National Military Aviation"
Anniversaries10 December (Air Force Day)
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefPresident Nicolás Maduro
Minister of DefenceGeneral Vladimir Padrino López
CommanderMajor General José Silva Aponte
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Electronic
warfare
Dassault Falcon 20C Prometeo, Fairchild C-26B Metro EW
FighterSu-30MK2, F-16
TrainerSF-260, EMB-312, K-8
TransportC-130, Y-8, Boeing 707-320C, Short 360

Venezuelan Air Force (Spanish: Aviación Militar Nacional Bolivariana) is a professional armed body designed to defend Venezuela's sovereignty and airspace. It is a service component of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela.

Etymology

The organization is also known as the Bolivarian National Air Force of Venezuela. Its current official name has been in use since the end of 2008. It was previously called the Venezuelan Air Force (FAV; Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Venezolana).

History

Most of the airbases in Venezuela were built in the 1960s as part of a massive expansion program. The main fighter types in those years were Venom, Vampire, and F-86. Bomber squadrons typically operated B-25 Mitchell aircraft. The 1970s and 1980s saw a considerable increase in capacity, mainly because the rising oil prices enabled the FAV to re-equip most of its units. The mixture of various aircraft types was maintained, and the Mirage IIIE and Mirage 5, VF-5A and D, T-2D, OV-10A and E, and T-27 were introduced. Venezuela was one of the first export customers for the F-16, which arrived in 1983 to equip the newly formed Grupo Aéreo de Caza 16 at El Libertador Airbase.

In the 1992 Venezuelan coup d'état attempts, elements of the Venezuelan Air Force were key participants in the rebellion. FAV units at El Libertador Air Base under the command of Brigadier General Visconti seized control of the airbase and then launched an attack on the capital. OV-10s, T-27s, and Mirage III fighters under Visconti's command bombarded targets in the capital and loyalist air bases, destroying five CF-5 fighters on the ground. Two loyalist pilots escaped with F-16 fighters and shot down two OV-10s and a Tucano, claiming air superiority for the government. Two more rebel OV-10s were lost to ground fire. As the tables turned on the coup attempt, General Visconti and his allies fled in two C-130s, two Mirages, an OV-10, and several SA 330 helicopters.

Modernization

The AMV purchased 24 Sukhoi Su-30 planes from Russia in July 2006, as a result of the United States embargo on spare parts for their F-16 force. In 2008, Venezuela was reported for a potential acquisition of a number of Su-35 fighter aircraft and a second batch of aircraft 12–24 Sukhoi Su-30 from Russia. It did not proceed further.

In October 2015, Venezuela announced the plan to purchase of 12 more Su-30MK2 from Russia for $480 million.[unreliable source?]

Inventory

A Sukhoi SU-30 liftoff
A Venezuelan Air Force F-16B
A C-130H Hercules on approach
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat aircraft
Sukhoi Su-30 Russia multirole Su-30MK2 22
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon United States multirole F-16A/B 20 four B variant are used for training
Electronic warfare
Metroliner III United States EW / reconnaissance 1
Tanker
Boeing 707 United States aerial refueling 1
Transport
Shaanxi Y-8 China transport 8
Dornier Do 228 Germany transport Do 228NG 3
Short 360 United Kingdom utility transport 2
King Air United States utility 200/350 5
Cessna 208 United States light utility 4
Cessna Citation II United States VIP transport 1
Metroliner IV United States light utility 1
C-130 Hercules United States transport C-130H 3
Helicopters
Mil Mi-17 Russia utility Mi-8/17 6
Eurocopter AS532 France transport 10
Trainer aircraft
Hongdu K-8 China jet trainer 23
Embraer EMB 312 Brazil trainer 18
Diamond DA42 Canada multi-engine trainer 6
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 Italy basic trainer 12
Enstrom 280 United States rotorcraft trainer 2
Enstrom 480 United States rotorcraft trainer 12 4 on order
UAV
Ghods Mohajer Iran surveillance SANT Arpía 12

Ranks

Officer ranks

 Venezuelan Military Aviation
General en jefe Mayor general General de division General de brigada Coronel Teniente coronel Mayor Capitán Primer teniente Teniente


Rank group General/Flag/Air officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet

Professional and enlisted

 Venezuelan Military Aviation
AvCabo-1ro AvCabo-2do Aviador-Distinguido No insignia
Sargento supervisor Sargento ayudante Sargento mayor de primera Sargento mayor de segunda Sargento mayor de tercera Sargento primero Sargento segundo Cabo primero Cabo segundo Distinguido Aviador


Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted

This page was last updated at 2023-12-26 04:26 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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