Brazilian Air Force

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Brazilian Air Force
Força Aérea Brasileira
COA of Brazilian Air Force.svg
Active 1941–Present
Country  Brazil
Branch Air Force
Size 70,710 active personnel
758 aircraft
Part of Ministry of Defence
Command Headquarters Brasília, DF
Patron Alberto Santos Dumont[1]

Eduardo Gomes[2]

Motto Wings that protect the country
March "Hino dos Aviadores"
Anniversaries May 22 (anniversary)
April 22 (fighter day)
Engagements World War II (1942-1945)
Araguaia guerrilla (1972-1974)
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief President Dilma Rousseff
Commander Lieutenant-Brigadier Juniti Saito
Insignia
Brazilian Air Force roundel.svg Brazilian Air Force roundel LOW Visibility.svg Brazilian Air Force fin flash.svg
Aircraft flown
Attack A-1 AMX, A-29 Super Tucano, Mi-35M Hind
Electronic
warfare
Embraer R-99
Fighter Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II
Interceptor Dassault Mirage 2000
Patrol Lockheed P-3 Orion, Bandeirulha P-95
Reconnaissance R-95, RA-1 AMX, Learjet R-35, Elbit Hermes 450
Trainer Tucano, T-25, HB-350 Esquilo
Transport Cessna 208, C-130, Boeing 707, C-295, Super Puma, UH-1H, EMB-110, EMB-190, C-95, UH-60L Black Hawk, Eurocopter EC725

The Brazilian Air Force (Portuguese: Força Aérea Brasileira, FAB) is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces". Both air branches transferred their equipment, installations and personnel to the new force.

According to the Flight International (Flightglobal.com) and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Brazilian Air Force has an active strength of 70,710 military personnel and operates around 758 aircraft.[3][4] The Brazilian Air Force is the largest air force in the Southern hemisphere and the fifth in the Americas after the United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Army and the United States Marines Corps

Contents

History [edit]

Creation [edit]

The establishment of the Royal Air Force in 1918 and the creation of the Italian Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) and the French Air Force during the 1920s drove the idea of uniting Brazilian air power under the same organization. Together with these events the Brazilian strategists were also influenced by the theories of Giulio Douhet, Billy Mitchell and Hugh Montague Trenchard.[citation needed]

The first public manifest[5] to create an integrated military air service came up in 1928 when an army Major called Lysias Rodrigues wrote an article called "An urgent need: The Ministry of the Air" ("Uma premente necessidade: o Ministério do Ar"). Two years later the French Military Mission, working for the Brazilian Army, made the first steps to organize a national air arm. The idea got more support when a group of Brazilian airmen came from Italy in 1934 and explained the advantages of having a military aviation unified. Also, the Spanish Revolution and the first movements of World War II at the end of the thirties showed the importance of Air power for military strategies.

One of the main supporters of the plan to create an independent air arm was the then-president Getúlio Vargas. He organized a study group early in 1940 and the whole structure of the Ministry of Aeronautics (Ministério da Aeronáutica) was established the end of that year. This new governmental agency was responsible for the all aspects of the civil and military aviation including infrastructure, regulation and organization.[6]

Formally, the Ministry of Aeronautics was founded on January 20, 1941 and so its military branch called "National Air Forces", changed to "Brazilian Air Force" (Força Aérea BrasileiraFAB) on May, 22. The Army ("Aviação Militar") and Navy ("Aviação Naval") air branches were extinguished and all personnel, aircraft, installations and other related equipment were transferred to FAB.[6]

World War II [edit]

The Brazilian Air force made important contributions to the Allied war effort in World War II, especially as part of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force on the Italian front.[7][8][9]

From mid-1942 until the end of the war, the FAB also patrolled the Atlantic. On 31 July 1943 it claimed the German submarine U-199, which was located on the surface, off Rio de Janeiro, at 23°54′S 42°54′W / 23.900°S 42.900°W / -23.900; -42.900Coordinates: 23°54′S 42°54′W / 23.900°S 42.900°W / -23.900; -42.900. Two Brazilian aircraft, a PBY Catalina and a Lockheed Hudson, and an American PBM Mariner attacked the U-boat.[10] The Catalina, named Ärará, was captained by 2º Ten.-Av. (2nd Lt.) Alberto M. Torres,[11] and hit U-199 with depth charges, sinking her. Forty-nine of the crew were killed, although twelve Germans managed to escape, including the captain. This was possible due to the Catalina’s crew, who threw a lifeboat to the survivors.

Badge of 1º Grupo de Aviação de Caça (1st Fighter Group).

1º Grupo de Aviação de Caça (1º GAVCA; "1st Fighter Group"), which saw action in Italy, was formed on December 18, 1943. Its commanding Officer was Ten.-Cel.-Av. (Aviation Lieutenant Colonel) Nero Moura.

The group had 350 men, including 43 pilots. The group was divided into four flights: Red ("A"), Yellow ("B"), Blue ("C"), and Green ("D"). The CO of the group and some officers were not attached to any specific flight. Unlike the BEF's Army component, the 1oGAVCA had personnel who were experienced Brazilian Air Force (Portuguese: Força Aérea Brasileira, or FAB) pilots. One of them was Alberto M. Torres, who had piloted a PBY-5A Catalina that had sunk U-199, which was operating off the Brazilian coast.

The group trained for combat in Panama, where 2o Ten.-Av. (Aviation Second Lieutenant) Dante Isidoro Gastaldoni was killed in a training accident. On May 11, 1944, the group was declared operational and became active in the air defense of the Panama Canal Zone. On June 22, the 1oGAVCA traveled to the U.S. to convert to the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt.

On September 19, 1944 the 1oGAVCA left for Italy, arriving at Livorno on October 6. It became part of the 350th Fighter Group of the USAAF, which in turn was part of the 62nd Fighter Wing, XXII Tactical Air Command, of the 12th Air Force.

1º GAC P-47s carried the "Senta a Pua!" emblem as nose art along with the national insignia of Brazil.

The Brazilian pilots initially flew from 31 October 1944, as individual elements of flights attached to 350th FG squadrons, at first in affiliation flights and progressively taking part in more dangerous missions. Less than two weeks later, on November 11, the group started its own operations flying from its base at Tarquinia, using its tactical callsign Jambock. Brazilian Air Force stars replaced the white U.S. star in the roundel on the FAB Thunderbolts. The 1oGAVCA started its fighting career as a fighter-bomber unit, its missions being armed reconnaissance and interdiction, in support of the US Fifth Army, to which the FEB was attached.

P-47 of the Expeditionary Museum in Curitiba, Brazil.

On April 16, 1945, the U.S. Fifth Army started its offensive along the Po Valley. By then, the strength of the Group had fallen to 25 pilots, some having been killed and others shot down and captured. Some others had been relieved from operations on medical grounds due to combat fatigue. The Group disbanded the Yellow flight and distributed the surviving pilots among the other flights. Each pilot flew on average two missions a day.[citation needed]

On 22 April 1945, the three remaining flights took off at 5-minute intervals, starting at 8:30 AM, to destroy bridges, barges, and motorized vehicles in the San Benedetto region. At 10:00 AM, a flight took off for an armed reconnaissance mission south of Mantua. They destroyed more than 80 tanks, trucks, and vehicles. By the end of the day, the group had flown 44 individual missions and destroyed hundreds of vehicles and barges. On this day the group flew the most sorties of the war; consequently, Brazil commemorates April 22 Brazilian Fighter Arm Day.

In all, the 1oGAVCA flew a total of 445 missions, 2,550 individual sorties, and 5,465 combat flight hours, from 11 November 1944 to 6 May 1945. The XXII Tactical Air Command acknowledged the efficiency of the Group by noting that although it flew only 5% of the total of missions carried out by all squadrons under its control, it accomplished a much higher percentage of the total destruction wrought:

  • 85% of the ammunition depots
  • 36% of the fuel depots
  • 28% of the bridges (19% damaged)
  • 15% of motor vehicles (13% damaged)
  • 10% of horse-drawn vehicles (10% damaged)[12]

Between 1941 and 1945, the Brazilian Air Force operated the following aircraft:

Post World War II [edit]

Embraer AT-26 Xavante, withdrawn from service in 2010.

After the war, the FAB began flying the British Gloster Meteor jet fighter. The jets were purchased from the British for 15,000 tons of crude cotton, as Brazil had no foreign currency reserves to spare. The jet was operated by the FAB until the mid-1960s, when it was replaced by the F-80C and TF-33A, which were later replaced by the MB-326, Mirage III and Northrop F-5 jets.

Cold War [edit]

During the Cold War, the then Brazilian Dictatorship was aligned with the United States and NATO. This meant that the F-5 could be bought cheaply from the United States, who called this jet the "Freedom Fighter". Many other countries, such as Mexico, also benefited from this policy.

The Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica, Brazilian Aeronautic Co.) has its origins as an enterprise directly managed and sponsored by the FAB. Working with Italian corporations, it developed the new AMX attack aircraft (known locally as A-1) which makes up the backbone of the FAB's attack force. The successful Tucano T-27 trainer and the new light attack aircraft "A-29", are also Embraer aircraft used extensively by the FAB.

Brazilian Air Force today [edit]

Developments [edit]

Mirage 2000C defense fighter
Mirage 2000B defense fighter and trainer
AMX A-1A ground-attack
F-5E Tiger II fighter jet
P-3AM maritime patrol
P-95A Bandeirulha maritime patrol
A-29 Super Tucano close air support
AT-27 Tucano close air support
UH-60L Black Hawk combat Search and Rescue
Mi-35M4 Hind attack helicopter
SH-1D combat Search and Rescue
C-130 Hercules military transport
CASA C-295 Search and rescue
T-27 Tucano Smoke Squadron
Embraer R-99 early warning and control
Cessna 208 Caravan air Observation
Hermes 450 reconnaissance UAV

In the early 2000s, with renewed economic stability, the FAB underwent an extensive renewal of its inventory through several acquisition programs, the most ambitious of which was the acquisition of 36 new front-line interceptor aircraft to replace its aging Mirage III. Known as F-X Project the program was postponed once again in 2005. The competitors were the French Dassault Rafale, the Swedish SAAB-BAE Gripen, and the American F/A-18 Super Hornet.

On July 15, 2005 one agreement was set with the French government for the transfer of twelve Dassault Mirage 2000s (ten "C" and two "B" versions) second-hand ex-Armée de L'Air. Known as F-2000s in Brazil, the first two aircraft arrived at Anápolis Air Base on September 4, 2006.

On November 4, 2007 the F-X Project underwent a small change. Now known as Project F-X2 and with a bigger budget, the competitors for acquisition were the Eurofighter Typhoon, Sukhoi Su-35, Saab AB Gripen, Dassault Rafale, Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and, although information on Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II was requested, Lockheed Martin presented an F-16 Fighting Falcon variant (designated F-16BR).[13] In October 2008, FAB released a shortlist of 3 aircraft: SAAB Gripen NG, Dassault Rafale and Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. In February 2009, the three companies provided their final bids.[14] In September 2009, following a surprise French visit to Brazil, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Nicolas Sarkozy, from France, made a new military cooperation agreement. Lula, on an interview at TV5 Monde, said French Rafale is a step forward, since technology transfer would be effective.[15]

On September 7, 2009, Brazilian Independence Day, it was announced Brazil would negotiate 36 Dassault Rafale.[16] But the Defence Minister did not confirm if it is the final decision.

On January 5, 2010, after extreme lobbying by Air Force Officers and Commanders, it was reported in the media that the final evaluation report by the Brazilian Air Force placed the SAAB Gripen NG ahead of the other contenders. The decisive factor was apparently the overall cost of the new fighters, both in terms of unit cost, and operating and maintenance costs, and the personal preference of the test pilots. Rafale was reported to not even be the second choice.[17] It was announced in February 2011 that the decision would be further delayed due to budget cuts.[18] And that July the decision was put off for yet another six-month extension.[19]

However in 2013 yet another six-month delay was announced.[20]

Command structure [edit]

The Brazilian Air Force is the aerospace branch of the Brazilian armed forces and is managed by the "Aeronautics Command" (Comando da Aeronáutica – COMAer). The COMAer was created in 1999[21] and replaced the Ministry of Aeronautics. Now, the COMAer is one of the three armed forces assigned to the Ministry of Defense (Ministério da Defesa).

The COMAer is led by the "Aeronautics Commander" (Comandante da Aeronáutica). The Commander is a "Tenente-Brigadeiro-do-Ar" (the most senior Air Force rank), is appointed by the President, and reports directly to the Minister of Defense.

COMAer comprises six major components, four "General Commands" (Comandos-Gerais) and two "Departaments" (Departamentos). The "General Command of Air Operations" (Comando-Geral de Operações Aéreas – COMGAR), with headquarters in Brasília, supervises most of the flying operations. As the main flying element, COMGAR administers several sub-formations in the form of four "Air Forces" (Forças Aéreas) and seven "Regional Air Commands" (Comandos Aéreos Regionais – COMAR).

Besides COMGAR, other major parallel organizations, which also report directly to the COMAer, are the "General Command of Support" (Comando-Geral de Apoio – COMGAP), "General Command of Personnel" (Comando-Geral de Pessoal – COMGEP), "General Command of Aerospatial Technology" (Comando-Geral de Tecnologia Aeroespacial – CTA), "Aeronautics Departament of Teaching" (Departamento de Ensino da Aeronáutica – DEPENS), "Departament of Civil Aviation" (Departamento de Aviação Civil – DAC) and "Departament of Airspace Control" (Departamento de Controle do Espaço AéreoDECEA).

Operations [edit]

A recent operation of the FAB was the bombing of illegal landing sites in the Amazon Forest, used by drug dealers to transport drugs into and out of Brazil (see SIVAM). The operation also had support from the Brazilian Army and Brazilian Federal Police with many drug dealers being arrested as a result. The AMX Bomber/Fighter was the primary plane used[citation needed].

The FAB is currently working on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) supporting the United Nations force (a joint Brazilian, Uruguayan, Chilean and Argentine force) deployed there.

In 2010, the FAB worked on the Search & Rescue mission of Air France flight AF447. The Brazilian Air Force has started a search and rescue from the Brazilian archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, sending eight planes to search a stretch bounded by the coastal cities of Recife, Natal and the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha.

Exercises [edit]

The Cruzex air force exercises are the most important of its type in South America. They are hosted every 2 years by the Brazilian Air Force. Issues and participants:

  • Cruzex I 2002Argentina,Brazil,France,Chile
  • Cruzex II 2004Argentina,Brazil,France,Venezuela
  • Cruzex III 2006Argentina,Brazil,Chile,France,Uruguay,Venezuela
  • Cruzex IV 2008Brazil,Chile,France,Uruguay,Venezuela
  • Cruzex V 2010Brazil,Chile,France,Uruguay,United States
  • Cruzex VI 2012Argentina,Brazil,Canada,Chile,Ecuador,France,Peru,Uruguay,Venezuela,Sweden,United Kingdom,United States

Air units organization [edit]

At unit levels, "Groups" (Grupos) usually consist of one to sixteen consecutively numbered "Squadrons" (Esquadrões), each with varying numbers of aircraft, usually from six to 12. Smaller formations are known as "Flights" (Esquadrilhas). According to its tasks, a group has one of the following designations:

  • Air Defense Group: Grupo de Defesa Aérea (GDA): Air defense fighters. (Fighter Jets)
  • Transport Group: Grupo de Transporte (GT): Transport, Flight refueling
  • Aviation Group: Grupo de Aviação (GAv): Fighter, attack, reconnaissance, SAR, rotary wing
  • Fighter Aviation Group: Grupo de Aviação de Caça (GAvCa); Fighter, attack planes
  • Troop Transport Group: Grupo de Transporte de Tropas (GTT): Transports, troop carrying, parachutist drop
  • Special Flight Inspection Group: Grupo Especial de Inspeção em Vôo (GEIV): Calibration
  • Special Test Flights Group: Grupo Especial de Ensaios de Vôo (GEEV): Test flights
  • Special Transport Group: Grupo de Transporte Especial (GTE): VIP transport

Common used designations for squadrons are:

  • Air Transport Squadron: Esquadrão de Transporte Aéreo (ETA)
  • Air Training Squadron: Esquadrão de Instrução Aérea (EIA)
  • Demonstration flying team: Esquadrão de Demonstração Aérea (EDA) (also called "Esquadrilha da Fumaça")

The air units are organized as follows:

COMGAR sub-formation Air unit Aircraft type Air base
I FAe 1º/5º GAv C-95M Fortaleza
2º/5º GAv A-29B Natal
1º/11º GAv UH-50 Natal
II FAe 1º/7º GAv P-95B, P-3AM Salvador
2º/7º GAv P-95B Florianópolis
3º/7º GAv P-95A Belém
4º/7º GAv P-95A Santa Cruz
1º/8º GAv UH-1H, H-36 Belém
2º/8º GAv AH-2 Porto Velho
3º/8º GAv H-34, UH-55 Afonsos
5º/8º GAv H-60L Santa Maria
7º/8º GAv H-60L Manaus
2º/10º GAv UH-1H, SC-95B, SC105A, SC-130H Campo Grande
III FAe 1º/1º GAvCa F-5EM, AT-27 Santa Cruz
2º/1º GAvCa F-5EM, AT-27 Santa Cruz
1º GDA F-2000, AT-27 Anápolis
1º/3º GAv AT-27, A-29A, A-29B Boa Vista
2º/3º GAv AT-27, A-29A, A-29B Porto Velho
3º/3º GAv AT-27, A-29A, A-29B Campo Grande
1º/4º GAv F-5EM, F-5FM Manaus
1º/6º GAv R-35A, R-95 Recife
2º/6º GAv E-99, R-99, C-98 Anápolis
1º/10º GAv A-1A, A-1B Santa Maria
3º/10º GAv RA-1A, RA-1B Santa Maria
1º/14º GAv F-5EM, F-5FM, AT-27 Canoas
1º/12º GAv RQ-450 (UAV) Santa Maria
1º/16º GAv A-1A, A-1B Santa Cruz
V FAe 1º GTT C-130H Afonsos
1º/1º GT C-130H/KC-130H Galeão
1º/2º GAv C-99 Galeão
2º/2º GAv KC-137 Galeão
1º/9º GAv C-105A Manaus
1º/15º GAv C-105A, C-98 Campo Grande
I COMAR 1º ETA C-95B, C-98, C-97 Belém
II COMAR 2º ETA C-95A, C-97 Recife
III COMAR 3º ETA C-95B, C-97 Galeão
IV COMAR 4º ETA C-95A, C-97 São Paulo
V COMAR 5º ETA C-95A, C-97 Canoas
VI COMAR 6º ETA C-95C, VU-9, VC-97 Brasília
VII COMAR 7º ETA C-97, C-98 Manaus

Other air units are:

Major component Air unit Aircraft type Air base
DECEA GEIV EC-95B/C,EU-93A Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
CTA GEEV A-1,XU-93,T-27,CH-55 São José dos Campos
DEPENS 1º EIA T-27 Pirassununga
DEPENS 2º EIA T-25A/C Pirassununga
DEPENS Clube de Vôo a Vela U-19,Z-15,Z-16,TZ-13 Pirassununga
DEPENS Support C-95A,UH-50,U-7 Pirassununga
Reporting direct to Air Force cabinet GTE 1 VC-1A, 2 VC-2, 4 VC-99B, 2 VC-99C, 2 VH-34, 2 VH-55, 2 VH-35, 1 VH-36 Brasília
Reporting direct to Air Force cabinet EDA T-27 Pirassununga

The Air Force Bases of the Brazilian Air Force are:

Location State ICAO IATA Airport name
Anápolis Goiás SBAN Anápolis Air Force Base
Belém Pará SBBE BEL Belém Air Force Base
Boa Vista Roraima SBBV BVB Boa Vista Air Force Base
Brasília Federal District SBBR BRS Brasília Air Force Base
Campo Grande Mato Grosso do Sul SBCG CGR Campo Grande Air Force Base
Canoas Rio Grande do Sul SBCO Canoas Air Force Base
Florianópolis Santa Catarina SBFL FLN Florianópolis Air Force Base
Fortaleza Ceará SBFZ FOR Fortaleza Air Force Base
Guarulhos São Paulo SBGR GRU São Paulo Air Force Base
Manaus Amazonas SBMN PLL Manaus Air Force Base
Natal Rio Grande do Norte SBNT NAT Natal Air Force Base
Porto Velho Rondônia SBPV PVH Porto Velho Air Force Base
Recife Pernambuco SBRF REC Recife Air Force Base
Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro SBGL GIG Galeão Air Force Base
Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro SBSC SNZ Santa Cruz Air Force Base
Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro SBAF Afonsos Air Force Base
Salvador Bahia SBSV SSA Salvador Air Force Base
Santa Maria Rio Grande do Sul SBSM Santa Maria Air Force Base
Santos São Paulo SBST SSZ Santos Air Force Base
Novo Progresso Pará SBCC Brigadeiro Velloso Testing Range Air Base
Pirassununga São Paulo SBYS QPS Air Force Academy

Inventory [edit]

Aircraft [edit]

For a list of aircraft currently in service with the Brazilian Air Force see; List of active Brazilian military aircraft.

Missiles, bombs, rockets and torpedo [edit]

Type Product On order Origin Launch platform (Aircraft)
Anti-tank Missile 9M120 Ataka-V High explosive anti-tank  Russia AH-2 (Mi-35M4)
Anti-tank Missile 9K114 Shturm High explosive anti-tank  Russia AH-2 (Mi-35M4)
Anti-ship missile AGM-84 Harpoon Harpoon Block I air-launched missile  United States P-3AM
Anti-ship missile MAN-1 It will be an anti-ship missile with a 180 km range.  Brazil A-1M
Anti-radiation missile MAR-1 Brazilian anti-radiation missile (ARM)  Brazil A-1M, F-5M
Air to air missile MAA-1A Piranha Short range Air to Air missile  Brazil F-5M, A-29, A-1M
Air to air missile MAA-1B Piranha This new version of the Piranha, fits as a 4th generation missile with "off boresight", about 90°, and a greater range of 50%  Brazil F-5M, A-1M, A-29, FX-2
Air to air missile A-Darter 5° Generation Air to Air missile  Brazil/ South Africa F-5M, A-1M, FX-2
Air to air missile Derby Beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile  Israel F-5M
Air to air missile Python −3 and −4 Short range air-to-air missile  Israel F-5M
Air to air missile R550 Magic Short-range  France Mirage 2000
Air to air missile Super 530 Short-range  France Mirage 2000
Cluster Bomb BLG-120 Bomb  Brazil A-1M, A-29, F-5M, AT-27
Cluster Bomb BLG-252 Bomb  Brazil A-1M, A-29, F-5M, AT-27
Incendiary bomb BINC-300 Bomb  Brazil A-1M, A-29, F-5M, AT-27
Incendiary bomb BINC-200 Bomb  Brazil A-1M, A-29, F-5M, AT-27
Guided bombs Elbit Lizard Laser Guided Bomb  Israel A-1M, F-5M
Guided bombs FPG-82 INS/GPS Guided Bomb  Brazil A-1M, F-5M, A-29
Guided bombs SMKB-82 GPS Guided Bomb (known like ACAUAN)  Brazil A-1M, F-5M, A-29
Guided bombs SMKB-83 GPS Guided Bomb (known like ACAUAN)  Brazil A-1M, F-5M, A-29
General-purpose bomb Mark 84 bomb Bomb  Brazil/ United States A-1M, F-5M
General-purpose bomb Mark 83 bomb Bomb  Brazil/ United States A-1M, F-5M
General-purpose bomb Mark 82 bomb Bomb  Brazil/ United States A-1M, F-5M, A-29
General-purpose bomb Mark 81 bomb Bomb  Brazil/ United States A-1M, F-5M, A-29
Anti-runway bomb BAPI Anti-runway  Brazil A-1M, F-5M
Rockets Skyfire 70 Rocket Air-to-Surface/Surface-to-Air  Brazil A-29, A-1M, H-1H
Rockets SBAT-70/127 Rocket Air-to-Surface/Surface-to-Air  Brazil A-1M, AT-27, A-29, P-95, H-1H
Rockets S-8 rocket Rocket Air-to-Surface/Surface-to-Air  Russia AH-2 (Mi-35M4)
Torpedo Mark 46 torpedo Light torpedo  United States P-3AM

Machine guns and automatic cannon [edit]

Type Product On order Origin Aircraft Photo
Automatic cannon DEFA cannon 30mm single-barrel  France Mirage 2000 Canon DEFA MG 1359.jpg
Automatic cannon Bernardini Mk-164 30mm single-barrel  Brazil A-1M Canon DEFA MG 1462.JPG
Automatic cannon M39 cannon 20mm single-barrel  United States F-5M Cannon M39A2.png
Machine Gun M2 Machine Gun 12,7mm single barrel heavy machine gun  United States A-29, AT-27, H-1H P-47 does night gunnery.jpg
Machine Gun Minigun 7,62mm multi-barrel heavy machine gun  United States H-60L USMC GAU-17.jpg
Machine Gun FN MAG 7.62mm general purpose machine gun  Belgium H-36, H-34, H-1H, H-60L Paris Air Show 2007-06-24 n24.jpg
Machine Gun M60 machine gun 7.62mm general purpose machine gun  United States H-1H M60d-on-m23.jpg
Automatic cannon GSh-23L NPPU-23 movable mounting  Russia AH-2 (Mi-35M4) IŁ-102 NTW 3 95 4.jpg

Pistols and rifles [edit]

Platform Origin Type In service Notes Photo
HK33  Germany Assault Rifle Will be replaced by IMBEL IA2 HK33A2 Flickr (yet another finn).jpg
AR-15  United States Assault Rifle Will be replaced by IMBEL IA2 AR-15 Sporter SP1 Carbine.JPG
SIG SG 550  Switzerland Assault Rifle Used by Para-SAR Stgw 90.jpg
Taurus MT-12  Brazil Submachinegun M-972 Copy of Beretta M12 Beretta M12.jpg
Taurus PT-92  Brazil Pistol M-975 Version of Beretta 92 TaurusPT92.jpg
IMBEL M973  Brazil Pistol M-973 Brazilian version of Colt 1911 in 9mm Colt Model of 1911 U.S. Army b.png
HK PSG1  Germany Sniper Used by Para-SAR H&K PSG-1 Sniper Rifle.jpg
M2 Browning  United States Machine gun Musee-de-lArmee-IMG 1044.jpg
FN MAG  Belgium Machine gun Ksp58.jpg
CBC/Boito 12 gauge  Brazil Shotgun

Radar and Air Defence Systems [edit]

Platform Origin Type In service Notes Photo
M-60  Brazil Radar 6 initial batch
9K38 Igla  Russia SAM 24 sistems
24 sistems
SA-18
SA-24
Dzhighit with Igla MANPADS.jpg
Pantsir-S1  Russia SAM 1 battery (six vehicles) future acquisition in developing.[22] Pantsir-s1-weapons.jpg

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Aeronautical -
  2. ^ Brazilian Air Force -
  3. ^ "Flightglobal World Air Forces 2011/2012". Flight International. Published December 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2012. 
  4. ^ IISS 2010, pp. 69–72
  5. ^ INCAER, 1991 – História Geral da Aeronáutica vol. 3, Capítulo 1
  6. ^ a b http://adluna.sites.uol.com.br/200/228.htm
  7. ^ http://www.incaer.aer.mil.br/opusculo_fab_seg_guerra.pdf
  8. ^ http://www.2guerra.com.br/sgm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=124&Itemid=34
  9. ^ http://pbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/
  10. ^ "The Type IXD2 boat U-199 — German U-boats of WWII". UBoat.net. Retrieved 9 March 2010. 
  11. ^ Morison, Samuel Eliot (March 2001). History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Vol.10: The Atlantic Battle Won. Castle Books. p. 219. ISBN 0-7858-1311-X. 
  12. ^ John W. Buyers, "HISTÓRIA DOS 350TH FIGHTER GROUP DA FORÇA AÉREA AMERICANA"
  13. ^ [1] Aviation Week – Brazil Offered F-16s, Not F-35s
  14. ^ "Brazilian fighter programme ready to fly", Flight International, 3 April 2009.
  15. ^ "Negociações para compra de caça francês estão ‘muito avançadas’, diz Lula"
  16. ^ "Brasil confirma acordo para compra aviões militares da França"
  17. ^ "Gripen favorit i Brasilien"
  18. ^ "Brazilian president confirms new slip to F-X2 fighter decision". www.flightglobal.com. 2011-02-23. Retrieved 2011-03-08. 
  19. ^ "Brazil jet bid extended 6 months." AFP, 7 July 2012.
  20. ^ "Exclusive: Brazil likely won't have new jets for World Cup."
  21. ^ Lei complementar no97 de 9 de junho de 1999
  22. ^ "Russian arms export agency Rosoboronexport wishes to deliver Pantsir air defence system to Brazil.". May 19, 2013. 

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External links [edit]