301 Squadron (Portugal)
Encyclopedia
The 301 Squadron "Jaguares" (Esquadra 301) is a fighter
squadron
of the Portuguese Air Force
(PoAF).
these group of squadrons executed more than 13,000 operational missions, having been shot down five aircraft by anti-aircraft artillery
(AAA) and surface-to-air missile
(SAM).
In August of 1974, in the post-revolution
period, the transfer of the Fiat G-91 aircraft from Air Base 5
, in Monte Real
, and of all air bases in the Portuguese African colonies
to Air Base 6, in Montijo
was initiated. The 62 Squadron was then created to operate the Fiat G-91.
With the reorganization of the Air Force's aerial units, in 1978, the squadron's designation was changed to 301 Squadron, thus assigning as its primary mission the execution of operations of close air support
(CAS), air interdiction
(IA) and tactical air reconnaissance, as well as its secondary mission the execution of actions of tactical air support for maritime operations (TASMO) and of air defense operations (DCA).
On June 27, 1993, with the last flight of the Fiat G-91 in service with the Portuguese Air Force, and the subsequent retirement of this aircraft, as well the recent restructuring of the PoAF, the 301 Squadron was transferred to Air Base 11, in Beja
, having been equipped with the ground-attack aircraft Alpha Jet A. This aircraft's first flight was conducted on October 6, 1993 by of Major
Lopes da Silva.
During the joint exercise COMAO (Composite Air Operations), on September 5, 2005, the 301 Squadron reached the 20,000 flight hours with its Alpha Jet fleet. Shortly after, on November 20, 2005, the "Jaguares" conducted their last operation flight with the Alpha Jet.
On November 25, 2005, the 301 Squadron was transferred to Air Base 5
, in Monte Real
, and equipped with the modernized F-16 MLU
, being the first flight squadron of the Portuguese Air Force to operate exclusive this version of the fighter.
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
of the Portuguese Air Force
Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
(PoAF).
Roles and missions
The 301 Squadron has the mission of executing operations of air defense and conventional attack in all-weather conditions.- Operations of air defense in all-weather conditions
- Air defense operations (DCA)
- Offensive counter air operationsOffensive counter airOffensive Counter-Air is a military term for the suppression of an enemy's military air power by destroying or disabling the aircraft—preferably on the ground. This includes disablement achieved by damaging the infrastructure or logistics.Operations include attacks on air bases...
(OCA) - Air defense in support of maritime operations (Defense TASMO)
- Operations of conventional attack in all-weather conditions
- Anti-surface air operations (ASFAO)
- Anti-air combat operations (CA)
History
Activated with the designation 301 Squadron in 1978, the origins of the "Jaguares" squadron dates back to the former Portuguese Air Force squadrons that operated the Fiat G-91 Gina between 1965 and 1993. During the Portuguese Colonial WarPortuguese Colonial War
The Portuguese Colonial War , also known in Portugal as the Overseas War or in the former colonies as the War of liberation , was fought between Portugal's military and the emerging nationalist movements in Portugal's African colonies between 1961 and 1974, when the Portuguese regime was...
these group of squadrons executed more than 13,000 operational missions, having been shot down five aircraft by anti-aircraft artillery
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
(AAA) and surface-to-air missile
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
(SAM).
In August of 1974, in the post-revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
period, the transfer of the Fiat G-91 aircraft from Air Base 5
Monte Real Air Base
Monte Real Air Base in Monte Real, Leiria, Portugal, was initially opened on October 4, 1959. The mission of this Air Base is to guarantee the readiness and deployment of the air force units attributed to it, and several operational Squadrons have already been based there, equipped with F-86...
, in Monte Real
Monte Real
Monte Real is a town and a parish in the municipality and District of Leiria. It covers an area of 12.23 km² and has a population of 2,778 people. Monte Real, which in English means Royal Mount, was once a municipality , before being anexed to Leiria municipality.Monte Real hosts an air base ....
, and of all air bases in the Portuguese African colonies
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
to Air Base 6, in Montijo
Montijo, Portugal
Montijo is a town in Montijo Municipality in Portugal.The town has a population of 25,719.-References:...
was initiated. The 62 Squadron was then created to operate the Fiat G-91.
With the reorganization of the Air Force's aerial units, in 1978, the squadron's designation was changed to 301 Squadron, thus assigning as its primary mission the execution of operations of close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
(CAS), air interdiction
Air interdiction
Air interdiction is the use of aircraft to attack tactical ground targets that are not in close proximity to friendly ground forces. It differs from close air support because it does not directly support ground operations and is not closely coordinated with ground units...
(IA) and tactical air reconnaissance, as well as its secondary mission the execution of actions of tactical air support for maritime operations (TASMO) and of air defense operations (DCA).
On June 27, 1993, with the last flight of the Fiat G-91 in service with the Portuguese Air Force, and the subsequent retirement of this aircraft, as well the recent restructuring of the PoAF, the 301 Squadron was transferred to Air Base 11, in Beja
Beja (Portugal)
Beja is a city in the Beja Municipality in the Alentejo region, Portugal. The municipality has a total area of 1,147.1 km² and a total population of 34,970 inhabitants. The city proper has a population of 21,658....
, having been equipped with the ground-attack aircraft Alpha Jet A. This aircraft's first flight was conducted on October 6, 1993 by of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Lopes da Silva.
During the joint exercise COMAO (Composite Air Operations), on September 5, 2005, the 301 Squadron reached the 20,000 flight hours with its Alpha Jet fleet. Shortly after, on November 20, 2005, the "Jaguares" conducted their last operation flight with the Alpha Jet.
On November 25, 2005, the 301 Squadron was transferred to Air Base 5
Monte Real Air Base
Monte Real Air Base in Monte Real, Leiria, Portugal, was initially opened on October 4, 1959. The mission of this Air Base is to guarantee the readiness and deployment of the air force units attributed to it, and several operational Squadrons have already been based there, equipped with F-86...
, in Monte Real
Monte Real
Monte Real is a town and a parish in the municipality and District of Leiria. It covers an area of 12.23 km² and has a population of 2,778 people. Monte Real, which in English means Royal Mount, was once a municipality , before being anexed to Leiria municipality.Monte Real hosts an air base ....
, and equipped with the modernized F-16 MLU
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
, being the first flight squadron of the Portuguese Air Force to operate exclusive this version of the fighter.
Aircraft
- Fiat G-91 R4 (1978—1993)
- Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet A (1993—2005)
- F-16 Fighting Falcon AM/BMF-16 Fighting FalconThe General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
(2005—present)
Achievements
- Distinctive Services Gold Medal (Medalha de Ouro de Serviços Distintos) (April 19, 1988)
- Silver Tiger 1980, 1985 and 2011 trophy
Deployments
- Operation Baltic Air PolicingBaltic Air PolicingThe Baltic air-policing mission is a NATO air defence Quick Reaction Alert in order to guard the airspace over the three Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.-Mission:...
(November 1, 2007 — December 15, 2007)
The 301 Squadron participated in the patrol of the skies of the Baltic statesBaltic statesThe term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
(LithuaniaLithuaniaLithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, EstoniaEstoniaEstonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and LatviaLatviaLatvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
) with two F-16 AM along with four F-16 A block 15 of 201 Squadron.
Exercises
- NATO Tiger Meet
- Guest squadron (1978)
- Host (1987)
- Host (1996)
- Host (2002)
- "Dinamic Mix"
- 1997, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
- 1998, TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
- 2000, GreeceGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
- 1997, Italy
- "Central Enterprise", GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(1999) - "Polygonne", GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(1999) - "Linked Seas 2000", Ovar (2000)
- "EOLO", SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(2000)
See also
- Portuguese Air ForcePortuguese Air ForceThe Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
- List of F-16 Fighting Falcon operators
- 201 Squadron
- 51 Squadron201 Squadron (Portugal)201 Squadron "Falcões" is a fighter squadron of the Portuguese Air Force, operating the F-16 Fighting Falcon.-Roles and missions:201 Sqn has as its primary mission the execution of air defense operations and conventional attack:...
- 121 Squadron
- 502 Squadron
- 702 Squadron
- 93 Squadron
- 62 Squadron
External links
- 301 Squadron information at the Portuguese Air Force official website
- Esquadra 301 - Jaguares, official website
- PoAF participation in the Baltic Air Policing '07, PoAF official website dedicated to the operation
- PoAF 301st esquadra, squadron information at F-16.net
- List of commanders of the 301 Squadron