Portuguese Air Force
Encyclopedia
The Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) is the air force
of Portugal
. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar (Army Aviation) and Aviação Naval
(Naval Aviation) 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 began to be used in Portugal, later leading to the creation of the Army and Navy's aviation services.
Its Aerobatic display teams are the Asas de Portugal
jet aircraft display team and the Rotores de Portugal
helicopter display team.
Company was founded as part of the Army Telegraphic Service and received a handful of aircraft. During World War I
in the Western Front, while the Portuguese Army had no aircraft, Portuguese airmen flew in British and French squadrons. In Mozambique, in the operations against German Eastern Africa, the Portuguese forces included an aviation squadron, one of the first uses of combat aircraft in Africa.
. The OGMA
workshops at Alverca, which still exists under this name, and the first operational squadrons are founded that same year.
In 1924 the aviation of the army becomes a full arm of service, in equality with the infantry or the artillery. In 1937, it suffers a major reorganization, being endowed with an autonomous general command, practically becoming independent, although for administrative purposes it still stays integrated in the Army Ministry.
In 1917 the Navy Aviation Service and School is created, as well the first naval aviation base, the Maritime Aviation Centre of Bom Sucesso, in Lisbon. The Portuguese Navy's aviation service is later renamed two more times — in 1918 to Aeronautical Naval Services (Serviços da Aeronáutica Naval), and once again in 1931 to Navy Air Forces (Forças Aéreas da Armada).
Early involvement by the Portuguese military aviation included the Revolution in 1926 and the Spanish Civil War
in the late 1930s. Portugal was not directly involved in World War II
, although good relations with the Allies
resulted in the purchase of British and US aircraft, including the Hawker Hurricane
, Supermarine Spitfire
and P-47 Thunderbolt
, as well as others impounded after they landed due to mechanical problems or bad weather. Portugal joined NATO in 1949 as one of its founders.
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In 1950, its created the State Sub-Secretary of Aeronautic with the objective of managing all the Portuguese military aviation. Later, in 1952, the State Sub-Secretary of Aeronautic creates the General-Command of the Air Forces that starts to exert the unified command over the aviation units of the Army and Navy. The new organization of the air forces starts by including the Independent Forces and the Forces of Cooperation. The Forces of Cooperation include the Naval Aviation Forces (formed by the former by the former Naval Aviation
units) and the Ground Aviation Forces. This events are considered to be the creation of the Portuguese Air Force as an independent branch.
With this merge the PoAF started to have in its charge all the aviation infrastructures that until then belonged to the Army and the Navy. These means included the following:
From the Military Aviation Service:
From the Naval Aviation
:
In 1958, the Naval Aviation Forces and the Ground Aviation Forces were completely integrated in the Air Force, ending any type of administrative connection, respectively, to the Navy and to the Army.
The military coup
in 1974 was partly caused by the revolutions in Mozambique, Angola and Portuguese Guinea during the 1960s. It in turn led to these countries' independence in 1975. The turmoil of the revolution and the end of the war in the African colonies, which had involved 150,000 personnel, brought about a major reorganisation which reduced the 850 aircraft
inventory of the PoAF in 1974 to only one third of that in 1976.
Since then Portugal has gradually regained its balance and changed the organisation of the PoAF in the interest of efficiency. Some of the noteworthy changes during the last decade include the closure of BA3 Tancos and BA7 Aveiro, the re-introduction of an independent naval helicopter squadron, the acquisition of modern aircraft such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon
, which replaced the A-7P Corsair II
, the relocation of several squadrons to other bases, the intention to acquire helicopters for the Army, to be based at Tancos
, and the privatization of the OGMA
workshops. The F-16A/B's are slowly being converted into F-16AM/BM's, with 31 already on the flightline at Monte Real
, while at the Montijo
base the 12 ordered EH-101's have now entered active service. Three are stationed at Lajes, Azores, and two on Porto Santo, Madeira.
The Portuguese Air Force is distinguished by its engineers as they receive older versions of attack and transport helicopters and upgrade
them successfully and turn them into up-to-date helicopters.
The Portuguese Air Force is structured in three decision levels:
It consist of a Personnel Division (1ª Divisão - Pessoal), a Intelligence Division (2ª Divisão - Informações), a Operations Division (3ª Divisão - Operações), a Logistics Division (4ª Divisão - Logísticas), and of Support Units (Orgãos de apoio).
Under its command it has the following units:
The Administrative and Logistic Command of the Air Force is commanded by a Lieutenant-General, and has as its mission the management of the Air Force's materials resources in order to accomplish the CEMFA's plans and directives.
Under its command it has the following units:
The COFA base units guarantee the readiness of the air units and the logistic and administrative support of all the units and boards based there but depending on other commands. Organization:
Existing Air Zones commands:
The Portuguese Air Force aircraft are integrated in flight squadrons dependent of the air bases where they are based. These flight squadrons receive a designation of three numerical digits, in which the first indicates its primary mission:
The second digit indicates the type of aircraft operated by the squadron:
The third digit is a sequential number of the same mission and aircraft type.
Under its command it has the following units:
Air Base No. 1 (BA1) — Sintra
, Lisbon (LPST)
Air Base No. 4 (BA4) — Lajes
, Azores
(LPLA)
Air Base No. 5
(BA5) — Monte Real
, Leiria (LPMR)
Air Base No. 6 (BA6) — Montijo
, Setúbal (LPMT)
Air Base No. 11 (BA11) — Beja
(LPBJ)
Transit Airfield No. 1
(AT1) — Lisbon
(LPPT)
Maneuvers Airfield No. 1 (AM1) — Ovar
, Aveiro (LPOV)
Maneuvers Airfield No. 3
(AM3) — Porto Santo, Madeira
(LPPS)
! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|----
| Aérospatiale TB-30 Epsilon
||
|| Light trainer || ||
|----
| AgustaWestland EH101
||
|| Tactical transport, search & rescue, utility helicopter || ||
|----
| Alexander Schleicher ASK 21 || || Aerobatic instruction || ||
|----
| rowspan="2" | CASA C-212 Aviocar
|| rowspan="2" | || rowspan="2" | Tactical transport, search & rescue || Series 100 || rowspan="2" | Most replaced by CASA C-295 aircraft. Eight still operated by 401 Sqn. in maritime patrol and aerial photography missions
|-
| Series 300
|-----
| CASA C-295 || || Tactical transport, search & rescue || ||
|----
| Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet
||
|| Light attack aircraft, advanced trainer || Alpha-Jet A || Former-Luftwaffe
aircraft, offered by Germany
for the use of the Beja Air Base — BA11. Also operated by the PoAF aerobatic display team Asas de Portugal
|-----
| Dassault Falcon 20
|| || VIP transport & ILS Calibrations || ||
|-----
| Dassault Falcon 50
|| || VIP transport || ||
|-----
| de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
||
|| Trainer || OGMA Chipmunk T.20 ||
|-----
| LET L-23 Super Blanik
|| || Flight training || ||
|-----
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules || || Tactical transport || C-130H
C-130H-30 ||
|-----
| rowspan="2" | Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon || rowspan="2" | || rowspan="2" | Fighter || F-16 AM || rowspan="2" |
|-
| F-16 BM
|-----
| Lockheed P-3 Orion || || Maritime patrol aircraft || P-3C Update II.5/CUP-CG || Former-Royal Netherlands Navy aircraft being updated.
|-
|}
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar (Army Aviation) and Aviação Naval
Portuguese Naval Aviation
The Portuguese Naval Aviation , was the air branch of the Portuguese Navy until 1952, and is today the command of the Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships...
(Naval Aviation) 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 began to be used in Portugal, later leading to the creation of the Army and Navy's aviation services.
Its Aerobatic display teams are the Asas de Portugal
Asas de Portugal
The Asas De Portugal is a flight demonstration team created in 1977 integrated with Esquadra 103 of the Portuguese Air Force. They are Portugal's national aerobatic flying team and fly two ex-Luftwaffe Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet...
jet aircraft display team and the Rotores de Portugal
Rotores de Portugal
The Rotores de Portugal is a helicopter flight demonstration team created in 1976, operated by Esquadra 552 of the Portuguese Air Force out of Beja Air Base, Portugal...
helicopter display team.
History
The history of Portuguese military aviation dates back to 1911, when a BalloonBalloon
A balloon is an inflatable flexible bag filled with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, or air. Modern balloons can be made from materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric, while some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig...
Company was founded as part of the Army Telegraphic Service and received a handful of aircraft. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in the Western Front, while the Portuguese Army had no aircraft, Portuguese airmen flew in British and French squadrons. In Mozambique, in the operations against German Eastern Africa, the Portuguese forces included an aviation squadron, one of the first uses of combat aircraft in Africa.
The Army and Navy aviations
In 1914 the Military Aeronautic Service (Serviço Aeronáutico Militar) and the Military School of Aeronautic (Escola Militar de Aeronáutica, EMA) are founded, but it is in 1918 that these services are reorganised and renamed to 'Military Aviation Service' and are made directly dependent of the Ministry of WarMinistry of War
A Ministry of War or Ministry for War is an administrative, supply and services agency of an army, as opposed to the entire military establishment. Both Mexico and Brazil both still maintain a War Department for the support of their armies...
. The OGMA
OGMA
Founded in 1918, OGMA – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal, S.A., has dedicated ever since to the maintenance of aircraft and aircraft engines, as well as to the manufacturing of aircraft components and to aircraft engineering and logistic support. OGMA is situated in Alverca, approximately 15 km...
workshops at Alverca, which still exists under this name, and the first operational squadrons are founded that same year.
In 1924 the aviation of the army becomes a full arm of service, in equality with the infantry or the artillery. In 1937, it suffers a major reorganization, being endowed with an autonomous general command, practically becoming independent, although for administrative purposes it still stays integrated in the Army Ministry.
In 1917 the Navy Aviation Service and School is created, as well the first naval aviation base, the Maritime Aviation Centre of Bom Sucesso, in Lisbon. The Portuguese Navy's aviation service is later renamed two more times — in 1918 to Aeronautical Naval Services (Serviços da Aeronáutica Naval), and once again in 1931 to Navy Air Forces (Forças Aéreas da Armada).
Early involvement by the Portuguese military aviation included the Revolution in 1926 and the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
in the late 1930s. Portugal was not directly involved in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, although good relations with the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
resulted in the purchase of British and US aircraft, including the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
, Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
and P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
, as well as others impounded after they landed due to mechanical problems or bad weather. Portugal joined NATO in 1949 as one of its founders.
Creation of the independent Air Force
Portuguese Naval Aviation
The Portuguese Naval Aviation , was the air branch of the Portuguese Navy until 1952, and is today the command of the Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships...
units) and the Ground Aviation Forces. This events are considered to be the creation of the Portuguese Air Force as an independent branch.
With this merge the PoAF started to have in its charge all the aviation infrastructures that until then belonged to the Army and the Navy. These means included the following:
From the Military Aviation Service:
- Independent Aviation Fighter Group, in EspinhoEspinho, PortugalEspinho is a city in Espinho Municipality in Portugal. It is a reputed beach resort and a zone of legal gambling with a casino - Casino Solverde. Its fair - Feira de Espinho, having been first organised in 1894, is well known in Portugal...
, with two squadrons of Hawker HurricaneHawker HurricaneThe Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
fighters. Its aviation infrastructures were renamed as Airstrip-Base No. 1, being deactivated in 1955; - Air Base No. 1, in SintraSintraSintra is a town within the municipality of Sintra in the Grande Lisboa subregion of Portugal. Owing to its 19th century Romantic architecture and landscapes, becoming a major tourist centre, visited by many day-trippers who travel from the urbanized suburbs and capital of Lisbon.In addition to...
, focused in flighting instruction; - Air Base No. 2, in OtaOta (Alenquer)Ota is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Alenquer. It has a population of 1,198 inhabitants and a total area of 46.36 km².-Ota airport:...
, with a Junkers Ju 52/3m transport squadron and three fighter squadrons, one equipped with P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
attack aircraft, and the other two with Supermarine SpitfireSupermarine SpitfireThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
fighters; - Air Base No. 3, in TancosTancosTancos is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Vila Nova da Barquinha. It has a population of 295 inhabitants and a total area of 1.56 km².Tancos is the location of a major air base and a military academy....
, with a reconnaissance squadron equipped with Lysander aircraft and a group of fighter squadrons equipped with P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
attack aircraft. - Air Base No. 4, in LajesLajes (Praia da Vitória)Lajes is a civil parish in the municipality of Praia da Vitória, on the island of Terceira in the Portuguese Azores. In 2001, the population was 3753, occupying an area of 12.11 km², in the north-eastern coast of the municipality : it is the second largest and the most populous parish in the...
, supporting transport, reconnaissance and Search and RescueSearch and rescueSearch and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
missions, with various squadrons equipped with SB-17G Flying Fortress, C-54C-54 SkymasterThe Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
, and the first helicopter operated by the Portuguese Armed Forces, the Sikorsky UH-19; - Lisbon's Airfield, equipped with transport aircraft of various types. In 1955 it was renamed as Airstrip-Base No. 1, being once again renamed in 1978 to Transit Airfield No. 1.
From the Naval Aviation
Portuguese Naval Aviation
The Portuguese Naval Aviation , was the air branch of the Portuguese Navy until 1952, and is today the command of the Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships...
:
- Aveiro Naval Aviation Centre, in São Jacinto, Aveiro, equipped with anti-submarine Curtiss HelldiverSB2C HelldiverThe Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a carrier-based dive bomber aircraft produced for the United States Navy during World War II. It replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless in US Navy service. Despite its size, the SB2C was much faster than the SBD it replaced...
aircraft. Once under the Portuguese Air Force command its designated was changed various times, in which the longest one in use was Air Base No. 7; - "Sacadura Cabral" Naval Aviation Centre, descendant of the Bom Sucesso Naval Aviation Centre, in BelémSanta Maria de BelémSanta Maria de Belém, or just Belém , whose name is derived from the Portuguese word for Bethlehem, is a civil parish of the municipality of Lisbon, in central Portugal...
, transferred to MontijoMontijo, PortugalMontijo is a town in Montijo Municipality in Portugal.The town has a population of 25,719.-References:...
in the 1950s. This unit was initially equipped with North-American T-6T-6 TexanThe North American Aviation T-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1950s...
, Consolidated Fleet aircraft, and various Grumman aircraft. Was renamed later to Air Base No. 6.
Development of the Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese national metropolitan and ultramarine territory was divided in 1956 in three major aerial regions, that start to exert the operational command of the aerial units stationed in their area – later two semi-independent commands were created inside the 1st Aerial Region designated as air zones:- 1st Aerial Region (1ª Região Aérea), with its headquarters in Lisbon, enclosing the continent, AzoresAzoresThe Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, MadeiraMadeiraMadeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
, Portuguese GuineaPortuguese GuineaPortuguese Guinea was the name for what is today Guinea-Bissau from 1446 to September 10, 1974.-History:...
and Cape VerdeCape VerdeThe Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
;- Azores Air Zone (Zona Aérea dos Açores);
- Guine and Cape Verde Air Zone (Zona Aérea da Guiné e Cabo Verde).
- 2nd Aerial Region (2ª Região Aérea), with its headquarters in LuandaLuandaLuanda, formerly named São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda, is the capital and largest city of Angola. Located on Angola's coast with the Atlantic Ocean, Luanda is both Angola's chief seaport and its administrative center. It has a population of at least 5 million...
, enclosing AngolaAngolaAngola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and São Tomé and PríncipeSão Tomé and PríncipeSão Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about apart and about , respectively, off...
; - 3rd Aerial Region (3ª Região Aérea), with its headquarters in Lourenço Marques, enclosing MozambiqueMozambiqueMozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, Portuguese IndiaPortuguese IndiaThe Portuguese Viceroyalty of India , later the Portuguese State of India , was the aggregate of Portugal's colonial holdings in India.The government started in 1505, six years after the discovery of a sea route to India by Vasco da Gama, with the nomination of the first Viceroy Francisco de...
, MacauMacauMacau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
and PortuguesePortuguese TimorPortuguese Timor was the name of East Timor when it was under Portuguese control. During this period, Portugal shared the island of Timor with the Netherlands East Indies, and later with Indonesia....
TimorEast TimorThe Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
.
In 1958, the Naval Aviation Forces and the Ground Aviation Forces were completely integrated in the Air Force, ending any type of administrative connection, respectively, to the Navy and to the Army.
The military coup
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...
in 1974 was partly caused by the revolutions in Mozambique, Angola and Portuguese Guinea during the 1960s. It in turn led to these countries' independence in 1975. The turmoil of the revolution and the end of the war in the African colonies, which had involved 150,000 personnel, brought about a major reorganisation which reduced the 850 aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
inventory of the PoAF in 1974 to only one third of that in 1976.
Since then Portugal has gradually regained its balance and changed the organisation of the PoAF in the interest of efficiency. Some of the noteworthy changes during the last decade include the closure of BA3 Tancos and BA7 Aveiro, the re-introduction of an independent naval helicopter squadron, the acquisition of modern aircraft such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon
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...
, which replaced the A-7P Corsair II
A-7 Corsair II
The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War...
, the relocation of several squadrons to other bases, the intention to acquire helicopters for the Army, to be based at Tancos
Tancos
Tancos is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Vila Nova da Barquinha. It has a population of 295 inhabitants and a total area of 1.56 km².Tancos is the location of a major air base and a military academy....
, and the privatization of the OGMA
OGMA
Founded in 1918, OGMA – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal, S.A., has dedicated ever since to the maintenance of aircraft and aircraft engines, as well as to the manufacturing of aircraft components and to aircraft engineering and logistic support. OGMA is situated in Alverca, approximately 15 km...
workshops. The F-16A/B's are slowly being converted into F-16AM/BM's, with 31 already on the flightline at 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 ....
, while at the Montijo
Montijo, Portugal
Montijo is a town in Montijo Municipality in Portugal.The town has a population of 25,719.-References:...
base the 12 ordered EH-101's have now entered active service. Three are stationed at Lajes, Azores, and two on Porto Santo, Madeira.
The Portuguese Air Force is distinguished by its engineers as they receive older versions of attack and transport helicopters and upgrade
Upgrade
The term upgrade refers to the replacement of a product with a newer version of the same product. It is most often used in computing and consumer electronics, generally meaning a replacement of hardware, software or firmware with a newer or better version, in order to bring the system up to date...
them successfully and turn them into up-to-date helicopters.
Organization
- Long term planning — it is of the responsibility of the Chief of Staff (CEMFA), seconded by the Vice Chief of Staff (VICE-CEMFA), who runs the Air Force Headquarters (EMFA) with the Personnel, Intelligence, Operational and Logistics Divisions.
- Short term planning — it is of the responsibility of the three major commands of the PoAF, that change the doctrinal directives into operational and technical directives:
- Operational Command;
- Personnel Command;
- Administrative and Logistic Command.
- Execution — The base units, depending hierarchically and functionally from the respective functional and technical Command, are responsible for the execution. They are formed into three Groups: Operational Group, Maintenance Group and Support Group, organized according to the mission and means assigned. These units are responsible for applying the directives, having the air operations as outcome.
Air Force Headquarters
The Air Force Headquarters are responsible for studying, conceiving and planning the Air Force activities, supporting the Air Force Chief of Staff (CEMFA) decisions. EMFA is commanded by the Vice Chief of Staff - VCEMFA who is seconded by a Major-General Pilot, called Vice Commander of EMFA.It consist of a Personnel Division (1ª Divisão - Pessoal), a Intelligence Division (2ª Divisão - Informações), a Operations Division (3ª Divisão - Operações), a Logistics Division (4ª Divisão - Logísticas), and of Support Units (Orgãos de apoio).
Under its command it has the following units:
- Air Force Inspection Agency ( IGFA);
- Air Force High Studies Institute;
- Air Force AcademyPortuguese Air Force AcademyThe Air Force Academy is a Portuguese military higher education institution whose aim is to provide all its students with the training and the experience that will enable them to graduate having gained the knowledge and the character qualities that are essential for leadership, and the motivation...
; - Directorate of Computer Science ;
- Air Museum;
- Air Force Historic Archive;
- Air Force Music Band;
Administrative and Logistic Command
Under its command it has the following units:
- Logistics Directorate;
- Electronics Directorate;
- Infra-structure Directorate;
- Aeronautical Mechanic Directorate;
- Transportation Unit;
- CLAFA Administrative Service;
- Armaments Office;
- General Storage Complex of the Air Force ;
- Air Force Airfield Engineering Group;
- Electronics Maintenance Centre.
Operational Command
The Operational Command of the Air Force , commanded by a Lieutenant-General, plans, directs and controls the efficiency of the air power, the air activity and defence of the national air space. It is also of the COFA's responsibility the security of the Air Force bases and units.Base Units
- The Main Air Bases, when they have their own air means Air Bases 1, 4, 5, 6 and 11
- The Advanced Air Bases, when they support detached or operational air means. Example of these bases are the Operational and Maneuvers Airfields.
Surveillance and Detection Units
The Surveillance and Detection Units guarantee the operational of these same means.- Radar Station No. 1 (ER1) — FóiaFóia (mountain)With an altitude of and a topographic prominence of , Fóia is the highest mountain of Algarve, Portugal. It is part of the Serra de Monchique range and is located at within Monchique parish....
- Radar Station No. 2 (ER2) — Paços de FerreiraPaços de FerreiraPaços de Ferreira is a city in Portugal. It is sometimes also called Capital do Móvel , since the city is home to numerous furniture manufacturing plants. Besides older Portuguese furniture companies, Portugal's major industrial operations of IKEA are also located there...
, PortoPortoPorto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes... - Radar Station No. 3 (ER3) — Montejunto
Air Zones
Air Zones have the mission of planning, supervising and controlling the readiness of the air power resources and the air activity in their area of responsibility, of the accomplishment of the established plans. Guaranteeing, under the terms established in international agreements, the relationships with the foreign forces stationed at the base units under their hierarchic authority, but keeping the status inherent to the unit commander.Existing Air Zones commands:
- Azores Air Zone CommandAzores Air Zone CommandAzores Air Zone Command is a Portuguese Air Force air zone command.-History:The Azores Air Zone was created in 1956 with Air Base No. 4 under its dependency and the following missions:...
It has the Lajes Air Base (BA4) under its dependency. - Madeira Air Zone Command (inactive)
Flight Squadrons
- 1 - Instruction squadron;
- 2 - Fighter squadron;
- 3 - Attack squadron;
- 4 - Reconnaissance squadron;
- 5 - Transport squadron;
- 6 - Maritime patrol squadron;
- 7 - Search and Rescue squadron;
- 8 - Special function squadron;
The second digit indicates the type of aircraft operated by the squadron:
- 0 - Fixed-wing aircraftFixed-wing aircraftA fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
; - 1 - Mixed;
- 5 - Rotary-wing aircraft;
The third digit is a sequential number of the same mission and aircraft type.
Personnel Command
The Personnel Command of the Air Force is commanded by a Lieutenant-General that administers the human resources of the Air Force in accordance with the CEMFA's plans and directives.Under its command it has the following units:
- Personnel Directorate;
- Instruction Directorate;
- Medical Directorate;
- Justice and Discipline Council;
- Social Welfare Council;
- Religious Support Council;
- Health Institute of the Air Force;
- Air Force Hospital;
- Aeronautical Medicine Center;
- Air Force Psychology Center;
- Air Force Conscription Center;
- Lumiar Air Base;
- Air Force Military and Technical Training Centre.
Order of battle
Sintra
Sintra is a town within the municipality of Sintra in the Grande Lisboa subregion of Portugal. Owing to its 19th century Romantic architecture and landscapes, becoming a major tourist centre, visited by many day-trippers who travel from the urbanized suburbs and capital of Lisbon.In addition to...
, Lisbon (LPST)
- 802 Sqn. "Águias" (Eagles) — Air Force AcademyPortuguese Air Force AcademyThe Air Force Academy is a Portuguese military higher education institution whose aim is to provide all its students with the training and the experience that will enable them to graduate having gained the knowledge and the character qualities that are essential for leadership, and the motivation...
squadron - 101 Sqn. "Roncos" (Roars) — elementary and basic flying training
Air Base No. 4 (BA4) — Lajes
Lajes (Praia da Vitória)
Lajes is a civil parish in the municipality of Praia da Vitória, on the island of Terceira in the Portuguese Azores. In 2001, the population was 3753, occupying an area of 12.11 km², in the north-eastern coast of the municipality : it is the second largest and the most populous parish in the...
, Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
(LPLA)
- 502 Sqn. "Elefantes" (Elephants) (Detachment) — search and rescue detachment
- 751 Sqn. "Pumas"751 Squadron (Portugal)The 751 Squadron "Pumas" is a helicopter squadron of the Portuguese Air Force. It is part of Grupo Operacional 61 and it is located in Air Base nº6 , Montijo, south of Lisbon...
(Pumas) (Detachment) — search and rescue detachment - 752 Sqn. "Pumas"752 Squadron (Portugal)The 752 Squadron "Pumas" is a helicopter Search and Rescue squadron of the Portuguese Air Force.-History:Activated on November 30, 1977, along with its sister 751 Squadron, the 752 Sqn...
(Pumas) — search and rescue squadron
Air Base No. 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...
(BA5) — 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 ....
, Leiria (LPMR)
- 201 Sqn. "Falcões"201 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:...
(Falcons) — F-16F-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...
fighter squadron - 301 Sqn. "Jaguares"301 Squadron (Portugal)The 301 Squadron "Jaguares" is a fighter squadron of the Portuguese Air Force .-Roles and missions:The 301 Squadron has the mission of executing operations of air defense and conventional attack in all-weather conditions....
(Jaguars) — F-16 fighter squadron
Air Base No. 6 (BA6) — Montijo
Montijo, Portugal
Montijo is a town in Montijo Municipality in Portugal.The town has a population of 25,719.-References:...
, Setúbal (LPMT)
- 401 Sqn. "Cientistas" (Scientists) — reconnaissance and surveillance squadron
- 501 Sqn. "Bisontes" (Bisons) — tactical transport squadron
- 502 Sqn. "Elefantes" (Elephants) — tactical and general transport squadron
- 504 Sqn. "Linces" (Lynxes) — VIP and MEDEVAC transport squadron
- 751 Sqn. "Pumas"751 Squadron (Portugal)The 751 Squadron "Pumas" is a helicopter squadron of the Portuguese Air Force. It is part of Grupo Operacional 61 and it is located in Air Base nº6 , Montijo, south of Lisbon...
(Pumas) — search and rescue squadron - EsqHel da MarinhaPortuguese Naval AviationThe Portuguese Naval Aviation , was the air branch of the Portuguese Navy until 1952, and is today the command of the Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships...
(Navy Helicopter Squadron)
Air Base No. 11 (BA11) — 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....
(LPBJ)
- 103 Sqn. "Caracóis"103 Squadron (Portugal)The 103 Squadron "Caracóis" is a jet advanced training squadron of the Portuguese Air Force. Prior to 1978, the "Caracóis" also received following designations: 22 Squadron, Esquadra de Instrução Complementar de Pilotagem and Esquadra de Instrução Complementar de Pilotagem de Aviões de Combate...
(Snails) — complementary flying training and operational transition training - 552 Sqn. "Zangões" (Drones) — tactical air transport operations and complementary flying training in helicopters
- 601 Sqn. "Lobos" (Wolves) — maritime patrol squadron
Transit Airfield No. 1
Portela Airport
Lisbon Portela Airport, also known as Lisbon Airport , is an international airport located north of Castle of São Jorge in the city of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal...
(AT1) — Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
(LPPT)
Maneuvers Airfield No. 1 (AM1) — Ovar
Ovar
Ovar Municipality is a municipality in Aveiro District, Baixo Vouga Subregion in Portugal. It has a total area of 147.4 km² and a total population of 56,296 inhabitants, and 42,582 electors . The city of Ovar itself has a population of 16,849....
, Aveiro (LPOV)
- 552 Sqn. "Zangões" (Drones) (Detachment) — search and rescue detachment
Maneuvers Airfield No. 3
Porto Santo Airport
-External links:* *...
(AM3) — Porto Santo, Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
(LPPS)
- 751 Sqn. "Pumas"751 Squadron (Portugal)The 751 Squadron "Pumas" is a helicopter squadron of the Portuguese Air Force. It is part of Grupo Operacional 61 and it is located in Air Base nº6 , Montijo, south of Lisbon...
(Pumas) (Detachment) — Search and rescue detachment - 502 Sqn. "Elefantes" (Elephants) (Detachment) — Search and rescue detachment
Secondary units
- Military and Technical Formation Center of the Air Force — OtaOta (Alenquer)Ota is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Alenquer. It has a population of 1,198 inhabitants and a total area of 46.36 km².-Ota airport:...
, LisbonLisbonLisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
(LPOT) - Air Museum (Museu do Ar) — Air Base No. 1 (BA1) — SintraSintraSintra is a town within the municipality of Sintra in the Grande Lisboa subregion of Portugal. Owing to its 19th century Romantic architecture and landscapes, becoming a major tourist centre, visited by many day-trippers who travel from the urbanized suburbs and capital of Lisbon.In addition to...
, Lisbon (LPST) - General Storage Complex of the Air Force (DGMFA) — Alverca, Lisbon (LPAR)
- Field Firing Range of Alcochete (Campo de Tiro de Alcochete) (CTA) — Alcochete, SetúbalSetúbalSetúbal is the main city in Setúbal Municipality in Portugal with a total area of 172.0 km² and a total population of 118,696 inhabitants in the municipality. The city proper has 89,303 inhabitants....
Rank Structure
| Oficiais Generais - General officers | |||
| Marechal | |||
| Marshal Marshal Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf... (Honorific) |
|||
| General | Tenente-General | Major-General | Brigadeiro-General |
| General General A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given.... |
Lieutenant-General | Major-General | Brigadier-General |
| Oficiais Superiores - Senior officers | |||
| Coronel | Tenente-Coronel | Major | |
| Colonel Colonel Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures... |
Lieutenant-Colonel | 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. ... |
|
| Capitães e Subalternos - Junior officers | |||
| Capitão | Tenente | Alferes | Aspirante a oficial |
| Captain | Lieutenant Lieutenant A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank... |
Second Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal... |
Officer Candidate Officer Candidate Officer Candidate is a rank in some militaries of the world that is an appointed position while a person is in training to become an officer. More often than not, an Officer Candidate was a civilian who applied to join the military directly as an officer... |
| Sargentos - Sergeants | |||
| Sargento-mor | Sargento-chefe | Sargento-ajudante | |
| Chief Master Sergeant Chief Master Sergeant CMSgt ChevronChief Master Sergeant is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Master Sergeant, and is a senior non-commissioned officer. The official term of address is "Chief Master Sergeant" or "Chief".Attaining the rank of Chief Master Sergeant is the... |
Senior Master Sergeant Senior Master Sergeant Senior Master Sergeant is the eighth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Master Sergeant and below Chief Master Sergeant and is a senior non-commissioned officer .... |
Master Sergeant Master Sergeant A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF... |
|
| |
|||
| 1º Sargento | 2º Sargento | Furriel | 2º Furriel |
| Technical Sergeant Technical Sergeant Technical Sergeant is the name of one current and two former enlisted ranks in the United States military.-United States Air Force:Technical Sergeant, or Tech Sergeant, is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant. A technical sergeant is... |
Staff Sergeant Staff Sergeant Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:... |
Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent.... |
Senior Airmen Senior Airman Senior airman is the fourth enlisted rank in the United States Air Force, just above airman first class and below staff sergeant. It has a pay grade of E-4... |
| Praças - Airmen | |||
| Cabo-adjunto | 1º Cabo | 2º Cabo | |
| Airmen 1st Class Airman First Class Airman first class is the third enlisted rank in the United States Air Force, just above airman and below senior airman. The rank of airman first class is considered a junior enlisted rank, with the non-commissioned officers and senior non-commissioned officers above it.Airman first class is a... |
Airmen | Airmen Basic Airman Basic Airman Basic is the lowest enlisted rank in the United States Air Force , immediately below Airman. The pay grade for Airman Basic is E-1.As opposed to all other USAF enlisted and officer ranks, Airman Basic has no rank insignia affiliated... |
|
| Pessoal Em Preparação - Personnel Undergoing Training | |||
| Cadete de 4º Ano | Cadete de 3º Ano | Cadete de 2º Ano | Cadete de 1º Ano |
| 4th-year Cadet Cadet A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :... |
3rd-year Cadet Cadet A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :... |
2nd-year Cadet Cadet A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :... |
1st-year Cadet Cadet A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :... |
| |
|||
| Soldado-cadete | Soldado-recruta | ||
| Cadet Cadet A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :... |
Recruit | ||
Aircraft
Current
! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|----
| Aérospatiale TB-30 Epsilon
Aérospatiale Epsilon
|-See also:...
||
|| Light trainer || ||
|----
| AgustaWestland EH101
AgustaWestland EH101
The AgustaWestland AW101 is a medium-lift helicopter for military applications but also marketed for civil use. The helicopter was developed as a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the UK and Agusta in Italy...
||
|| Tactical transport, search & rescue, utility helicopter || ||
|----
| Alexander Schleicher ASK 21 || || Aerobatic instruction || ||
|----
| rowspan="2" | CASA C-212 Aviocar
CASA C.212 Aviocar
The CASA C-212 Aviocar is a turboprop-powered STOL medium transport aircraft designed and built in Spain for civil and military use. C-212s are also produced under licence in Indonesia by Indonesian Aerospace, formerly called IPTN but now known as IAe...
|| rowspan="2" | || rowspan="2" | Tactical transport, search & rescue || Series 100 || rowspan="2" | Most replaced by CASA C-295 aircraft. Eight still operated by 401 Sqn. in maritime patrol and aerial photography missions
|-
| Series 300
|-----
| CASA C-295 || || Tactical transport, search & rescue || ||
|----
| Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet
Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet
The Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet is a light attack jet and advanced trainer aircraft co-manufactured by Dornier of Germany and Dassault-Breguet of France.- Origins :...
||
|| Light attack aircraft, advanced trainer || Alpha-Jet A || Former-Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
aircraft, offered by Germany
Germany
Germany , 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...
for the use of the Beja Air Base — BA11. Also operated by the PoAF aerobatic display team Asas de Portugal
Asas de Portugal
The Asas De Portugal is a flight demonstration team created in 1977 integrated with Esquadra 103 of the Portuguese Air Force. They are Portugal's national aerobatic flying team and fly two ex-Luftwaffe Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet...
|-----
| Dassault Falcon 20
Dassault Falcon 20
The Dassault Falcon 20 is a French business jet and was the first of a family of business jets built by Dassault Aviation.-Design and development:...
|| || VIP transport & ILS Calibrations || ||
|-----
| Dassault Falcon 50
Dassault Falcon 50
|-See also:-References:* Taylor, John W R. . Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK:Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.-External links:* *...
|| || VIP transport || ||
|-----
| de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
The de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk is a tandem, two-seat, single-engined primary trainer aircraft which was the standard primary trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force and several other air forces through much of the post-Second World War years...
||
|| Trainer || OGMA Chipmunk T.20 ||
|-----
| LET L-23 Super Blanik
LET L-23
-See also:-References:*...
|| || Flight training || ||
|-----
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules || || Tactical transport || C-130H
C-130H-30 ||
|-----
| rowspan="2" | Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon || rowspan="2" | || rowspan="2" | Fighter || F-16 AM || rowspan="2" |
|-
| F-16 BM
|-----
| Lockheed P-3 Orion || || Maritime patrol aircraft || P-3C Update II.5/CUP-CG || Former-Royal Netherlands Navy aircraft being updated.
|-
|}
Vehicles
- Unimog U-400UnimogUnimog is a range of multi-purpose auto four wheel drive medium trucks produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The name Unimog is pronounced in German and is an acronym for the German "UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät", Gerät being the German word for machine or device...
- Oshkosh T-3000Oshkosh TruckOshkosh Corporation , formerly Oshkosh Truck, designs and builds specialty trucks and truck bodies and access equipment. Based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the company employs 12,300 people around the world...
- Renault 320 DCI Premium Protec-FireRenaultRenault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
- Mercedes-Benz 1823 AtegoMercedes-Benz AtegoThe Mercedes-Benz Atego is a range of light rigid truck introduced by Mercedes-Benz in 1997.Designated 970, it is available in weights of 7.5 to 16 metric tonnes and is powered by a straight 4 or 6 cylinder engine...
- Humvee
See also
- Military aviationMilitary aviationMilitary aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
- Military of Portugal
- Portuguese Armed ForcesPortuguese Armed ForcesThe armed forces of Portugal, commonly known as the Portuguese Armed Forces encompasses a Navy , an Army and an Air Force...
- Portuguese Air Force AcademyPortuguese Air Force AcademyThe Air Force Academy is a Portuguese military higher education institution whose aim is to provide all its students with the training and the experience that will enable them to graduate having gained the knowledge and the character qualities that are essential for leadership, and the motivation...
- Portuguese air defense
- Polícia AéreaPolícia AéreaThe Polícia Aérea are a Special Forces unit, a Police unit from Portuguese Air Force. The primary mission of the Air Police is to guarantee the security and immediate defense of the Air Force units in the Portuguese territory. Outside the national territory, it exerts its mission of supporting...
- List of aircraft of the Portuguese Air Force
- Portuguese military aircraft serialsPortuguese military aircraft serialsIn Portugal to identify individual aircraft, all military aircraft are allocated and display a serial number. A common serial number system is used for aircraft operated by the three military branches, the Portuguese Air Force, Portuguese Naval Aviation and Portuguese Army...
- Asas de PortugalAsas de PortugalThe Asas De Portugal is a flight demonstration team created in 1977 integrated with Esquadra 103 of the Portuguese Air Force. They are Portugal's national aerobatic flying team and fly two ex-Luftwaffe Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet...
- Rotores de PortugalRotores de PortugalThe Rotores de Portugal is a helicopter flight demonstration team created in 1976, operated by Esquadra 552 of the Portuguese Air Force out of Beja Air Base, Portugal...
- Portuguese Colonial WarPortuguese Colonial WarThe 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...
- UALEUALEThe Army Light Aviation Unit , initially known as Army Light Aviation Group , is the Portuguese Army's unit dedicated to missions of light aviation, being integrated in the Army Forces System, under the operational command of the Ground Forces Operational Command .- Mission :* Organize, train and...
External links
- Portuguese Air Force, official website
- Portuguese Air Force at Scramble