Peruvian Air Force

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Peruvian Air Force


caption= Peruvian Air Force Sukhoi Su-25
dates= 1950
country= Peru
allegiance=
branch=
type=
role=
size=
command_structure= Ministry of Defense
garrison= The "Little" Pentagon
garrison_label= Headquarters
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
colors_label=
march=
mascot=
battles= Ecuadorian-Peruvian war
Cenepa war
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
current_commander= Miguel Ángel Gómez Vizcarra
(Commander-In-Chief),
Fernando Villacorta Bazán
(Chief of Staff)
current_commander_label= Leadership
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label= Roundel
aircraft_attack= A-37B, Su-25
aircraft_bomber=
aircraft_electronic=C-26B
aircraft_interceptor= MiG-29, Mirage 2000
aircraft_recon= Lear Jet 25, Lear Jet 36
aircraft_patrol=
aircraft_trainer= EMB-312, MB-339,
Zlin 242L
aircraft_transport= An-32, Boeing 737, DHC-6, Falcon 20, F-28, C-130 Hercules, PC-6, Y-12

The Peruvian Air Force (Spanish: "Fuerza Aérea del Perú", abbreviated FAP) is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with defending the nation and its interests through the use of air power. Additional missions include assistance in safeguarding internal security, conducting disaster relief operations and participating in international peacekeeping operations.

History

On May 20, 1929, the aviation divisions of the Peruvian Army and Navy were merged into the "Cuerpo de Aviación del Perú" (Peruvian Aviation Corps, abbreviated CAP). During the Colombia-Peru War of 1933, its Vought O2U Corsair and Curtiss F11 Hawk planes fought in the Amazon region. The corps was renamed "Cuerpo Aeronáutico del Perú" (Peruvian Aeronautical Corps, also abbreviated CAP) on March 12, 1936. In 1941, the CAP participated in the Peruvian-Ecuadorian War. At that time, the CAP were equipped with Caproni Ca.114 and North American NA.50 "Torito" fighters, Douglas 8A-3P attack fighters and Caproni Ca.310 "Libeccio" bombers, [Acig.org: [http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_164.shtml The Most Powerful Air Force in Latin America] ] among others.

During the presidency of Manuel A. Odría the corps was reorganized again and on July 18, 1950 it became the "Fuerza Aérea del Perú" (Air Force of Peru, abbreviated FAP). The service underwent a period of considerable expansion through out the 1970s and early 1980s which included the introduction of an important number of Soviet-made aircraft. In 1982, during the Falklands War, the Peruvian Air Force transferred ten of their Mirage 5P to the Argentine Air Force as a measure of solidarity. The economic crisis of the later 1980s forced reductions in the fleet size as well as cuts in training and general readiness.

Under those conditions the FAP fought the Cenepa War against Ecuador in 1995 and lost nine planes and helicopters. After the war, the FAP acquired new material, including MiG-29 fighters and Su-25 attack fighters which, along with Mirage 2000 fighters, are currently the main combat elements of the FAP.

Organization

The current Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of Peru is General Miguel Ángel Gómez Vizcarra. Aerial forces are subordinated to the Ministry of Defense and ultimately to the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Peruvian Armed Forces. Operational units are organized as follows:

"Ala Aérea Nº 1"

1st Air Wing, headquarterd at Piura

*"Grupo Aéreo Nº 6" (6th Air Group) based at Chiclayo
**"Escuadrón Aéreo 612" (Fighter Squadron 612 "Cock Fighters") - operating MiG-29S/SE/UB
*"Grupo Aéreo Nº 7" (7th Air Group) based at Piura
**"Escuadrón Aéreo 711" (Fighter Squadron 711 "Scorpions") - operating A-37B
*"Grupo Aéreo Nº 11" (11th Air Group) based at Talara
**"Escuadrón Aéreo 112" (Fighter Squadron 112 "Tigers") - operating Su-25/UB

"Ala Aérea Nº 2"

2nd Air Wing, headquarterd at Callao

*"Grupo Aéreo Nº 3" (3rd Air Group) based at Callao
**"Escuadrón Aéreo 332" (Medium-Airlift Helicopter Squadron 332) - operating Mi-17
*"Grupo Aéreo Nº 8" (8th Air Group) based at Callao
**"Escuadrón Aéreo 811" (Transport Squadron 811) - operating An-32 and L-100

"Ala Aérea Nº 3"

3rd Air Wing, headquarterd at Arequipa
*"Grupo Aéreo Nº 2" (2nd Air Group) based at Vítor
**"Escuadrón Aéreo 211" (Attack Helicopter Squadron 211) - operating Mi-25D

*"Grupo Aéreo Nº 4" (4th Air Group) based at La Joya
**"Escuadrón Aéreo 411" (Fighter Squadron 411 "Hawks") - operating Mirage 2000P/DP
**"Escuadrón Aéreo 513" (Advance Training Squadrons 513) - operating MB-339AP

*"Grupo Aéreo Nº 51" (51st Air Group) based at Pisco
**"Escuadrón Aéreo 511" (Basic Training Squadron 511) - operating Zlin 242L
**"Escuadrón Aéreo 512" (Intermediate Training Squadron 512) - operating EMB-312

"Ala Aérea Nº 5"

5th Air Wing, headquarterd at Iquitos

*"Grupo Aéreo Nº 42" (42nd Air Group) based at Iquitos

Personnel

Equipment

Numbers shown below are derived from open sources, they should be regarded as estimates due to lack of confirmation from official sources.

Notes

ources

*Cobas, Efraín, "Las Fuerzas Armadas Peruanas en el Siglo XXI". CESLA, 2003.
*Marchessini, Alejo, "La Fuerza Aérea del Perú"; "Defensa" 295: 30-42 (November 2002).
*Marchessini, Alejo, "La aviación de combate de origen ruso de la FAP"; "Defensa" 342: 34-36 (October 2006).
*Marchessini, Alejo, "El Servicio de Material de Guerra de la FAP"; "Defensa" 355: 48-50 (November 2007).

ee also

* Cenepa War
* Ecuadorian-Peruvian war
* Paquisha War
* José Quiñones Gonzáles

External links

* [http://www.fap.mil.pe/ Official Air Force of Peru Website]
* [http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/peru/index.php Peruvian military aircraft Order of Battle]
* [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/americas/peru/per-airforce.htm Aeroflight]
* [http://armoreddefense.com/gallery/Peruvian-Air-Force Armored Defense]
* [http://www.scramble.nl/pe.htm Order of Battle] at Scramble
* [http://www.worldairforces.com/countries/peru/per.html World Air Forces]