Country Venezuela Type Air force Founded 22 June 1946 | Allegiance President of Venezuela Size 202 aircraft Color Bleu celeste | |
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Part of Ministry of the Popular Participation for the Defense Nickname(s) Aviación Militar Bolivariana Venezolana (AMBV) Motto Spatium superanus palatinus (Latin: The paladin of the sovereign space) Fighters Sukhoi Su-30, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon Trainers Cessna 182 Skylane, SIAI-Marchetti SF.260, Embraer EMB 312 Tucano, Hongdu JL-8 Transports Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Aeritalia G.222, Boeing 707, Short 360 Similar National Bolivarian Armed Fo, Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela, Venezuelan Army, Venezuelan National Guard, Venezuelan National Militia | ||
Fuerza aerea venezolana 2016 venezuelan air force 2016 aviacion militar venezolana 2016
The Venezuelan Air Force, officially the Venezuelan National Bolivarian Military Aviation (Spanish: Aviación Militar Nacional Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a professional armed body designed to defend Venezuela's sovereignty and airspace. It is a service component of the National Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Contents
- Fuerza aerea venezolana 2016 venezuelan air force 2016 aviacion militar venezolana 2016
- Su 30mk2 from the venezuelan air force
- Etymology
- History
- Modernization
- Combat organization
- Aircraft inventory
- References
Su 30mk2 from the venezuelan air force
Etymology
The organization is also known as the Bolivarian National Air Force of Venezuela. Its current official name has been in use since the end of 2008. It was previously called the Venezuelan Air Force (FAV; Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Venezolana).
History
Most of the airbases in Venezuela were built in the 1960s as part of a massive expansion program. The main fighter types in those years were Venom, Vampire, and F-86. Bomber squadrons typically operated B-25 Mitchell aircraft. The 1970s and 1980s saw a considerable increase in capacity, mainly because the rising oil prices enabled the FAV to re-equip most of its units. The mixture of various aircraft types was maintained and Mirage IIIE and Mirage 5, VF-5A and D, T-2D, OV-10A and E, T-27 were introduced. Venezuela was one of the first export customers for the F-16 which arrived in 1983 to equip the newly formed Grupo Aéreo de Caza 16 at El Libertador Airbase.
In the 1992 Venezuelan coup d'état attempts, elements of the Venezuelan Air Force were key instigators of the rebellion. FAV units concentrated at El Libertador Air Base under the command of Brig. General Visconti seized control of the airbase and then launched an attack on the capitol. OV-10s, AT-27 Tucanos, and Mirage III fighters under his command bombarded targets in the capitol and loyalist air bases, destroying 5 CF-5 fighters on the ground. Two loyalist pilots escaped with F-16 fighters and shot down 2 OV-10s and 1 Tucano, claiming air superiority for the government . Two more rebel OV-10s were lost to ground fire. As the tables turned on the coup attempt, General Visconti and his allies fled in two C-130s, 2 Mirages, 1 OV-10 Bronco, and several SA.330 helicopters.
Modernization
The AMV purchased 24 Sukhoi Su-30 planes from Russia in July 2006, as a result of the United States embargo on spare parts for their F-16 force. In 2008, Venezuela was reported for a potential acquisition of a number of Su-35 fighter aircraft and a second batch of aircraft 12-24 Sukhoi Su-30 from Russia. It did not proceed further.
In October 2015, Venezuela announced the purchase of 12 more Su-30MK2 from Russia for $480 million.
Combat organization
The current organization includes an Air Group 17 with Mil Mi-17
Aircraft inventory
As of December 2012, the Venezuelan Air Force's fleet consists of the following aircraft models and numbers:
