Colombian Aerospace Force

Last updated
Colombian Aerospace Force
Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana
Escudo Fuerza Aerea Colombiana.svg
Emblem of the Colombian Air Force
Founded15 February 1921;104 years ago (1921-02-15)
CountryFlag of Colombia.svg Colombia
Type Air force / space force
Role Aerial warfare
Space warfare
Size
  • 25,000 active personnel
  • 276 aircraft [1] [2]
Part of Colombian Armed Forces
Nickname(s)FAC
Motto(s)
MarchColombian Air Force Hymn
Mascot(s)Capitan Paz
Anniversaries8 November
Engagements
Website www.fac.mil.co OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Commanders
Commander of the Aerospace ForceGeneral Luis Carlos Córdoba Avendaño
Deputy Commander and Aerospace Force Chief of Staff Major General Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda
Inspector General Major General Luis René Nieto Rojas
Notable
commanders
Major General Alberto Alejandro Pauwels Rodriguez
Insignia
Roundel Roundel of Colombia.svg Roundel of Colombia - Low Visibility.svg
Fin flash Flag of Colombia.svg
Flag Flag of the Colombian Air Force.svg
Ensign Ensign of the Colombian Air Force.svg
Aircraft flown
Attack A-29, A-37, AC-47T
Fighter IAI Kfir
Helicopter UH-60, UH-1, Bell 212, AH-60
Reconnaissance SA2-37A/B, Skymaster C-337H, Super King Air, SR-560
Trainer T-34, Cessna 172S, T-27, T-90, Bell 206, T-6 Texan II
Transport C-130, C-295, C-212

The Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC, Spanish : Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana) is the air force of Colombia. The Colombian Aerospace Force is one of the three institutions of the Military Forces of Colombia charged, according to the 1991 Constitution, with working to exercise and maintain control of Colombia's air and to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and constitutional order. It is one of the largest air forces in the Americas (after the United States and Brazil) and has increased its activity due to important roles in the fight against narco-terrorism. Its main force includes 21 IAI Kfirs as defense fighters and 12 Cessna A-37 Dragonfly plus 24 Embraer 314 Super Tucano for counterinsurgency.

Contents

The FAC has been used in observation and aerial combat missions since the Colombian-Peruvian war of 1932 and also operated during the Second World War in the islands of San Andrés.

On 8 November 2024, through an act of legislation, the institution changed its name to Colombian Aerospace Force. [3]

History

Creation

Military aviation began in Colombia in 1919 with the creation of a military aviation school for the Colombian Army. Previously by Law 15 of 1916 of September 7 two commissions were sent overseas to study new technological advancements in aviation, infantry, cavalry, engineering and trains. Officers pertaining to the Colombian Army were also sent to take a course on flight training on techniques and tactics. The school was then created in Colombia along with the Colombian National Army Aviation as a fifth regiment by Law 126 of 1919 of December 31 authorized by President of Colombia, Marco Fidel Suárez. The unit was officially activated on February 15, 1921 in Flandes, Department of Tolima with the support of a French mission led by Lieutenant Colonel Rene Guichard. The Aviation School initially had 3 Caudron G.3 E-2, 3 Caudron G.4 A-2 and four Nieuport Delage 11 C-1. The school was closed due to financial hardships in 1922.

The School of Military Aviation was reopened on November 8, 1924 in Madrid, Department of Cundinamarca with the support of a Swiss mission headed by Captain Henry Pillichody. The aircraft used for training were 4 Wild WT and 8 Wild X performing the first air review on August 7, 1927. Then on December 28, 1928 the first combat aircraft was shown in Colombia, the Curtiss Falcon O-1.

War with Peru

The Hawk II F11C-origin, helped in fighting Guepi in Peruvian garrison, which lasted eight hours Hawk II F11C.jpg
The Hawk II F11C-origin, helped in fighting Guepí in Peruvian garrison, which lasted eight hours

On September 1, 1932, Peruvian civilians crossed into Colombian territory and invaded the town of Leticia in the Colombian Amazon claiming that the town was Peruvian territory. The Colombian military aviation only had 11 instructors, four Curtiss-Wright CW-14R Osprey air combat support planes and one Curtiss Falcon O-1. The military aviation then received full financial support from the Congress of Colombia. Colombia bought aircraft from Germany and the United States, while others were activated from the airline operating in Colombia SCADTA (Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transporte Aéreo) and their pilots, which included some German citizens, one of these was Major Herbert Boy. The imported aircraft were 4 Junkers F.13, 4 Junkers W 34 and 3 Junkers K 43, 6 Junkers Ju 52, 2 Dornier Merkur II, 4 Dornier Wal, 20 Curtiss Falcon F-8F and 30 Curtiss Hawk II F-11C.

The contingent was then sent to southern Colombia to fight Peruvian forces with the main mission of delivering supplies to the front lines, aerial reconnaissance and air to land attacks. The fleet was divided into three squadrons with Puerto Boy as the main camp site. Support bases were in Caucaya airstrip (Puerto Leguízamo), El Encanto, Puerto Arica, La Pedrera and Tarapacá. The main combat operations started on February 14, 1933 in Tarapacá where the Peruvian garrison was bombed by seven Colombian aircraft and later assaulted by land forces. Later, on March 26, in the village of Guepi eleven Colombian planes and two cannon boats (MC Cartagena y MC Santa Marta) bombarded Peruvian positions and took over the town.

The last military actions of the conflict with Peru were on May 8, 1933 and in which there was an aerial engagement between the two forces. Peruvian planes were attacking the fluvial fleet of Colombia over the Algodón River and were surprised by the Colombian squadron. One of the Peruvian aircraft, a Douglas O-38P was gunned down and taken to Colombian territory. On May 24, 1933 a cease fire was declared after an agreement was reached with the intervention of the League of Nations. The town of Leticia was returned to Colombia. The captured plane was then returned to Peru. As a result of the war, four pilots died in four accidents during non-combat related actions. Among these was one of the German pilots. Four planes were lost in these accidents a Falcon O-1, an Osprey C-14, a Junkers F-13 and a Curtiss F-11.

World War II

The AT-6 Texan served during World War II, defending the country's Caribbean coast Texan AT-6.jpg
The AT-6 Texan served during World War II, defending the country's Caribbean coast

The diplomatic breach between Colombia and the Axis countries (Germany, Italy and Japan) was declared on December 18, 1941, when President Eduardo Santos took the decision following the Japanese attack on military bases, naval and U.S. carriers at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Thereafter, the Colombian government introduced special measures to limit and counter the Axis military action in areas of national jurisdiction. On June 23, 1942 a German submarine attacked and sank the Colombian schooner Resolute, 50 miles northwest of the island of San Andrés. The same schooner had rescued some Marine officers and 23 British Royal Navy survivors of a capsized ship, 200 miles north of Cartagena just five days before.

Following these events, the government decided to patrol and monitor the Pacific Coast and the Colombian Caribbean coast. The Palanquero Air Base commanders moved one fighter squadron and a Combat Reconnaissance Squadron, consisting of F-8 Falcon aircraft, to Barranquilla. In 1943, the Falcons were relieved of their mission and replaced by the AT-6 Texan. This squadron was active until 1945, when the AT-6 were transferred back to Palanquero Air Base.

Early 1930s to present

Organization

Combat Air Commands (Comando Aéreo de Combate or CACOM):

Transportation and Maintenance:

Air Groups:

Training:

Airline:

Personnel

As of 2010, [32] the Aerospace Force fields approximately 13,500 personnel, including 2,171 officers, 3,304 Non-commissioned officers, 903 student officers, 4,673 soldiers, these usually allocated to base security, Military Police etc., and 2,382 civilians, the latter usually dedicated to specialized technical or professional activities, e.g. medical, communications, etc.

Ranks and insignias

The tables below display the rank structures and rank insignias for the Colombian Aerospace Force personnel. [33] [n 1]

Officers

Rank groupGeneral/Flag/Air officersSenior officersJunior officers
Flag of the Colombian Air Force.svg  Colombian Aerospace Force [34]
Colombia-AirForce-OF-9.svg Colombia-AirForce-OF-7.svg Colombia-AirForce-OF-6.svg Colombia-AirForce-OF-5.svg Colombia-AirForce-OF-4.svg Colombia-AirForce-OF-3.svg Colombia-AirForce-OF-2.svg Colombia-AirForce-OF-1b.svg Colombia-AirForce-OF-1a.svg
General del aireMayor general del aireBrigadier general del aireCoronelTeniente coronelMayorCapitánTenienteSubteniente
Abbr.-GR-MGBGCRTCMYCTTEST
English- General of the Air - Major General of the Air Brigadier General of the Air Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant

Non-commissioned officers and airmen

Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOsEnlisted
Flag of the Colombian Air Force.svg  Colombian Aerospace Force [34]
Tecnico Jefe de Comando Conjunto.svg Tecnico Jefe de Comando FAC.svg Tecnico Jefe FAC.svg Tecnico Subjefe FAC.svg Tecnico Primero FAC.svg Tecnico Segundo FAC.svg Tecnico Tercero FAC.svg Tecnico Cuarto FAC.svg Aerotecnico FAC.svg
Técnico jefe de comando conjuntoTécnico jefe de comandoTécnico jefeTécnico subjefeTécnico primeroTécnico segundoTécnico terceroTécnico cuartoAerotécnico
Abbr.TJCCTJCTJTSTPT2T3T4AT-
English Joint Command Chief Technician Command Chief Technician Senior Chief Technician Chief Technician Technician First Class Technician 2nd Class Technician 3rd Class Junior Technician Airman

Aircraft

Current inventory

An IAI Kfir on take off Avion kfir c-13.jpg
An IAI Kfir on take off
An A-29B Super Tucano takes off from Davis-Monthan AFB Colombian Air Force A-29B Super Tucano take off.jpg
An A-29B Super Tucano takes off from Davis–Monthan AFB
A FAC Boeing 737 at Zurich Airport FAC0001 Boeing B.73GWL BBJ Fuerza Aerea Colombiana (12699008503).jpg
A FAC Boeing 737 at Zürich Airport
A Bell 206 fly over during the Colombian Bicentennial Bicentenario Independencia de Colombia 2010 (4824909855).jpg
A Bell 206 fly over during the Colombian Bicentennial
A CASA CN-235 in Flight Fuerza Aerea Colombiana CASA CN-235 (5882728178).jpg
A CASA CN-235 in Flight
AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
Combat aircraft
IAI Kfir Israel multirole19 [1] 2 aircraft provide training [1]
Basler BT-67 United States attack / CAS AC-47T 6 [1] modified DC-3 with turboprop engines, and mounted guns
A-37 Dragonfly United Stateslight attack / COIN 12 [35]
EMB 314 Super Tucano Brazil light attack / COIN 24 [1]
Reconnaissance aircraft
Cessna 208 United States reconnaissance6 [1]
Cessna Citation V United Statessurveillance Ultra 5 [1]
CASA CN-235 Spain reconnaissance1 [1]
Tanker
Boeing KC-767 United States aerial refueling / transport MMTT 1 [1] tanker transport conversion by Israeli Aerospace Industries
Transport
Boeing 737 United StatesVIP transport5 [1]
C-130 Hercules United Statestransport C-130B/H 9 [1]
CASA C-212 Spain transport4 [1]
CASA C-295 Spainutility transport7 [1]
Cessna 208 United States utility transport10 [1]
Embraer EMB 110 Brazil utility / transport2 [1]
Turbo Commander United States transport2 [1] one provides maritime patrol
Super King Air United States transport 90/350 11 [1] 3 provide electronic warfare
Piper PA-34 United States light transport1 [1]
Piper PA-31T United States light transport1 [1]
Helicopters
Bell 212 United States utility11 [1]
Bell UH-1 United States utility52 [1] 2 are Bell 205s.
Sikorsky UH-60 United States SAR / COIN U/M/AH-60L 24 [1]
MD 500 Defender United States light utility 530 4 [1]
Trainer aircraft
Bell 206 United States rotor-craft trainer47 [1]
Cessna T-37 United States jet trainer17 [1]
EMB 312 Tucano Brazil advanced trainer14 [1]
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II United States advanced trainer T-6C 82+14 on order [1]
UAV
Boeing Insitu ScanEagle United States surveillance 6 [36] [37]
Elbit Hermes 450 Israel surveillance 6 [38]
Elbit Hermes 900 Israelsurveillance2 [38]

Former aircraft

Previous aircraft operated were the Gavilán G358, OV-10A Bronco, IAI Arava. [39] [40]

Aircraft identification

Super Tucano of the Colombian Aerospace Force. These aircraft were acquired in 2006 A-29 SuperTucano.JPG
Super Tucano of the Colombian Aerospace Force. These aircraft were acquired in 2006

The aircraft used by the Colombian Aerospace Force are identified with the letters "FAC" followed by three or four numbers that are painted on the tail, nose and nose landing gear doors. The serial numbers are assigned according to the aircraft's primary role as follows:

See also

Notes

  1. Colombia is not a member of NATO, so there is not an official equivalence between the Colombian military ranks and those defined by NATO. The displayed parallel is approximate and for illustration purposes only.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 "World Air Forces 2025". Flight Global. Flightglobal Insight. 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  2. Ministerio de Defensa Nacional, Colombia (November 2010). "Logros de la Política de Consolidación de la Seguridad Democrática, 2010" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-08-03. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  3. Naranjo, Paula (2024-11-09). "Nuevamente, la Fuerza Aérea se llamará Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana: esta es la razón del cambio de nombre" (in Spanish). Infobae. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  4. (in Spanish)
  5. "Video Shows Shootdown of Hawker 800".
  6. (in Spanish) CACOM 1 – Puerto Salgar (Cundinamarca) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.1 Archived 2012-02-19 at the Wayback Machine
  7. (in Spanish) Capitán Germán Olano Moreno
  8. (in Spanish) CACOM 2 – Apiay (Meta) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.2 Archived 2013-05-02 at the Wayback Machine
  9. (in Spanish) Capitán Luis F. Gómez Niño
  10. (in Spanish) CACOM 3 – Malambo (Atlántico) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.3
  11. (in Spanish) Mayor General Alberto Pauwels Rodríguez
  12. (in Spanish) CACOM 4 – Melgar (Tolima) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.4
  13. (in Spanish) Teniente Coronel Luis Francisco Pinto Parra
  14. (in Spanish) CACOM 5 – Rionegro (Antioquia) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.5 Archived 2007-06-11 at the Wayback Machine
  15. (in Spanish) Coronel Fernando Arturo Lema Posada
  16. (in Spanish) CACOM 6 – Tres Esquinas (Caquetá) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.6 Archived 2012-02-29 at the Wayback Machine
  17. (in Spanish) Capitán Ernesto Esguerra Cubides Archived 2012-07-07 at archive.today
  18. (in Spanish) CATAM – Aeropuerto El Dorado (Bogotá D.C) – Comando Aéreo de Transporte Militar Archived 2017-10-03 at the Wayback Machine
  19. (in Spanish) Brigadier General (H) Camilo Daza Álvarez
  20. (in Spanish) CAMAN – Madrid (Cundinamarca) – Comando Aéreo de Mantenimiento Archived 2018-08-26 at the Wayback Machine
  21. (in Spanish) Mayor (H) Justino Mariño Cuesta
  22. (in Spanish) GACAR – San Andrés Isla (San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina) – Grupo Aéreo del Caribe
  23. (in Spanish) Teniente Coronel Benjamín Méndez Rey
  24. AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. January 2017. p. 21.
  25. (in Spanish) GAORI – Marandúa (Vichada) – Grupo Aéreo del Oriente Archived 2018-11-21 at the Wayback Machine
  26. (in Spanish) Coronel Luis Arturo Rodríguez Meneses
  27. (in Spanish) EMAVI – Santiago de Cali (Valle) – Escuela Militar de Aviación
  28. (in Spanish) Marco Fidel Suárez
  29. (in Spanish) ESUFA – Madrid (Cundinamarca) – Escuela de Suboficiales FAC
  30. (in Spanish) Captain Andres Maria Diaz Diaz
  31. (in Spanish) IMA – Instituto Militar Aeronáutico Archived 2008-08-20 at the Wayback Machine
  32. Ministerio de Defensa Nacional, Colombia (November 2010). "Logros de la Política de Consolidación de la Seguridad Democrática, 2010" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-08-03. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  33. Congreso de la República de Colombia (28 July 2010). "Ley 1405 de 2010 Nuevos Grados Militares" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  34. 1 2 "Grados Militares Fuerza Aérea Colombiana". fac.mil.co (in Spanish). Colombian Air Force. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  35. "Two Colombian airplanes burst into flames after colliding midair, both pilots killed". TimesNow. 2023-07-02.
  36. "Fuerza Aérea Colombiana activa escuadrón de aeronaves remotamente tripuladas en el Departamento de Nariño". www.fac.mil.co (in Spanish). Colombian Air Force. 11 May 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  37. "Colombian Air Force activates drone squadron". www.forecastinternational.com. Forecast International. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  38. 1 2 Saumeth, Erich (12 February 2018). "Colombia y sus Elbit Hermes 900". www.infodefensa.com (in Spanish). IDS, S.L. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  39. Sands, Glenn. "Colombian Air Force retires OV-10A Broncos". Air Forces Monthly (#325): 19.
  40. Herk, Hans van. "Colombia Air Force retirements". www.scramble.nl. Retrieved 2023-01-12.