Brazilian Naval Aviation

Brazilian Naval Aviation (Portuguese: Aviação Naval Brasileira; AvN) is the air arm of the Brazilian Navy operating from ships including the aircraft carrier São Paulo and from shore installations.

Brazilian Naval Aviation
Aviação Naval Brasileira
Active1916 (1916)
Country Brazil
TypeNaval aviation
Size1,150 personnel
81 aircraft
Part of Brazilian Navy
Command HQSão Pedro da Aldeia
Nickname(s)ANB
Motto(s)Wings over the seas
EngagementsLieutenants Revolts (1922–27)
Constitutionalist War (1932)
World War II (1942–45)
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief President Jair Bolsonaro
Commander of the NavyAdmiral Júlio Soares de Moura Neto
Commander of the Aeronaval ForceRear Admiral Nelson Garrone Palma Velloso
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
AttackA-4 Skyhawk
HelicopterSH-3 Sea King
AS-332 Super Puma
Super Lynx
Esquilo
Bell Jet Ranger
SH-60 Seahawk
Eurocopter EC725
TransportC-1A Trader

History

The Brazilian Naval Aviation branch was organized in August 1916, after creation of the Brazilian naval aviation school and the Brazilian aviation flotilla. Brazilian naval aviators participated in patrol operations during the First World War, incorporating into the 10th Operations Group of the Royal Air Force.

The Brazilian Air Force was founded on January 20, 1941 extinguishing independent Army and Navy aviation at that time and forming a new armed service.

From mid-1942 until the end of the Second World War, the Brazilian Air Force patrolled the Atlantic. On 31 July 1943 it sank the German submarine U-199, which was located on the surface off Rio de Janeiro. Two Brazilian aircraft, a PBY Catalina and a Lockheed Hudson, and an American PBM Mariner attacked the U-boat.[1] The Catalina, named Ärará, was captained by 2º Ten.-Av. (2nd Lt.) Alberto M. Torres,[2] and hit U-199 with depth charges, sinking her.

In 1956 the aircraft carrier Minas Gerais was acquired by the navy commissioning in 1960. In 1965 helicopters were permitted, after substantial political struggle, to the navy by a presidential decree.

From 1961 to 1999 the Brazilian Air Force flew the S-2 Trackers of the Brazilian aircraft carrier Minas Gerais while the Navy flew the helicopters.

View of the forward flight deck of the Brazilian aircraft carrier São Paulo (A12), in 2003. Four McDonnell Douglas AF-1 (A-4) Skyhawk fighters and an Argentine Navy Grumman S-2T Tracker are visible.

In 1997, Minas Gerais was loaned an A-4Q airframe by the Argentine Aviación Naval (Naval Aviation) for deck-handling and interface trials.[3] This was in lead-up to the 1999 acquisition of 20 A-4KU Skyhawks and three TA-4KU trainer aircraft from the Kuwait Air Force for US$70 million.[4]

In 1998 authority to operate carrier based fixed wing aircraft for the Navy was granted by Presidential decree No. 2538.

On September 30, 1999 Lieutenant Alvarenga of the Brazilian Navy was the last student naval aviator to make an arrested landing in the Skyhawk on a United States aircraft carrier. He is also the last US Navy naval aviation school Skyhawk student to earn his wings. On April 26, 2000, The first AF-1 (A-4KU) flight in Brazil. The aircraft N-1007 was manned by LtCol (USMC) James Edwin Rogers. A month later the same aircraft was being flown for the first time by a Brazilian Navy pilot who was also the first to do a touch-and-go on the Brazilian Navy carrier Minas Gerais. On 26 May 2000, Brazilian Navy VF-1, Falcoes AF1 Skyhawk N 1007 piloted by Lieutenant Alvarenga took off from São Pedro d'Aldeia Naval Air Base, Brazil. This was the first solo flight of a VF-1, Falcoes AF1 Skyhawk and the first fixed-wing flight by a Brazilian Naval Aviator since 1965. In January 2001, the first arrested landing and catapult launch from Minas Gerais of an A-4 were executed by CDR Daniel G. Canin, followed two days later by the first Brazilian Navy fixed wing aviator to land on a Brazilian carrier.[5] Prior to that the fixed wing component of the A-11 Minas Gerais aircraft carrier (the S-2 Trackers) were operated by the Brazilian Air Force.

Naval aviation's roles now include support of the Brazilian aircraft carrier São Paulo, fleet air defense, reconnaissance, transport of marine personnel, and anti-submarine warfare. It is also responsible for airborne operations of the Brazilian Marine Corps.

In June 2013, Brazilian naval aviation personnel provided carrier training support to the Chinese Navy during the second round of flight tests on board the carrier Liaoning.[6]

Since 2001, by Brazilian invitation, pilot qualification tests of the Argentine Navy's Dassault-Breguet Super Étendards and S-2T Turbo Trackers now take place on the Brazilian Navy carrier São Paulo as Argentina now lacks a carrier of their own. Brazil also trains with and conducts regular exercises with the US Navy.

Structure
Brazilian Navy A-4KU Skyhawk

The fighting forces of the Brazilian Navy under the Naval Operations Command are divided into an oceangoing component (called the National Squadron or Esquadra in Portuguese) and a territorial component (the 9 Naval Districts or Distritos Navais). This division is also present in the Brazilian Naval Aviation. Its main component is the Naval Air Forces Command (Comando da Força Aeronaval), which forms a part of the Squadron, together with the Submarine Force Command (Comando da Força de Submarinos), the Surface Force Command (Comando da Força de Superfície), the 1st and 2nd Squadron Division Commands (or Task Forces Staffs - Comando da 1ª Divisão da Esquadra, Comando da 2ª Divisão da Esquadra) and diverse supporting organizations.[7][8]

Helibras HB355 in Brazilian Navy.

Additionally there are three general purpose helicopter squadrons based away from the São Pedro da Aldeia naval air base. These squadrons rely on the Aerial Naval Force Command for personnel training and aircraft maintenance, however they are operationally outside of it and are integral to their respective naval districts.

The air units of the Brazilian Navy have their own internal naming convention. However, in light of its US naval aviation origins (as the first pilots and maintenance personnel of the newly re-established naval aviation were sent for training to the US Navy) the squadron abbreviations do not follow their Brazilian names, but rather the typical abbreviations of their US Navy squadron counterparts (VF for the jet attack squadron, HU for the general purpose helicopter squadrons etc.) The only exception is the helicopter training squadron, which rather than HT for Helicopter Training carries the abbreviation HI for Helicópteros de Instrução.

  • NAVAL AIR FORCES COMMAND (Comando da Força Aeronaval), based at São Pedro da Aldeia Naval Air Base (Base Aérea Naval de São Pedro da Aldeia (BAeNSPA)), State of Rio de Janeiro.[9] The force is commanded by a Rear Admiral, which in the Brazilian Navy is the lowest of three admiral ranks.
    • Squadrons[10]
      • 1st Interception and Attack Aircraft Squadron "Falcon" (1º Esquadrão de Aviões de Interceptação e Ataque) (VF-1 "Falcão") (est. October 2, 1998), flying AF-1/ AF-1A (twin-seater) (ex-Kuwaiti A/TA-4KU Skyhawks, currently being modernized by EMBRAER to AF-1B/ AF-1C (twin-seater)) multi-role light attack carrier aircraft; Squadron Motto: "In Aere Defensio Maris" (Latin for: "In the air defending the sea")
      • (1st Transport and Early Warning Aircraft Squadron (1º Esquadrão de Transporte e Alarme Aéreo Antecipado (VR-1 or VEC-1)) when the S-2 Turbo Tracker AEW and KC-2 Turbo Trader aircraft are delivered[11][12] Although the carrier is decommissioned, there is no info for the termination of the Turbo Tracker/ Turbo Trader deal and the personnel for the future squadron is in training in the US.[13]), awaiting delivery of KC-2 (C-1A/S-2T) Turbo Trackers
      • 1st Anti-Submarine Helicopter Squadron "Warrior" (1º Esquadrão de Helicópteros Antissubmarino (HS-1 "Guerreiro") (est. May 28, 1965), flying SH/MH-16 (S-70B Seahawk) medium ASW helicopters, which replaced the SH-3 Sea Kings; Squadron Motto: "Ad astra per aspera" (Latin for: "To the stars through hardships")
      • 1st Reconnaissance and Attack Helicopter Squadron "Lynx" (1º Esquadrão de Helicópteros de Esclarecimento e Ataque (HA-1 "Lince") (est. January 17, 1979),[14] flying AH-11A (Super Lynx Mk.21A) light ASW helicopters; Squadron Motto: "Invenire Hostem et Delere" (Latin for: "Face the enemy and destroy him")
      • 1st General Purpose Helicopter Squadron "Eagle" (1º Esquadrão de Helicópteros de Emprego Geral (HU-1 "Águia") (est. April 17, 1962), flying UH-12 (HB350B/BA) and UH-13 (AS355F2) light utility helicopters; Squadron Motto: "In Omnia Paratus" (Latin for: "Ready for anything")[15]
      • 2nd General Purpose Helicopter Squadron "Pegasus" (2º Esquadrão de Helicópteros de Emprego Geral (HU-2 "Pégaso") (est. February 25, 1988), flying UH-14 (AS332F1, AS532M1) and UH-15/A/B (EC725BR-B/BR-M) medium utility helicopters; Squadron Motto: "Para que outros possam viver" (Portuguese for: "That others may live")[16]
      • 1st Training Helicopter Squadron "White Crane" (1º Esquadrão de Helicópteros de Instrução (HI-1 "Garça") (est. June 27, 1962), flying IH-6B (Bell 206B-3) light training helicopters; Squadron Motto: "Nós ensinamos aos homens o que Deus legou apenas aos pássaros" (Portuguese for: "We instill into men God's gift to the birds")
    • Support units
      A Brazilian EC-725 Cougar helicopter
      • Naval Air Base São Pedro da Aldeia (Base Aérea Naval de São Pedro da Aldeia (BAeNSPA))
      • Naval Aviation Training and Education Center (Centro de Instrução e Adestramento Aeronaval (CIAAN))
      • Naval Quartermaster Center São Pedro da Aldeia (Centro de Intendência da Marinha em São Pedro da Aldeia (CeIMSPA))
      • Naval Policlinic of São Pedro da Aldeia (Policlínica Naval de São Pedro da Aldeia (PNSPA))
  • Naval District Aviation Squadrons (Esquadrões Distritais)[17]
    • 5th Naval District (5.° Distrito Naval), based in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul
      • 5th General Purpose Helicopter Squadron "Albatross" (5º Esquadrão de Helicópteros de Emprego Geral (HU-5 "Albatroz") (est. June 25, 1998), based at Ilha do Terrapleno de Leste/ Rio Grande, flying UH-12 (HB350B/BA) light utility helicopters in support of border guard operations in the extreme south; Squadron Motto: ""Albatroz, as asas da Marinha no Sul"" (Portuguese for: "Albatross, the naval aces in the South")
    • 6th Naval District (6.° Distrito Naval), based in Ladário, Mato Grosso do Sul
      • 4th General Purpose Helicopter Squadron "Hawk" (4.º Esquadrão de Helicópteros de Emprego Geral (HU-4 "Gavião") (est. May 16, 1995), based at Ladário Riverine Base, flying UH-12 (HB350B/BA), IH-6B (Bell 206 B-3) light utility helicopters in support of riverine operations in the Rio Paraguay and Paraná river basins on the borders with Paraguay and Bolivia; Squadron Motto: "Gavião, as asas da Marinha no Pantanal" (Portuguese for: "Hawk, the naval aces in the Pantanal")
    • 9th Naval District (9.º Distrito Naval), based in Manaus, Amazonas
      • 3rd General Purpose Helicopter Squadron "Toucan" (3.º Esquadrão de Helicópteros de Emprego Geral (HU-3 "Tucano") (est. April 14, 1994), based at Ponta Pelada/ Manaus, flying UH-12 (HB350B/BA) light utility helicopters in support of Amazon River basin operations; Squadron Motto: "Sobre rio, selva e mar ... Tucano!" (Portuguese for: "Over the river, the savanna and the sea... Toucan!")

Modern equipment
Brazilian Navy
Headquarters
Brasília/DF
History and traditions
Establishment:1822
Navy Day:10 November
Patron:Marquês de Tamandaré
Battles
Independence of Brazil
Cisplatine War
Ragamuffin War
Platine War
Paraguayan War
World War I
World War II
Components
Ships of the Brazilian Navy
Aircraft of the Brazilian Navy
Corps of Naval Fusiliers
Naval Aviation
Personnel
Admiral Ilques Barbosa Júnior

Aircraft
Main article: List of active Brazilian military aircraft § Brazilian Naval Aviation

As of 2014, the Brazilian Naval Aviation operates around 70 aircraft.[18]

Weapons
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See also

References
  1. "The Type IXD2 boat U-199 — German U-boats of WWII". UBoat.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  2. Morison, Samuel Eliot (March 2001). History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Vol.10: The Atlantic Battle Won. Castle Books. p. 219. ISBN 0-7858-1311-X.
  3. Jane's Navy International, Carrier Aviation - Skyhawks set to land on Brazilian carrier, p. 6
  4. Corless, Josh (1 June 1999). "The Brazilian Navy blazes a trail in the South Atlantic". Jane's Navy International (Jane's Information Group) 104 (006).
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2013-10-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "China Carrier Starts Second Round of Jet Tests". USNI News. United States Naval Institute. June 19, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013. The Chinese are being trained in carrier aviation —the most complicated military aviation operations — by a cadre of Brazilian carrier pilots.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2018-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2018-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2018-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2018-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2018-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2018-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2018-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. January 2017. p. 21.
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2018-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2018-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2018-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. World Air Force 2014 - Flight International Archived 2018-10-04 at the Wayback Machine, Flightglobal.com, Accessed 23 November 2014
  • Scheina, Robert L., Latin America's Wars: The Age of the Caudillo, 1791–1899, Brassey's, 2003 ISBN 1-57488-452-2
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