Peruvian Air Force

The Peruvian Air Force (Spanish: Fuerza Aérea del Perú, 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.

Peruvian Air Force
Fuerza Aérea del Perú
Founded1929 (as Peruvian Aviation Corps)
Country Peru
Part ofPeruvian Ministry of Defense
Nickname(s)"FAP"
MarchHimno de la Fuerza Aérea del Perú
EngagementsColombia–Peru War 1932 – 1933
Ecuadorian–Peruvian War 1941
Paquisha War 1981
Falklands War 1982
Cenepa War 1995
Internal conflict in Peru 1980–2017
Commanders
Commander-In-ChiefDante Antonio Arévalo Abate
Chief of StaffJulio Valdez Pomareda
Inspector GeneralJavier Ramírez Guillen
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Flag
Aircraft flown
AttackSu-25, A-37B
FighterMiG-29, Mirage 2000
Attack helicopterMi-25D, Mi-35P
Utility helicopterMi-17, Mi-171sh
PatrolC-26B
ReconnaissanceLearjet 36
TrainerMB-339, EMB-312, Zlin 242L
TransportAn-32B, C-130 Hercules, Y-12, Boeing 737, DHC-6, PC-6

History

20th century

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 F11C Hawk planes fought in the Amazon region. The CAP lost three aircraft to the Colombian Air Force. The corps was renamed Cuerpo Aeronáutico del Perú (Peruvian Aeronautical Corps, also abbreviated CAP) on March 12, 1936.

Ecuadorian–Peruvian War

In 1941, the CAP participated in the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War. At that time, the CAP were equipped with Caproni Ca.114 and North American NA.50 Torito fighters, Douglas DB-8A-3P attack aircraft, and Caproni Ca.135 Tipo Peru and Caproni Ca.310 Libeccio bombers,[1] among others.

The Peruvian Air Force had also established a paratroop unit during the war and used it to great effect by seizing the strategic Ecuadorian port city of Puerto Bolívar, on July 27, 1941, marking the first time in the Americas that airborne troops were used in combat.[2]

Peruvian Aeronautical Corps aircraft flying over a Peruvian ship during the 1941 war

Lieutenant José Quiñones Gonzales was a Peruvian pilot during the war. On July 23, 1941, his plane, a North American NA-50 fighter, was hit while performing a low-level attack on an Ecuadorian border post on the banks of the Zarumilla river. According to traditional Peruvian accounts, Quiñones, upon being hit by ground fire, crashed his damaged aircraft deliberately into the Ecuadorian anti-aircraft position, destroying it. He was promoted posthumously to Captain, and is today considered a National Hero of Peru.

Cold War

During the 1950s presidency of General Manuel A. Odría, the Peruvian Air Force was reorganized and on July 18, 1950, had its name changed to the Fuerza Aérea del Perú (Air Force of Peru, or FAP). Peru was an ally of the United States during this period, and was predominantly equipped with aircraft built in the US and Great Britain. By the end of General Odria's presidency, the FAP ushered in the Jet Age with the introduction of English Electric Canberra bombers and Hawker Hunter, Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star and North American F-86 Sabre fighters.

Peruvian Su-22 in 1982

However, on October 3, 1968, a military junta led by pro-Soviet Peruvian Army General Juan Velasco Alvarado organized a swift and bloodless coup d'état against president Fernando Belaúnde Terry. Velasco aligned Peru more closely with the Soviet Bloc and relations with the United States deteriorated. The US declared an arms embargo in 1969, making it difficult to obtain spare parts for Peru's American weaponry. In the 1970s and 1980s, Peru turned to the Soviet Union for its military hardware. During this time, the FAP acquired several Soviet-made aircraft, including Sukhoi Su-22 fighters, Antonov An-26 and An-32 transport aircraft, as well as Mil Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-25 and Mi-26 helicopters. Soviet advisors were also dispatched to Peru.

Velasco was overthrown by other military officers in 1975 and Belaúnde returned to power as a civilian president in 1980. The FAP purchased the French-made Mirage 5P and 5DP and the Mirage 2000 in 1984. Relations improved with the United States and the FAP obtained American aircraft like the Cessna A-37B Dragonfly attack aircraft, as well as Lockheed Corporation C-130 and L-100-20 Hercules transport aircraft.

Stagnation

The stagnation of the Peruvian economy during the late 1980s and early 1990s forced cost reductions and the downsizing of the fleet size. Budget cuts in training meant Peruvian pilots had a low number of annual flying hours (AFH) per pilot if compared to the 1970s. The number of annual flying hours is of course very important in estimating the individual skill and experience of the pilots of an air force: more annual flying hours suggests better trained pilots and general readiness. There are also a number of possible explanations for FAP's low AFH: concern over the aging of equipment, scarcity of spare parts – especially for the older aircraft – difficulties with worn airframes and the scarcity of fuel are all contributing factors. It is very likely however that some 'elite' pilots and regiments such as those based in Talara AFB and La Joya AFB received considerably more flying hours. Especially since those regiments until today are equipped with modern aircraft and tasked with homeland defence.

Cenepa War

In 1995 the Peruvian Air Force fought the Cenepa War against Ecuador's FAE in the Amazonian skies ill-equipped, he provided aerial support to the Peruvian army, carried out bombings with Mi-25 helicopters, Canberra planes, A-37 and Su-22. Transportation of troops with Mi-17 helicopters, tactical transport aircraft Hercules L-100, An-28 and An32.

Fujimori government
Peruvian Air Force cadets during their graduation ceremony

In 1997 and 1998 the FAP's outlook started to change for better. In order to achieve Fujimori's militarily bold plans, it meant that FAP required a much needed general overhaul and new purchases.[3]

In 1997 the FAP acquired from Belarus 21 MiG-29 fighters and 18 Su-25 attack fighters. In 1998 an additional 3 MiG-29 fighters were bought from Russia which along with the 12 Mirage 2000 fighters purchased from France's Dassault Aviation in 1984, made a total of 54 fighters in Peru's inventory.

The purchases were expensive and a number of observers questioned their usefulness against more pressing security concerns at the time such as the fanatical Marxist guerillas, the Shining Path Sendero Luminoso. On the other hand, the FAP still remembered the 1995 Cenepa War with Ecuador, and stationed its MiG-29 close to the border at Chiclayo AFB and Talara AFB.

21st Century
Various armed personnel of the Peruvian Air Force

Peru's Mirage 2000C/B and MiG-29S fighters form the backbone of its current multi-role fighter fleet, alongside specialized SU-25 close air support jets. Its Mirage 2000Ps sit at La Joya AFB near the border with Bolivia and Chile; the 3 Andean countries have a minor 3-way maritime borders dispute, and residual tensions with historical foe Chile have been a long-running theme in Peru.

Peruvian Cessna A-37 Dragonfly in 2015

RAC MiG began the upgrade of FAP's MiG fleet to the MiG-29SMT external link standard in 2008. In 2009, Dassault began working with Peru on a comprehensive inspection of the Mirage fleet, coupled with some electronics modernization.

Since 2013 Peru is in talks with European suppliers as part of a long-term plan of replacing FAP's aging air force aircraft with second-hand Su-35s, Rafales or Eurofighters. Hitherto, FAP was exploring the possibility of buying as many as sixty Eurofighter Typhoon EF-2000 from Spain[4] and sixty Sukhoi Su-35 from Russia.[5] Cost was a major issue for Peruvian President Ollanta Humala, who was looking at competitively priced fighter jets that would fit the national budget. In 2014, Peru began to update the operations and mechanical equipment of its Cessna A-37 aircraft, replacing analog controls with new digital hardware.[6]

Organization

Air Wing Nº 1
A lineup of Peruvian Sukhoi Su-25s, the country's main attack aircraft.
  • Air Group Nº 6 – headquarters: Chiclayo
    • Air Squadron 612 ("Fighting Roosters" combat squadron operating MiG-29S | MiG-29SE | MiG-29SMP | MiG-29UBP)
  • Air Group Nº 7 – headquarters: Piura
  • Air Group Nº 11 – headquarters: Talara
    • Air Squadron 112 ("Tigers" combat squadron operating Su-25|Su-25UB)

Air Wing Nº 2
  • Air Group Nº 3 – headquarters: Callao
  • Air Group Nº 8 – headquarters: Callao
    • Transport Squadron 841 (operating Boeing B-737-200 , Boeing 737-500)
    • Transport Squadron 842 (operating L-100-20 Hercules)
    • Transport Squadron 843 (operating An-32B)
    • Transport Squadron 844 (operating C-27J Spartan)
  • Directorate of Air Surveillance and Recognition (DIVRA) & Servicio Aerofotográfico Nacional (SAN) – Headquarters: Lima
  • EFOPI – Pilot Training School (former Air Group Nº 51) – Headquarters: Pisco
    Peruvian KAI KT-1P Woongbi
    • Air Squadron 510 (basic training operating Schweizer S-300C)
    • Air Squadron 511 (basic training operating Zlin Z-242)
    • Air Squadron 512 (basic training operating KAI KT-1P)
    • Air Squadron 513 (advanced training operating KAI KT-1P)

Air Wing Nº 3
  • Grupo Aéreo Nº 2 – headquarters: Vítor (Arequipa)
    • Air Squadron 211 (Attack Helicopter Squadron "Dragons of the Air" operating Mi-25 D/DU and Mi-35 P)
  • Grupo Aéreo Nº 4 – headquarters: La Joya (Arequipa)
  • Command School FAP – headquarters: La Joya (Arequipa)
  • Puerto Maldonado Air Base
  • Tacna Air Detachment

Air Wing Nº 4
  • Air Group Nº 42 – headquarters: Iquitos
    • Air Squadron 421 (operating DHC-6 and Y-12)
    • Air Squadron 422 (operating PC-6)
  • Santa Clara Air Base – headquarters: Iquitos

Personnel
SA-3 Pechora SAM on display at Las Palmas Airbase – 2006
Personnel (as of 2001)[7]
Commissioned Officers 1,909
Non-commissioned officers 7,559
Cadets 325
NCO in training 296
Enlisted 7,880
Civilians 8,708
Total 17,969
(excl. civilians)

Ranks
Main article: Military ranks of Peru
Commissioned officers
Equivalent
NATO code		OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Peru
(Edit)		 No equivalent No equivalent
General del Aire Teniente General Mayor General Coronel Comandante Mayor Capitán Teniente Alférez Cadete F.A.P.
NCOs and enlisted
Equivalent
NATO Code		OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
Peru
(Edit)		 No equivalent No equivalent
Sergeant major
Suboficial Primero		 Master sergeant
Suboficial Segundo		 Sergeant first class
Suboficial Tercero		 Sergeant
Sargento Primero		 Corporal
Sargento Segundo		 Lance Corporal
Cabo		 Private
Avionero

Aircraft

Current inventory
An Air Force MiG-29 at Halcon-Condor 2010 festival
A Boeing 737 sits on the tarmac at Jorge Chávez International Airport
A Mi-35 in flight
An Aermacchi MB-339 on the taxi way
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Mikoyan MiG-29 Russia multirole 7[8] 7 operational and 10 in storage[9]
Dassault Mirage 2000 France multirole 2000P 10[8]
Sukhoi Su-25 Russia attack 18[8] 10 are being returned to service. Future of remaining 8 is unclear.[10]
Cessna A-37 United States attack 20[8]
Reconnaissance
Fairchild C-26 Metroliner United States surveillance / COMINT 3[8]
Learjet 35 United States photomapping U-36 1[8]
Transport
Boeing 737 United States VIP 1[8]
Lockheed L-100 United States transport 2[8]
C-27J Spartan Italy transport 4[8]
Antonov An-32 Ukraine transport 3[8]
DHC-6 Twin Otter Canada utility transport 15[8] STOL capable aircraft
Pilatus PC-6 Switzerland utility / transport 1[8] STOL capable aircraft
Piper PA-34 Seneca United States utility 3[8]
Helicopters
Bell 212, AB-412SP United States utility 3[8]
MBB Bo 105 Germany utility 2[8]
Mil Mi-17 Russia utility Mi-17/171 11[8]
Mil Mi-24 Russia attack Mi-24/35 16[8]
Trainer Aircraft
Mikoyan MiG-29 Russia conversion trainer MiG-29 UB 2[8]
Dassault Mirage 2000 France conversion trainer 2000DP 2[8]
Aermacchi MB-339 Italy jet trainer 5[8]
EMB 312 Tucano Brazil trainer 17[8]
KAI KT-1 Republic of Korea primary trainer KT-1P Torito 20[8]
CH2000 United States trainer 2[8]
Zlín Z 42 Czech Republic trainer 13[8]
Hughes 269 United States trainer 6[8]

Infantry weapons
The M4 carbine
A BRDM-2 armored vehicle
Name Origin Type Variant Notes
Small arms
Vektor SP1[11] South Africa semi-auto pistol
AKM[11] Soviet Union assault rifle
M4 carbine[11] United States assault rifle M4A1
IMI Galil[11] Israel assault rifle
Milkor BXP[11] South Africa submachine gun
Uzi[11] Israel submachine gun
Air Defense
9K38 Igla[11] Russia MANPADS
Armor
BTR-60[11] Soviet Union APC amphibious capable vehicle
BRDM-2[11] Soviet Union APC Malyutka amphibious capable vehicle

See also

Notes
  1. Acig.org: The Most Powerful Air Force in Latin America
  2. The paratroopers were dropped from Italian Caproni Ca.111 bomber-transports. Skydiving in Peru by General Alberto Thorndike Elmore
  3. Diario La Republica http://www.ecuadorinmediato.com/Noticias/news_user_view/investigacion_peruana_corrupcion_impidio_bombardear_ecuador_2da_parte--11212
  4. Flight Global http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/spain-offers-eurofighters-to-peru-381843/
  5. United Press International http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2013/03/26/Peru-mulls-replacing-aged-air-force-jets/16101364290342/
  6. "Peruvian Air Force Upgrades Fifth A-37B Aircraft". Dialogo Americas. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 27, 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), based on Supreme Decree DS No. 69 DE/SG of 2001.
  8. "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  9. https://fighterjetsworld.com/latest-news/aircraft-crash/peruvian-air-force-mig-29-fighter-jet-crashed-in-lambayeque/12171/
  10. https://www.infodefensa.com/latam/2019/03/28/noticia-entrena-pilotos-proceso-recuperacion.html
  11. Montes, Julio A. (August 2011). "Peruvian Small Arms: Gunning for the Shining Path" (PDF). Small Arms Defense Journal: 25–29.

Sources
  • 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).
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