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Portuguese Air Force
Dirk Jan de Ridder and Menso van Westrhenen report on the upcoming changes within the Portuguese Air Force.
Although the Portuguese Air Force, or FAP (Força Aérea Portuguesa), became an independent part of the armed forces in 1952, it has existed since 1912. Portuguese pilots were involved in World War I and the Spanish Civil War and later in the colonial wars in Africa. After the independence of the colonies a big reorganisation took place and the air force lost about two-third of its 850 aircraft. For a long time Portugal was dependent of surplus aircraft from other countries. Nonetheless, in the last decade, the FAP has grown out to a respectable air force, due modifications and purchases of new material.
In 1994 Portugal received 20 F-16s from the United States Air Force under the 'Peace Atlantis I' program. In return the Americans got permission to use Lajes airbase as a transit airbase. The Portuguese were so satisfied with the F-16s that they ordered a second batch of 25 aircraft in 1999 under the 'Peace Atlantis II' program.
All the F-16s are divided over 2 squadrons and based at the most northern airbase of Portugal, Monte Real. Esquadra 201 operates the F-16s purchased in the Peace Atlantis I program, in the air defence role. Esquadra 301 has the disposal of the Peace Atlantis II F-16s, which underwent a Mid-Life Update directly after their delivery. Gradually all F-16s are now being updated to MLU-standard. During this update among other things a new radar, avionics and a new board computer are built in. This enables the Portuguese F-16s to fly at night and in rough weather and as well the communication with other aircraft improved, through Link 16 data communication. In the last few years Portuguese F-16s have participated in more and more NATO exercises, like the Tactical Leadership Programme and the Fighter Weapons Instructors Training.
After graduation from the Air Force Academy, training for young pilots starts at Beja airbase with Esquadra 101. The students learn basic flying manoeuvres on the TB-30 Epsilon like navigation, flying in formations and flying on instruments. After this elementary training course a selection takes place. After a short course on the Alpha Jet trainer pilots destined to fly transport aircraft will move to Sintra to fly the Casa 212 Aviocar. Helicopter pilots stay at Beja to fly Alouette 3, of which the FAP still has 17 operational examples.
Fighter pilots make the transition to fly the Alpha Jets of Esquadra 103. The Portuguese Air Force has 50 Alpha Jets in its inventory, all received from the German Luftwaffe between 1991 and 1993. In the '80s and early '90s the Germans had used Beja as a training base, so they had built up a close connection. In three months time the pilots are being prepared for the real work, the F-16. This course on the Alpha Jet consists of flying ground attacks, night missions and air to air combats.
The training of transport pilots takes place at Sintra with Esquadra 502. For this purpose the squadron uses the Casa 212 Aviocar and also the Cessna FTB-337G Skymaster. Only a handful of these weird-looking aircraft (with a propeller both in front and behind the cockpit) are still operational. As the Skymasters are operational for 30 years they are slowly being withdrawn from use. Actually they are only still used to let high officers make their flight hours.
Old as well, but still operational, are the Casa 212s of Esquadra 502 and 401 that are used for tactical transport, search-and-rescue flights and training of future transport pilots. Esquadra 401 has the disposal of four modified Aviocars for electronical warfare and maritime patrol. The Casa 212s will also be withdrawn soon, in February 2006 a €270 million deal was signed between EADS and the Portuguese Air Force for the purchase of twelve Casa 295s, of which five will be modified for maritime patrol and the other seven for transport flights. These aircraft will enter service from 2008 and replace the Casa 212 from then.
Likewise Sintra also houses the Academia da Força Aérea (Air Force Academy). Officers are brought up here, both for flying and non-flying functions. The flying squadron of this academy is formed by Esquadra 802, consisting of L-23 and ASK-21 gliders and some very old DHC-1 Chipmunks. The gliders are used to familiarize academy students with flying and to test their skills. Getting these gliders airborne is the task of the Chipmunks, flying in the air force since 1951! Before, these aircraft have been used by Esquadra 101, as predecessor of the TB-30 in the primary training role.
The long-range transport fleet of the FAP is based at Montijo and consists of six C-130 Hercules aircraft. Dating back to the 1970's the Portuguese Air Force had always used five C-130Hs. Two of them were converted to C-130H-30 in 1991, by lengthening the airframe, and a third new C-130H-30 was bought. The C-130s have been used in humanitarian and peace missions several times, including Afghanistan recently.
Also based at Montijo are the P-3 Orions of Esquadra 601. These are the maritime patrol aircraft used by the air force (the navy only has Lynx helicopters). In 1988 six P-3Bs were bought from Australia and modified to P-3P after delivery. Meanwhile the aircraft are at the end of their operational life, so five Orions were bought from the Netherlands of which the first two have already been delivered. Esquadra 601 will move to Ovar in the near future, probably when the Casa 295s have been delivered.
The last squadron at Montijo is Esquadra 751. For 30 years this squadron has flown with SA.330 Pumas, in the Search and Rescue (SAR) role. Therefore they were fitted with inflatable floaters, a special radar in the nose and a rescue hoist. In February 2006 they were officially taken out of service, although the helicopters still fly. There is a possibility that the Puma's will be operated by a civilian company to fight the forest fires every Summer in Portugal.
The latest acquisition for the Portuguese Air Force is the EH-101 Merlin, which is about to replace the Puma. Twelve of them were ordered and the majority has already been delivered. Six will serve as SAR helicopter, two for fishery patrols and the other four as Combat Search and Rescue helicopter. The ultramodern Merlins are fitted with a GALILEO radar (able to track and identify up to 32 objects simultaneously), a Missile Warning System (MWS) and a Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS) for self defence. The Merlins can also be refueled in mid-air.
Altogether, in the last ten years the purchase and modification of the F-16s and the recent delivery of Merlin helicopters have really improved the operational efficiency of the Portuguese Air Force. The arrival of the other ex-Dutch Orions and the new Casa 295s will provide the Força Aérea Portuguesa the opportunity to keep flying until at least the end of the next decade.
The authors would like to thank the PR Office of the Portuguese Air Force and everyone involved for making this article possible. Articles and photos published on this website are copyright protected. All rights reserved.
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