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FAB

The Brazilian Air Force (Portuguese: Força Aérea Brasileira, FAB) is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces". Both air branches transferred their equipment, installations and personnel to the new force.

The FAB is the largest air force in Latin America, with about 700 manned aircraft in service, and 73,000 personnel on active duty. An additional 7,655 civilian personnel are employed.

History[]

Creation[]

The establishment of the Royal Air Force in 1918 and the creation of the Italian Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) and the French Air Force during the 1920s drove the idea of uniting Brazilian air power under the same organization. Together with these events the Brazilian strategists were also influenced by the theories of Giulio Douhet, Billy Mitchell and Hugh Montague Trenchard.

The first public manifest to create an integrated military air service came up in 1928 when an army Major called Lysias Rodrigues wrote an article called "An urgent need: The Ministry of the Air" ("Uma premente necessidade: o Ministério do Ar"). Two years later the French Military Mission, working for the Brazilian Army, made the first steps to organize a national air arm. The idea got more support when a group of Brazilian airmen came from Italy in 1934 and explained the advantages of having a military aviation unified. Also, the Spanish Revolution and the first movements of World War II at the end of the thirties showed the importance of Air power for military strategies.

1º GAC P-47s carried the "Senta a Pua!" emblem as nose art along with the national insignia of Brazil.One of the main supporters of the plan to create an independent air arm was the then-president Getúlio Vargas. He organized a study group early in 1940 and the whole structure of the Ministry of Aeronautics (Ministério da Aeronáutica) was established the end of that year. This new governmental agency was responsible for the all aspects of the civil and military aviation including infrastructure, regulation and organization.Formally, the Ministry of Aeronautics was founded on January 20, 1941 and so its military branch called "National Air Forces", changed to "Brazilian Air Force" (Força Aérea Brasileira - FAB) on May, 22. The Army ("Aviação Militar") and Navy ("Aviação Naval") air branches were extinguished and all personnel, aircraft, installations and other related equipment were transferred to FAB.

World War II[]

Equipped with American aircraft, mainly the P-47 Thunderbolt, the FAB saw action on the Italian front. The work of the pilots and support personnel was recognized by a Presidential Unit Citation issued on April 26, 1986—one of only three non-US squadrons to receive such a citation. Brazilian Air force contribution in the World War II:

  • Executed Missions - 445 O
  • Offensive - 2,546
  • Defensive - 4
  • Flight hours in the war - 5,465
  • Total flight hours - 6,144
  • Launched Bombs - 4,442
  • Caliber ammunition 0.50 - 1,180,200
  • Rockets - 850
  • Gasoline consumed - 4,058,651
Targets Destroyed Damaged
Aircraft 2 9
Locomotives 13 92

vehicles

1,304 686
Wagons and tank cars 250 835
Armored Cars 8 13
Bridges, railroad and highways 25 51
Cuts railroad and location 412
Buildings occupied 144 94
Enemy camps 1 4
Artillery positions 85 15
Enemy Accommodation 3 8
Factory 6 5
Enemy facilities 125 54
Electric Plants 5 4
Fuel and ammunition deposits 31 15
Oil Distillery 3 2
Radar stations 2
Boats 19 1
Ship 1

Post World War II[]

After the war, the FAB began flying the British Gloster Meteor jet fighter. The jets were purchased from the British for 15,000 tons of crude cotton, as Brazil had no foreign currency reserves to spare. The jet was operated by the FAB until the mid-1960s, when it was replaced by the F-80C and TF-33A, which were later replaced by the F-5 and Mirage III jets.

Cold War[]

During the Cold War, the Brazilian Republic was aligned with the United States and NATO. This meant that the F-5 could be bought cheaply from the United States, who called this jet the "Freedom Fighter". Many other countries, such as Mexico, also benefited from this policy.

The Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica, Brazilian Aeronautic Co.) has its origins as an enterprise directly managed and sponsored by the FAB. Working with Italian corporations, it developed the new AMX attack aircraft (known locally as A-1) which makes up the backbone of the FAB's attack force. The successful Tucano T-27 trainer and the new light attack aircraft "A-29", are also Embraer aircraft used extensively by the FAB.

Present[]

In the early 2000s, with renewed economic stability, the FAB underwent an extensive renewal of its inventory through several acquisition programs, the most ambitious of which was the acquisition of 36 new front-line interceptor aircraft to replace its aging Mirage III. Known as F-X Project the program was postponed once again in 2005. The competitors were the French Dassault Rafale, the Swedish SAAB-BAE Gripen, and the American F/A-18 Super Hornet.

360fg-p47-brazilaf

P-47 Thunderbolt used by the Brazilian Air Force in the World War II

On July 15, 2005 one agreement was set with the French government for the transfer of twelve Dassault Mirage 2000s (ten "C" and two "B" versions) second-hand ex-Armée de L'Air. Known as F-2000s in Brazil, the first two aircraft arrived at Anápolis Air Base on September 4, 2006.

On November 4, 2007 the F-X Project underwent a small change. Now known as Project FX-2 and with a bigger budget, the competitors for acquisition were the Eurofighter Typhoon, Sukhoi Su-35 Super Flanker, Saab JAS-39 Gripen, Dassault Rafale, Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and, although information on Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II was requested, Lockheed Martin presented an F-16 Fighting Falcon variant (designated F-16BR). In October 2008, FAB released a shortlist of 3 aircraft: SAAB Gripen NG, Dassault Rafale and Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. In February 2009, the three companies provided their final bids. In September 2009, following a surprise French visit to Brazil, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Nicolas Sarkozy, from France, made a new military cooperation agreement. Lula, on an interview at TV5 Monde, said French Rafale is a step forward, since technology transfer would be effective.

On September 7, 2009, Brazilian Independence Day, it was announced Brazil would negotiate 36 Dassault Rafale. But the Defence Minister did not confirmed if it is the final decision.

On January 5, 2010, it was reported in the media that the final evaluation report by the Brazilian Air Force placed the SAAB Gripen NG ahead of the other contenders. The decisive factor was apparently the overall cost of the new fighters, both in terms of unit cost, and operating and maintenance costs. Rafale reported not even be second choice.

Other programs, however, were successfully completed and included the following (as of May 2007):

  • ALX (Light Attack Aircraft) Program - 99 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft. Being delivered.
  • F-5M Program - Upgrade of Northrop F-5 to F-5EM standard. Include new radar, avionics and weapons systems. Being delivered.
  • CL-X (Medium Transport Aircraft) - Replacement of DHC-5 Buffalo aircraft. 12 CASA C-295 aircraft acquired. Being delivered.
  • P-X (Maritime Patrol) Program Replacement of EMB-111A aircraft for modernized P-3 airframes with EADS avionics. Being implemented.
  • Acquisition of presidential transport aircraft, known as FAB 001. An Airbus ACJ was bought and delivered in 2005. Acquisition of 18 'Super Cougar'. VIP Transport and Military transport should be their primary function.
  • A-1M Program - Upgrade of the AMX International AMX in use in FAB. Include a new radar, HMD, new RWR, new FLIR, a new laser target designator, datalink, 3 MFCD and much more. Embraer announced that Elbit is going to develop the avionics to the A-1 through Aeroeletronica, Brazilian subsidiary of Elbit. The program is delayed and should be finished until 2014.
  • AT-27M and C-95M Programs - Upgrade of 60 AT-27 and 80 C-95. Few details published.

Pending programs[]

  • CT-X (Light Transport Aircraft) Program- To replace the C-95 Bandeirante. CASA C-212-400 Aviocar is likely choice.
    For (1)

    Two F-5E Tiger II and one Hercules C-130 of the Brazilian Air Force during the Cruzex V program in 2011

  • FX-2 Program, in septermber 7 of 2009, was announced that the Brazilian Government would buy the Dassault Rafale, however CIESP released an open letter that "the French fighter, if chosen, represents a defeat".
  • FX-3: The new Brazilian president proposed to revise the proposals of the FX-2 competitors thus making a new competition, the FX-3, many aviations enthusiasts and pilots of the air force hopes that the SU-35BM would enter in this new program.[1]

2008 Orders[]

  • 12 Mi-35M helicopters
  • 18 EC-725BR Super Cougar helicopters
  • The Brazilian air force also hosted the joint exercise Cruzex.

2011 Orders[]

Command Structure[]

The Brazilian Air Force is the aerospace branch of the Brazilian armed forces and is managed by the "Aeronautics Command" (Comando da Aeronáutica - COMAer). The COMAer was created in 1999 and replaced the Ministry of Aeronautics. Now, the COMAer is one of the three armed forces assigned to the Ministry of Defense (Ministério da Defesa).

The COMAer

Cruzex IV 2008 Natal - Brasil

Mirage 2000 from the Air Force during the Cruzex IV 2008 in Christmas, Brazil.

is led by the "Aeronautics Commander" (Comandante da Aeronáutica). Unlike USAF, the Commander is a "Tenente-Brigadeiro-do-Ar" (the most senior rank used in the Air Force, which is essentially the same as a USAF four-star general). He is nominated by the President and reports directly to the Minister of Defense.

COMAer comprises six major components, four "General Commands" (Comandos-Gerais) and two "Departaments" (Departamentos). The "General Command of Air Operations" (Comando-Geral de Operações Aéreas - COMGAR), with headquarters in Brasilia, supervises most of the flying operations. As the main flying element, COMGAR administers several sub-formations in the form of four "Air Forces" (Forças Aéreas) and seven "Regional Air Commands" (Comandos Aéreos Regionais - COMAR).

Besides COMGAR, other major parallel organizations, which also report directly to the COMAer, are the "General Command of Support" (Comando-Geral de Apoio - COMGAP), "General Command of Personnel" (Comando-Geral de Pessoal - COMGEP), "General Command of Aerospatial Technology" (Comando-Geral de Tecnologia Aeroespacial - CTA), "Aeronautics Departament of Teaching" (Departamento de Ensino da Aeronáutica - DEPENS), "Departament of Civil Aviation" (Departamento de Aviação Civil - DAC) and "Departament of Airspace Control" (Departamento de Controle do Espaço Aéreo - DECEA).

Air Units Organization[]

unit levels, "Groups" (Grupos) usually consist of one to sixteen consecutively-numbered "Squadrons" (Esquadrões), each with varying numbers of aircraft, usually from six to 12. Smaller formations are known as "Flights" (Esquadrilhas). According to its tasks, a group has one of the following designations:

  • Air Defense Group: Grupo de Defesa Aérea (GDA): Air defense fighters. (Fighter Jets)
  • Transport Group: Grupo de Transporte (GT): Transport, Flight refueling
  • Aviation Group: Grupo de Aviação (GAv): Fighter, attack, reconnaissance, SAR, rotary wing
  • Fighter Aviation Group: Grupo de Aviação de Caça (GAvCa); Fighter, attack planes
  • Troop Transport Group: Grupo de Transporte de Tropas (GTT): Transports, troop carrying, parachutist drop
  • Special Flight Inspection Group: Grupo Especial de Inspeção em Vôo (GEIV): Calibration
  • Special Test Flights Group: Grupo Especial de Ensaios de Vôo (GEEV): Test flights
  • Special Transport Group: Grupo de Transporte Especial (GTE): VIP transport

Common used designations for squadrons are:

  • Air Transport Squadron: Esquadrão de Transporte Aéreo (ETA)
  • Air Training Squadron: Esquadrão de Instrução Aérea (EIA)

The air units are organized as follows:

COMGAR sub-formation Air unit Aircraft type Air base
I FAe 1º/5º GAv C-95 Natal
2º/5º GAv A-29B Natal
1º/11º GAv UH-50 Natal
II FAe 1º/7º GAv P-95B,P-3AM Salvador
2º/7º GAv P-95B Florianópolis
3º/7º GAv P-95A Belém
4º/7º GAv P-95A Santa Cruz
1º/8º GAv UH-1H Belém
2º/8º GAv AH-2(MI-35M) Porto Velho
3º/8º GAv H-34,UH-55 Afonsos
5º/8º GAv UH-1H Santa Maria
7º/8º GAv H-60 Manaus
2º/10º GAv UH-1H,SC-95B,SC105A Campo Grande
III FAe 1º/1º GAvCa F-5EM,AT-27 Santa Cruz
2º/1º GAvCa F-5EM,AT-27 Santa Cruz
1º GDA F-2000,AT-27 Anápolis
1º/3º GAv AT-27,A-29,A-29B Boa Vista
2º/3º GAv AT-27,A-29,A-29B Porto Velho
3º/3º GAv AT-27,A-29,A-29B Campo Grande
1º/4º GAv AT-26,AT-26A,F5EM,F5FM Fortaleza (to Manaus)
1º/6º GAv R-35A,R-95 Recife
2º/6º GAv R-99A/B,C-98 Anápolis
1º/10º GAv A-1,A-1B Santa Maria
3º/10º GAv RA-1,RA-1B Santa Maria
1º/14º GAv F-5EM,F-5FM,AT-27 Canoas
1º/16º GAv A-1,A-1B Santa Cruz
V FAe 1º GTT C-130H Afonsos
1º/1º GT C-130H/KC-130H Galeão
1º/2º GAv C-99 Galeão
2º/2º GAv KC-137 Galeão
1º/9º GAv C-105A Manaus
1º/15º GAv C-105A Campo Grande
I COMAR 1º ETA C-95B,C-98,C-97 Belém
II COMAR 2º ETA C-95,C-97 Recife
III COMAR 3º ETA C-95B,C-97 Galeão
IV COMAR 4º ETA C-95A,C-97 São Paulo
V COMAR 5º ETA C-95A,C-97 Canoas
VI COMAR 6º ETA C-95c, VU-9,VC-97 Brasília
VII COMAR 7º ETA C-97,C-98 Manaus

Other units are:

Major component Air unit Aircraft type Air base
DECEA GEIV EC-95B/C,EU-93A Santos Dumont Airport
CTA GEEV A-1,XU-93,T-27,CH-55 São José dos Campos
DEPENS 1º EIA T-27 Pirassununga
DEPENS 2º EIA T-25A/C Pirassununga
DEPENS Clube de Vôo a Vela U-19,Z-15,Z-16,TZ-13 Pirassununga
DEPENS Support C-95A,UH-50,U-7 Pirassununga
Reporting direct to Air Force cabinet GTE VC-1A,VC-96,VC-99C,VH-34,VH-55,VH-35 Brasília
Reporting direct to Air Force cabinet EDA T-27 Pirassununga

The air force bases of the Brazilian Air Force are:

Location State ICAO IATA Airport name
Anápolis Goiás SBAN Anápolis Air Force Base
Belém Pará SBBE Belém Air Force Base
Boa Vista Roraima SBBV Boa Vista Air Force Base
Brasília Federal District SBBR Brasília Air Force Base
Campo Grande Mato Grosso do Sul SBCG Campo Grande Air Force Base
Canoas Rio Grande do Sul SBCO Canoas Air Force Base
Florianópolis Santa Catarina SBFL Florianópolis Air Force Base
Fortaleza Ceará SBFZ Fortaleza Air Force Base
Manaus Amazonas SBMN PLL Manaus Air Force Base
Natal Rio Grande do Norte SBNT Natal Air Force Base
Porto Velho Rondônia SBPV Porto Velho Air Force Base
Recife Pernambuco SBRF Recife Air Force Base
Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro SBGL GIG Galeão Air Force Base
Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro SBSC SNZ Santa Cruz Air Force Base
Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro SBAF Afonsos Air Force Base
Salvador Bahia SBSV Salvador Air Force Base
Santa Maria Rio Grande do Sul SBSM Santa Maria Air Force Base
Santos São Paulo SBST SSZ Santos Air Force Base
São Paulo São Paulo SBGR GRU São Paulo Air Force Base
Serra do Cachimbo Pará SBCC Brigadier Velloso Test Site

FAB is responsible for the aerospace vigilance and defence on program Sistema de Vigilância da Amazônia (Amazon Surveillance System).

Operations[]

A recent operation of the FAB was the bombing of illegal landing sites in the Amazon Forest, used by drug dealers to transport drugs into and out of Brazil (see SIVAM). The operation also had support from the Brazilian Army and Brazilian Federal Police with many drug dealers being arrested as a result. The AMX Bomber/Fighter was the primary plane used. The FAB is currently working on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) supporting the United Nations force (a joint Brazilian, Uruguayan, Chilean and Argentine force) deployed there. Also, the FAB is working on the Search & Rescue mission of Air France flight AF447. The Brazilian Air Force has started a search and rescue from the Brazilian archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, highlighting eight planes to search a stretch bounded by the coastal cities of Recife, Natal and the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha.

SIVAM[]

The FAB is responsible to patrol the amazonia in the SIVAM (Sistema de Vigilância da Amazônia) project

Aircraft Inventory[]

Main combat aircraft
Mirage 2000 F-5EM AMX Total
Quantity 12 57 53 122

The FAB operates some 750+ aircraft, including 122 main combat aircraft.

Aerospace Vehicles[]

Name Origin Type Model Quantity Notes Picture
Combat Aircraft
AMX International AMX Brazil/ Italy attack/reconnaissancelead-in trainer A-1 A-1B 42 10 Modernization to 43 A-1M standard started by Embraer and Elbit. To be withdraw until 2025. 100px-Italian Air Force AMX fighter
Dassault Mirage 2000 France interceptorlead-in trainer F-2000C F-2000B 10 2 100px-Mirage2000-5F 1-2 Cigognes
Northrop F-5E/F5Tiger II United States fighter lead in trainer F-5E/F - F-5EM/F-FM 20 37 Modernization to F-5M standard in progress. To be withdrawn from service by 2015 (Replacement by winner FX-2 program) 100px-Mexican Air Force Northrop F-5 fighters
Trainer/Light Attack Aircraft
Atlas Impala Italy / South Africa attack/trainer AT-26A 11 Second hand from South Africa. To be withdrawn until 2011. 100px-RAAF Macchi MB-326 No A7-047 1980
Embraer EMB 312 Tucano Brazil trainer/light attack AT/T-27 109 60 to be upgraded for AT-27M 100px-Smoke squadron lands in tucano arp
Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano Brazil attack/advanced trainer A-29/29B 83 Total of 99 to be delivered 100px-A-29 SuperTucano
Embraer EMB 326GB Xavante Brazil / Italy trainer/attack AT-26 20 Being withdrawn between 2010-2012 100px-RAAF Macchi MB-326 No A7-047 1980
Transport Aircraft
Airbus A319 European Union VIP Transport VC-1A 1 100px-Sao Paulo CGH 04 2006 01b
Boeing 737 United States VIP transport VC-96 (737-200) 2 100px-FABVC97
Beechcraft King Air 90 United States staff transport Beech 90 1 100px-C-GSYN Adlair Aviation Ltd Beechcraft King Air 100 (BE10) 03
Boeing KC-137 Stratoliner United States tanker/transport KC-137 (707-320C) 4 100px-Australian air force 707-368C (code A20-261) Perth Internatinal Airport Australia
British Aerospace BAe 125-400 United Kingdom Flight test XU-93 1 The last VU-93 version was phased out in jan/2007. Only one (FAB 2123) still flying with GEEV 100px-Dominie xs739 arp
EADS/CASA C-295 Spain transport SAR C-105A 12 Intend to order another 8 in 2009. 100px-Casa c-295 c-105 riat2009 arp
Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante Brazil

utility transport transport aerial survey maritime patrol

TOTAL C-95/P-95/R-95 C-95/A/B/EC-95/SC-95B C-95C (EMB 110P1K) RC-95 (EMB 110B) P-95A/B (EMB-111) 88 59 5 5 19 7º ETA retired C-95. 54 to be upgraded for C-95M 100PX-~4
Embraer EMB 120 Brasília Brazil

transport VIP transport VIP transport

TOTAL C-97 C-97 (EMB 120) VC-97 (EMB 120ER) VC-97 (EMB 120RT) 17 9 3 5 100px-GulfstreamEMB120
Embraer EMB 121 Xingu Brazil VIP transport VU-9 8 100px-EMB-121 marine
Embraer ERJ 135BJ Legacy Brazil VIP transport VC-99C 4 100px-Air france erj145 750pix
Embraer ERJ 145 family Brazil transport/VIP transport C-99 (ERJ-145ER) 7 100px-Air france erj145 750pix
Embraer 190 Brazil VIP transport VC-2 2 100px-BrazilAirForce1
Learjet 35 United States VIP transport special mission VC-35 R-35A 9 3 100px-Swissaf learjet35a t-781 arp
Learjet 55 United States VIP transport VU-55C 1
Lockheed C-130 Hercules United States tactical transport tanker C-130E/H KC-130H 21 2 Some can be configured to KC standard 100px-C-130 Hercules 2
Helicopters
Bell UH-1 Iroquois United States utility helicopter UH-1H 33 To be withdraw until 2012. Replaced for EC-725BR and UH-60 100px-Huey1
Bell 206 JetRanger United States utility helicopter H-4B (206B) 3 100px-Chc bell 206
UH-60 Black Hawk United States combat search and rescue H-60L 15 10 more ordered, 04 in June 2009 and other 06 ordered in September 2009. 10A5FF~1
Eurocopter AS-332 Cougar Brazil/ France Germany Spain transport helicopter VIP helicopter CH-34 (AS-332M) VH-34 6 2 100px-Bulgarian cougar
Eurocopter EC 135 Brazil / France Germany Spain VIP helicopter VH-35 (EC-135T2i) 2 100px-EC135Bundespolizei
Helibras HB-350B Brazil / France Germany Spain utility helicopter H-50 25 100px-Navy squirrel helicopter acrobatics display
Helibras HB-355 Brazil/ France Germany Spain utility helicopter H-55 3 10F647~1
Mi-35M Russia Attack helicopter AH-2 Sabre 12 Ordered in December 2008. Deliveries started in 2009 and finish in 2010 100px-Mi-24
utility
Embraer EMB 210R Ipanema Brazil utility U-19 4 Military version of the EMB-200 Ipanema
Embraer EMB 810 Seneca II/III Brazil utility U-7/7A (EMB 810C) 9 100px-Piper seneca pa34 g-elis bristol arp
Piper PA-32 Cherokee United States utility 1 100px-Piper pa32 cherokee six g-bxwp arp
Cessna 208 Caravan United States utility C-98 (208A) C-98B (208B) 8 10 1 lost in accident 100px-Cessna 208b n208nj arp
Training Glider
Glasflügel H-201 Germany Training glider Z-15 1 100px-Std libelle wl
IPAE Quero-Quero Brazil Training glider to be retired in 2011 Z-16 5 1 lost in hangar accident
LET Blaník L-13/L-23/L-33 Blaník/Super Blaník/Solo Czechoslovakia Training glider TZ-13 (L-13) TZ-13 (L-23) TZ-13 (L-33) 3 4 2 100px-PSU Blanik
Neiva T-25 Universal Brazil basic trainer T-25A/B/C 68
Universal t25
Schleicher ASW 20 Germany Training glider Z-20 1 100px-ASW-20-CL-landing
Reconnaissance Aircraft
Lockheed P-3 Orion United States maritime patrol P-3M/BR 1 8 more on order 100px-Orion usnavy 750pix
Embraer R-99 Brazil AEW R 99 5 E-99s 3 R-99s 100px-R-99a-fab6704
Liaison
Neiva Regente Brazil liaison U-42 21 Being withdrawn Neivaregg
Future aircraft
Name Origin Type Model Quantity Notes Picture
Eurocopter EC 725 European Union / Brazil Transport helicopter EC 725 18 (8 C-SAR+8 Transport Version+2 VIP) The Brazilian Government has announced that an Helibrás factory in Itajubá, Minas Gerais, will produce, initially, 50 units of EC 725. First units will be operational in 2010. 100px-Caracal2552
Embraer KC-390 Brazil Transport aircraft KC-390 3 + 22 3 KC-390 prototypes on order, expects 22 to 40 more. 100px-KC-390 concept 1
P-3 Orion United States / Spain Maritime patrol aircraft P-3AM 9 8+1(for training)+3 (for surplus)P-3AM(Upgraded). Integrated with the CASA FITS (Fully Integrated Tactical System), it will be used in Anti-submarine warfare. 100px-Orion usnavy 750pix
FX-2 Winner Brazil Fighter aircraft ? 36-120 36 to be ordered, up to 120 to be manufactured in country by Embraer 100px-Rafale-ec-1-7
Airbus A310 MRTT Brazil Tanker aircraft 2 Acquisition of new aerial refueling aircraft (2013) 100px-Airbus A310 MRTT

Equipment[]

Missiles and Bombs[]

Type Product On order Origin QTD
Air to air missile MAA-1B Piranha II This new version of the Piranha, fits as a 4th generation missile with "off boresight", about 90°, and an greater range of 50% Brazil
Anti-ship missile MAN-1 It will be an anti-ship missile with a 60–80 km range. Brazil
Air to air missile A-Darter 5° Generation Air to Air missile Brazil / South Africa
Air to air missile Mectron MAA-1 Piranha Short range Air to Air missile Brazil
Anti-radiation missile MAR-1 Brazilian anti-radiation missile (ARM) Brazil
Air to air missile Derby Missile Beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile Israel
Air to air missile Python 3 and 4 Short range air-to-air missile Israel
Air to air missile R550 Magic Short-range France
Air to air missile Super 530 Short-range France
Guided bombs Elbit Lizard Laser Guided Bomb Israel
Guided bombs SMKB-82/83 GPS Guided Bomb (known like AKAUAN) Brazil
Guided bombs Mark 83 bomb GPS Guided Bomb (known like AKAUAN) United States
Guided bombs Mark 82 bomb GPS Guided Bomb (known like AKAUAN) United States
Rockets Avibras Skyfire 70 Rocket Air-to-Surface/Surface-to-Air Brazil
Rockets SBAT-70 Rocket Air-to-Surface/Surface-to-Air Brazil

Small Arms[]

Platform Origin Type In service Notes
HK33 Germany Rifle
SG 550 Switzerland Rifle
Taurus MT-12 Brazil Pistol
Taurus PT-92 Brazil Pistol

Radar[]

Platform Origin Type In service Notes
M-60 Radar 04 Brazil in test Purchased pilot lot with range of 60 km to 75 km

Air Defence Systems[]

Platform Origin Type In service Notes
9K38 Igla Russia SAM

TheBrazilian Army also operates rotary-wing aircraft

Brazilian Air Force Ranks[]

Here are the ranks of the FAB (Brazilian Air Force):

Official

Subaltern

Intermediaries

Superior

Generals

Insignia FAB-ASP FAB-2Ten FAB-1Ten FAB-Cap FAB-Maj FAB-TenCel FAB-Cel FAB-Brig FAB-MajBrig FAB-TenBrig FAB-Marechal

Post

Aspirant

Second Lieutenant

First Lieutenant

Captain

Major

Lieutenant Colonel

Colonel

Brigadier

Major Brigadier

Lieutenant Brigadier

Marshal Air

Abbreviation

Asp.

2nd Lt

1st Lt

Cap

Maj

Lt Col

Cel

Brig

Maj Brig

Ten Brig

M.al - the -Air

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