Brazilian Air Force
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.
According to the Flight International and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Brazilian Air Force has an active strength of 70,710 military personnel and operates around 615 aircraft. The Brazilian Air Force is the largest air force in the Southern hemisphere and the sixth in the Americas after the United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and Royal Canadian Air Force.
Aircraft Inventory[edit | edit source]
Combat Aircraft[edit | edit source]
- AMX A-1M x 53 (Attack Aircraft)
- Embraer A-29A Super Tucano x 31 (COIN/Light Attack)
- Northrop F-5EM Tiger II x 56 (Light Fighter)
AWACS Aircraft[edit | edit source]
- Embraer E-99 x 5 (AWACS Aircraft)
Reconnaissance Aircraft[edit | edit source]
- Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante x 3 (Surveillance Aircraft)
- Embraer R-99 x 7 (Reconnaissance Aircraft)
- Learjet R-35 x 6 (Reconnaissance)
Transport Aircraft[edit | edit source]
- Airbus VC-1A x 1 (VIP Transport)
- Boeing 767 x 1 (Transport Aircraft)
- Boeing KC-767 x 3 (Aerial Tanker)
- CASA C-105A x 15 (Transport/SAR Aircraft) - 8 more on order
- Cessna C-98 Caravan x 31 (Utility Aircraft)
- Embraer C-95 Bandeirante x 49 (Utility/Transport Aircraft)
- Embraer C-97 Brasilia x 19 (Utility/VIP Transport)
- Embraer EMB 121 Xingu x 8 (Utility Aircraft)
- Embraer ERJ 145 x 6 (VIP/Utility Transport)
- Embraer VC-2 x 2 (VIP Transport)
- Learjet VC-35 x 6 (VIP Transport)
- Lockheed C-130E/H/M Hercules x 13 (Transport/SAR Aircraft)
- Lockheed KC-130H Hercules x 3 (Aerial Tanker)
Helicopters[edit | edit source]
- Mil AH-2 x 12 (Attack Helicopter)
- Bell H-4B x 1 (Communications Helicopter)
- Helibras VH-34 Super Puma x 4 (VIP Transport)
- Eurocopter VH-35 x 2 (VIP Transport)
- Eurocopter H-36 Cougar x 16 (Transport Helicopter)
- Helibras H-50 Esquilo x 40 (Liaison Helicopter)
- Sikorsky UH-60L/M Blackhawk x 16 (Utility Helicopter)
Flight Inspection Aircraft[edit | edit source]
- Hawker 800 x 4 (Calibration Aircraft)
Trainer Aircraft[edit | edit source]
- AMX AMX-T x 8 (Conversion Trainer)
- Neiva T-25 Universal x 27 (Basic Trainer)
- Embraer T-27 Tucano x 103 (Basic Trainer)
- Embraer A-29B Super Tucano x 61 (Advanced Trainer)
- Northrop F-5FM Tiger II x 2 (Conversion Trainer)
UAVs[edit | edit source]
Future Procurement[edit | edit source]
- Dassault Rafale F3 x 108 (Multirole Fighter)
- Embraer KC-390 x 28 (Transport/Aerial Tanker)
- Embraer Legacy 450/500 x 6 (Calibration Aircraft)
