Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air Force (Portuguese: Força Aérea Portuguesa) is the air force of Portugal. In Portugal, it is referred to by the acronym FAP, but internationally is often referred to by the acronym PoAF. It is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces.
The Portuguese Air Force was formed on July 1st, 1952, when the former Aeronáutica Militar (Army Aviation) and Aviação Naval (Naval Aviation) were united in a single independent Air Force. However, its origins dates back to 1912, when military aviation began to be used in Portugal, later leading to the creation of the Army and Navy's aviation services.
Its Aerobatic display teams are the Asas de Portugal jet aircraft display team and the Rotores de Portugal helicopter display team.
Aircraft Inventory[edit | edit source]
Combat Aircraft[edit | edit source]
- General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon x 34 (Multirole Fighter)
- British Aerospace Sea Harrier FAS.2 x 30 (STOVL Strike Fighter)
AWACS[edit | edit source]
- Grumman E-2C Hawkeye x 4 (AWACS Aircraft)
- Boeing E-767PN x 2 (AWACS Aircraft)
ELINT[edit | edit source]
- Dassault Falcon 7X x 4 (ELINT Aircraft)
Maritime Patrol Aircraft[edit | edit source]
- CASA C-295MPA Persuader x 6 (Maritime Patrol/SAR)
- Lockheed P-3C Orion x 6 (Maritime Patrol/ASW)
Transport Aircraft[edit | edit source]
- Airbus A330 MRTT x 10 (Aerial Tanker)
- Airbus A400M Atlas x 30 (Tactical Transport)
- CASA C-295M x 8 (Transport Aircraft)
- Dassault Falcon 7X x 4 (VIP Transport)
- Dassault Falcon 900 x 4 (Transport Aircraft)
Helicopters[edit | edit source]
- AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin x 12 (Transport/SAR Helicopter)
- AgustaWestland A129 Mangusta x 25 (Attack Helicopter)
- Boeing CH-47 Chinook x 40 (Heavy Lift Transport Helicopter)
- Eurocopter EC635T1 x 16 (Utility Helicopter)
- NHIndustries NH90 x 10 (Medium Lift Transport Helicopter)
- Westland Sea King ASaC7 x 6 (AEW Helicopter)
- Westland Sea King HAS.6PN x 12 (Anti-Submarine Helicopter)
Training Aircraft[edit | edit source]
- Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet x 10 (Advanced Trainer/Light Attack Aircraft)
- General Dynamics F-16B Fighting Falcon x 6 (Conversion Trainer)
- Socata TB30 Epsilon x 16 (Basic Trainer)
Future Procurement[edit | edit source]
- AgustaWestland AW119Kx Koala x 8 (Utility Helicopter)
- Boeing P-8 Poseidon x 4 (Maritime Patrol Aircraft)
- Dassault Rafale F3 x 36 (Multirole Fighter)
- Embraer KC-390 x 10 (Transport/Aerial Tanker)
- Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton x 4 (Maritime Patrol UAV)