By watching over an area of 13.5 million square kilometers, the Patrol Aviation is essential for the country’s defense
Air Force Agency, by Wanessa Liz
Commemorated on May 22nd, the Patrol Aviation Day will be marked by several events and products in celebration of the date. One of them is the publication of the Order of the Day, which, exceptionally this year, will be released between May 28th and 30th, during the Patrol Aviation Meeting, to be held at Belem Air Base. The event aims to highlight the importance to the Air Force and to the Brazilian population of Patrol Aviation, which has the responsibility of watching over an area of approximately 13.5 million square kilometers of the Brazilian coast 24 hours a day.
Its history begins during the Second World War, in 1942. The successive attacks on Brazilian merchant ships by the Germans and the invasions of Brazil’s territorial waters by the Italians made the Institution dedicate part of its fleet of aircraft and pilots to escorting ships and monitoring and securing the Brazilian coast. The Patrol Aviation Day celebration was instituted on May 22, because on that date the first action of the recently created FAB against an Italian submarine took place.
Patrol Aviation is essential for the defense of the country, since the Brazilian maritime and land areas are extensive and diverse. The FAB, through its patrol aircraft, is able to monitor and detect any kind of threat, ensuring national security and the protection of Brazilian sovereignty. This type of aviation is composed of aircraft specialized in surveillance missions, reconnaissance and monitoring of maritime and land areas.
To ensure the effectiveness of its operations, FAB constantly trains and qualifies its crew members and maintenance teams. These professionals need to be prepared to face the challenges that arise during missions, such as adverse weather conditions, technical problems in the aircraft, and risk situations. Thus, the Patrol Aviation performs Search and Rescue (SAR) missions for shipwrecked people, vessels and aircraft on the high seas. This is made possible by on-board radar and sensor technologies and military personnel trained in SAR at sea.
To monitor Brazil’s area of responsibility in the Atlantic Ocean, the FAB has three Patrol Squadrons along the coast. The P-3AM Orion aircraft are operated by the First Squadron of the Seventh Aviation Group (1°/7°GAV) – Orungan Squadron, based in Rio de Janeiro. The P-95M Bandeirulha aircraft are operated by the Second Squadron of the Seventh Aviation Group (2º/7°GAV) – Phoenix Squadron, located in Canoas (RS), and by the Third Squadron of the Seventh Aviation Group (3º/7°GAV) – Netuno Squadron, based in Belém (PA).
The oldest of the Patrol Squadrons, the Orungan, is responsible for carrying out Maritime Patrol Actions (PATMAR), SAR, Advanced Air Control (CAA), Aerospace Communication Post (P Com-Aepc), Aerospace Reconnaissance (Rec Aepc) and Anti-submarine Warfare (AS). Among these is Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), which is designed to search, detect, identify, track, and neutralize or destroy enemy submarines.
“In addition to its ASW capability, the P-3AM also carries powerful armaments, such as the Harpoon anti-ship missiles, capable of neutralizing warships at a distance beyond visual range. By being the only one with this capability, the 1º/7th GAV becomes a squadron of vital importance for Patrol Aviation,” commented the Squadron Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Cicero Vieira Ramos. Responsible for performing Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (IVR) missions, not only in the Brazilian maritime borders in the south of the country, but also in the land part, ensuring the protection and territorial integrity of the country, the Phoenix Squadron also performs SAR missions, prevention and combat of drug trafficking and smuggling, and support to rescue and humanitarian aid operations in crisis situations.
“The experience and training of Phoenix pilots and crew members, combined with the equipment and technologies used in their aircraft, make the Unit a vital asset for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in the Brazilian territory,” said the Squadron Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Aviator Nícolas Gomes Moreira.
The Netuno Squadron has the objective of patrolling the northern coast of Brazil, which goes from Natal to Oiapoque, in Amapá. “The Squadron’s importance is to protect and monitor these maritime areas within the national territory,” said the Squadron Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Fabrício Nery Fernandes. The Commander of the 3rd /7th GAV also talked about two missions that marked the Squadron. “In 2009, we were the first aircraft to arrive at the crash site of Air France 447, near Fernando de Noronha, and the last to leave, doing all the protection and surveillance of the site. The last missions were Operation Yanomami (which is still going on) and Operation Astrolabe (which we carried out maritime patrol in the northern airspace to help launch the South Korean HANBIT-TLV rocket). Our mission was to alert vessels near the location that could be hit by the rocket,” he concluded.
The FAB Patrol Aviation is a fundamental part in protecting the country, acting in several fronts and using technology to ensure the security and sovereignty of the Brazilian airspace and borders. The constant training of the professionals involved and the use of specialized aircraft ensure the effectiveness of the operations and the protection of the national territory.
Photos: Brazilian Air Force (FAB)