Mexican Air Force

Fuerza Aérea Mexicana
Mexican Air Force Symbol
Founded	June 19, 1913
Country	Mexico
Allegiance	Mexican Secretary of Defense
Branch	Mexican Army
Type	Air Force/Army Aviation
Size	11,770 personnel Aprox. 363 aircraft.
Motto	Honor, valor y lealtad "Honor, courage and loyalty"
Colors	Red, white, green
Anniversaries	February 10
Engagements	Mexican Revolution, World War II, Chiapas Incident
Commanders
Current commander	Leonardo Gonzáles García
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	PC-7, PC-9M
Electronic warfare	Embraer R-99, P-99
Fighter	Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter
Interceptor	Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter
Reconnaissance	C-90A King Air, Sabreliner 75A, Fairchild C-26, 727-200,
Trainer	Pilatus PC-7
Transport	DC-9, Arava, An-32, 727-200

Fleet

A Mexican Air Force F-5

Mexico has the second largest defense budget in Latin America, spending about 0.5% GDP on its military. Because of the ongoing Mexican Drug War, increasing importance has been placed on acquiring airborne surveillance platforms, light aircraft, helicopters and rapid troop transport.

For national security reasons, the Air Force does not disclose the exact type or amount of aircraft in their fleet, but it is estimated at 241 airplanes and 117 helicopters:

Class	Aircraft	Model	In service	Origin	Image
Combat & interception jets	Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter	F-5E F-5F	8 2	United States
Close support airplanes	Pilatus	PC-7 PC-9M	60 2	Switzerland
Transport airplanes	C-130	A/E/MK1/MK3/L382G Hercules	12	United States
	EADS CASA	C-295	5 C-295M have been ordered, 2 in active service.[21]	Spain
	Antonov	An-32	3	Ukraine
	Boeing	727-200	4	United States
	Arava	IAI-201	12	Israel
	McDonnell Douglas	DC-9	1	United States
Reconnaissance airplanes	Beechcraft	C-90A King Air	4
	Rockwell	Sabreliner 75A	5
	Embraer R-99	R-99 P-99	1 2	Brazil
	Fairchild C-26	Metroliner III	4	United States
	Schweizer	SA2-37A	1
	Cessna	182 Skylane	70
	Maule Air	M-7-235 MXT-7-180	6 21
	Pilatus	PC-6	4	Switzerland
Training airplanes	Aermacchi	SF-260	27	Italy
	Beechcraft	F-33C Bonanza	29	United States
Combat helicopters	Sikorsky	UH-60 Black Hawk	6
	MD Helicopters	530F	20
Transport helicopters	Mil	Mil Mi-2 Mil Mi-8 Mil Mi-17	4 8 19	Russia
	Sikorsky	CH-53D Yas'ur	4	United States Israel
	Bell	412 412EP	4 4	United States
Training helicopters		205 206B	1 2
Reconnaissance helicopters		205 206	1 4
VIP airplanes	Boeing	757-225 737-300	1 2
	Cessna	Citation 500	1
	Lockheed	Jetstar	1
	Grumman	G-2	1
	Learjet	35A	1
	Aero Commander	69-5A Turbo	1
VIP helicopters	Eurocopter	Puma Super Puma	2 5	European Union
Aircraft recently retired	Lockheed	T-33 Shooting Star	15	United States
	Mil	Mil Mi-26	1	Russia
Retired and still functional	Stearman	PT-17 Kaydet	3	United States

Future and recent acquisitions

In March 2009, Mexico placed an order with France to purchase six EC 725 Super Cougar helicopters at a cost of €168 million euros (around $212 million USD). Deliveries are expected at the end of 2011. On December 15, 2009 and as part of the Mérida Initiative, the Air Force received five Bell 412 helicopters worth $66 million from the United States to use for transport and reconnaissance missions for Mexico's drug war.

Class	Aircraft	Model	On order	Origin	Image
Transport helicopters	Eurocopter	EC-725 Cougar	6	European Union
Transport Aircraft	EADS CASA	C-295	Five C-295 units recently purchased, 2 are already in active service	Spain