Paraguay Air Force

The mission of the Paraguayan Air Force (FAP) is the protection of its national airspace, providing tactical and logistic support for the army, and control of Paraguay’s internal air services. The Commander-in-chief of the air force is directly subordinate to the Chief of the General Staff of the armed forces.

The air force consists of five groups: a paratroop regiment; three air defense artillery batteries; and an internal airline, Trasporte aereo Militar (TA M), with the additional administrative and management responsibility for the country’s airports and its international civilian airline, Lineas Aereo Paraguayo. The FAP operates aircraft from Nhu-Guazu Air Force Base and Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asunción, Alejo Garcia Military Air Base in Ciudad del Este, and Carmelo Peralta Air Base in Concepcion. However, there are several unimproved airstrips throughout Paraguay.

The Tactical Air Group (GAT ) incorporates all the combat fixed-wing assets of the FAP and consists of the Guarani Light Strike Squadron (MB 326 Xavante), Moros Special Operations Squadron (EMB-312 Tucano), and Indios Fighter Squadron (AT -33 Shooting Star). The GAT is based at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, Asunción, though various elements are intermittently deployed to Alejo Garcia Military Air Base, Ciudad de Este.

The Air Transport Group (GTA ) primarily provides aircraft for military transport and paratroop training. The GTA has no squadron organization but does incorporate the military airline TA M. GTA is based at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, Asunción.

The Special Air Transport Group (GATE ) operates an assortment of transport and communication type aircraft. GATE is based at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, Asunción. The Helicopter Group operates on behalf of the army. Its limited rotary assets are based at Nu Guazu Air Force Base, Asunción. The Silvio Pettirossi Airborne Brigade acts as the light rapid reaction forces of the Paraguayan Army and provide required airborne training for all the services.

The air force is the newest and smallest of the services, with 1,100 personnel, including 200 conscripts. In 2005 Paraguay’s air force was reportd to operate a fleet of 12 combat aircraft, 5 transport planes, 10 liaison aircraft, 12 training aircraft, and 11 non-combat helicopters. Additionally, the air force maintains the presidential fleet, which consists of a DCH–6 and a Boeing 707. The air force shares another three planes with the army.

The history of aviation in Paraguay began in 1912 when an army officer was sent to France to train and returned with a monoplane. Both were lost in a crash a few years later. For several years, economic considerations prevented further development of military aviation, although aircraft flown by mercenary pilots were used by both sides in the 1922 civil war.

A small air element, under army control, was first developed in the mid- 1920s, when a flying school also was established. By 1932 the army's air arm had twenty aircraft and was organized into a fighter and a reconnaissance squadron. It was no match for the Bolivian air force, however, and during the Chaco War, the air arm was used primarily for logistic and transport duties. The air force was established as an independent defense force in 1946. It split into two factions the next year, each bombing the forces of the other side in the 1947 civil war.

After regular operations were restored in the late 1940s, the force began to be expanded with the delivery of the first of a number of transports provided by the United States. A paratroop unit was added in 1949. During the 1950s and 1960s, the nation acquired surplus aircraft from Argentina and Brazil. After 1975, however, Brazil emerged as the principal source. The only exception came in 1983 when the air force purchased trainers that the Chilean air force was retiring from service; however, these were also of Brazilian manufacture.

By 1988, air force strength was approximately 1,400, half of whom were estimated to be conscripts. The air force was organized into three squadrons. The first was a composite squadron headquartered at Campo Grande. It flew the nation's only combat planes: Brazilian-made EMB-326 Xavante light counterinsurgency aircraft. The composite squadron also had a few Cessna liaison aircraft and ten helicopters. Most of the composite squadron, including the Xavantes, were based at President Stroessner International Airport in Asuncion. The second squadron performed transport missions and had a number of C-47s as well as a variety of other transports. Its assets were located both at President Stroessner International Airport and at Nu Guazu. The third squadron performed training missions out of Nu Guazu and flew Chilean T-25 Universals, Brazilian T-23 Uirupurus, and United States T-6s acquired from Brazil.

Primary flight training was on the Uirupurus; students then moved on to the Universals. There were additional airstrips located throughout the country, but although some of these were manned by air force detachments, none had flying units assigned to them. The paratroop battalion consisted of about 500 personnel. It was based at Luque, outside the capital. After completing the course at the military academy, air force officers transferred to the main base at Nu Guazu for specialist and flight training. NCOs and enlisted personnel were trained at schools operated by the air force; most were located at Nu Guazu.