The coat of arms of the 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 1, 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[]
Fighters[]
Supermarine Rapier x 48 (Multirole Fighter)- Hawker Siddeley Harrier x 36 (STOVL Multirole Fighter)
AWACS Aircraft[]
De Havilland Nimrod AEW.3 x 4 (AWACS Aircraft)- Supermarine Sentry x 4 (AWACS Aircraft)
ELINT Aircraft[]
- Dassault Falcon 7X x 4 (C4ISTAR/Electronic Warfare)
Maritime Patrol Aircraft[]
- CASA C-295MPA x 12 (Maritime Patrol Aircraft)
- Canadair CP-140 Aurora x 8 (Maritime Patrol Aircraft)
Transport Aircraft[]
- Airbus A330 MRTT x 10 (Aerial Tanker)
- Airbus A400M Atlas x 30 (Tactical Transport)
- CASA C-295M x 14 (Transport Aircraft)
- Dassault Falcon 50 x 4 (VIP Transport)
- Dassault Falcon 7X x 4 (VIP Transport)
- File:Fance Flag Small.png Dassault Falcon 900 x 2 (VIP/MEDEVAC Transport)
- De Havilland Canada DHC-9 Bison x 8 (Tactical Transport)
Trainer Aircraft[]
- Aérospatiale Epsilon TB-30 x 16 (Basic Aircraft)
- Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet x 12 (Advanced Trainer)
- De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk x 12 (Trainer Aircraft)
- Fournier RF-10 x 8 (Glider Trainer)
- LET L-23 Super Blaník x 6 (Glider Trainer)
- Schleicher ASK 21 x 8 (Glider Trainer)
- Supermarine Rapier T1 x 12 (Conversion Trainer)
Helicopters[]
- Eurocopter AS350B3 Écureuil x 4 (Fire Suppressor)
- / Agusta-Westland Merlin x 18 (Search and Rescue, Fisheries Protection, Combat SAR)
- / Agusta-Westland AW119Kx Koala x 8 (Utility Helicopter)
- Agusta A129 Mangusta x 26 (Attack Helicopter)
- Westland Westminster ASaC7 x 6 (AEW Helicopter)
- Westland Westminster HAS.6PN x 12 (Anti-Submarine Helicopter)
- Westland Lion x 40 (Heavy Lift Transport Helicopter)
Future Procurement[]
- Canadair CL-515 x 2 (Aerial Firefighting Aircraft)
- Dassault Rafale F3 x 36 (Multirole Fighter)
- De Havilland Nimrod MRA.6PN x 8 (Maritime Patrol Aircraft)
- Embraer KC-390 x 10 (Transport/Aerial Tanker)
- Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano x 22 (Primary Trainer/Light Attack Aircraft)
- Supermarine Sparrowhawk RM1 x 4 (Maritime Patrol UAV)
- Westland Wyvern x 8 (Fire Suppressor)
