Strangest AF – Mexican AF/Mexican Naval Aviation

One of the really bizarre (IMO) air forces on the planet is that of Mexico.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Air_Force

http://www.scramblemagazine.nl/orbats/mexico/airforce

http://www.scramblemagazine.nl/orbats/mexico/overview

– It’s part of the Army
– It has several hundred aircraft but only 10 jet fighters (10 x F-5E/F)
– It’s main combat air power is the Pilatus PC-7 (brought in 1980s)
– It operates both C-295 and C-27J Spartan (as well as maritime patrol dedicated CN-235 in Navy)
– It still operates biplane trainers (PT-17 Kaydet) – although currently unofficially
– It acquired 2 PC-9M and then 6 T-6.
– It buys a lot of Israeli stuff include CH-53 and E-2 AWACS.
– Happily buys Russian helos (Mi-8/-17) and in past transports (An-32 which they managed to crash a lot)
– Operates a myriad of types often for same role.
– Together with Navy, seems to operate every type of basic trainer under the sun (SF-260, PC-7, F33, L-90, Cessba 182, Zlin 242L)

To make matters even more bizarre, there’s also the large Mexian Naval Aviation which also tends to operate large numbers of similar aircraft and sometimes in same role as air force.

At one stage Mexican Naval Aviation considered buying Su-27 for drug flight interception.

To be fair Mexico’s defence is appropriately structured for it’s primary role – anti-drug operations and counter insurgency.

But the myriad of types is absolutely amazing and the procurement processes and as a result logistics must border on the insane.

Interesting roundel too: