Airforces - Typhoon school

While SIVA has evolved to become a complex

military surveillance network, it still functions

as a vigilance and policing organisation rather

than an integrated air defence network.

The FAM’s F-5E/F Tiger II fighters suffer

from poor availability and the force has no

serious ground-based air defence sites.

Air Vigilance Squadron

The FAM houses its manned intelligence assets

at the Base Aérea Militar (BAM) No 1 Santa Lucía,

home of the Escuadrón de Vigilancia Aérea (Air

Vigilance Squadron). The latter is divided into

three flights operating from Mérida, Ixtepec and

Hermosillo air bases that cover the north, centre

and southwest of Mexico, keeping a constant

eye on illegal trafficking routes. The crews and

aircraft usually only return to Santa Lucía for

aircraft maintenance cycles, changeovers or other

specific missions. Owing to its importance within

the FAM, the equipment of the Escuadrón de

Vigilancia Aérea is regularly updated and its flying

hours are some of the highest in the service.

In some of its recent public reports, SEDENA

mentions that it has carried out 338 missions

involving its EMB-145 and King Air 350 aerial

surveillance platforms, accumulating 1,234

flying hours, intercepting 20 unidentified aircraft

and directing eight of them to land. A report

admits that between September 1, 2015

and August 31, 2016 it was only possible to

maintain 32% coverage of national airspace,

aided by radars in the southeast of the country

with a reported range of 280 miles (450km).

Embraer fl eet

The FAM’s only EMB-145AEW&C was

introduced in 2002, equipped with the Saab

Gulf of Mexico

Mexico

Belize

Guatemala

El Salvador

Honduras

United States of America

Mexico City

Rio Grande

North Pacific Ocean

Base Aeronaval de la Paz

Escuadrón Aeronaval 211

BAM No 18 Hermosillo

Escuadrón de Vigilancia

Aérea 3rd Flight

BAM No 5 Zapopan

Escuadrón Aéreo 111

Locally modied Bell 206

BAM No 2 Ixtepec

Escuadrón de Vigilancia

Aérea 1st Flight

Base Aeronaval

de Tapachula

PRIESCPATMAR

BAM No 19

Atlangatepec

UAVs

BAM No 1 Santa Lucía

Escuadrón de Vigilancia

Aérea

BAM No 8 Mérida

Escuadrón de Vigilancia

Aérea 2nd Flight

Right: The King Air is understood to be ideal

for observing high-value targets or monitoring

special operations, while transmitting a live feed

via satellite link to other aircraft or command

centres. King Air 350i/ER serial 5212 (c/n FL-951)

is one of at least two FAM examples modifi ed

for ISR. Mariano García Left: Cessna 501 Citation

Eagle II serial 3934 (c/n 501-0138, ex N74FH)

is one of two ASIO-equipped examples. The

jets have uprated Williams FJ44 engines better

adapted to ‘hot and high’ conditions. José

Quevedo

56 // APRIL 2018 #361 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com

ISR force in detail