Airforces - Typhoon school

Unmanned aerial vehicles

A force of Mexican-built unmanned aerial vehicles

(UAVs) is used for tactical surveillance, border vigilance

and environmental monitoring. In around 2012 the

Mexican company Hydra Technologies donated a

number of its S4 Ehécatl drones to the FAM, although

the service only recently acknowledged the type’s

use. At least two versions of Hydra UAV are now being

operated: the S4 Ehécatl and the smaller G1 Guerrero.

It’s rumoured that a third system, the new S45 Baalam,

recently joined the ranks, but few details are available.

Tailored for Mexican geography and weather, Hydra

Technologies UAVs are tough and simple, and all are

capable of real-time data transmission via satellite.

All models use twin petrol engines and operate at

altitudes between 12,000 and 17,000ft (3,657 and

5,181m). The G1 has an endurance of six hours and

operational radius of 49 miles (80km), the S4 eight

hours and 68 miles (110km), and the S45 in excess of

12 hours and 74 miles (120km). Payloads can include

four different types of FLIR, thermal and electro-

optical cameras including the CV-80, CV-50, C-IV and

C-IVG, and a COMINT package with an international

mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher, an airborne

mobile cell-phone detection and geolocation system.

Hydra Technologies UAVs also include a company-

developed radio suite that enables communications

through four preselected VHF and UHF channels,

avoiding radio interference and allowing uninterrupted

communications with operators on the ground. UAV

control stations can be vehicle-mounted, a fixed C2

centre or can even be man-portable. According to

the manufacturer, the communications suite is usually

operated simultaneously with portable video units.

The FAM’s drone fleet is officially based at BAM

No 9 Atlangatepec in central Mexico. However, the

base is rumoured to be an administrative façade or

perhaps only a maintenance or training centre, as

all operational missions are launched from military

facilities scattered across Mexican territory.

Mexico’s aerospace industry is undergoing a period

of considerable growth and the FAM and SEDENA have

initiated a number of development programmes through

the Dirección General de Industria Militar (Military

Industry Directorate). One such effort is a joint UAV

project pursued by a group of aeronautical universities,

although its current status remains unknown.

The FAM also uses the Israeli-built Elbit Hermes

450 and began operations with three of these

drones in 2009. With an endurance in excess of 20

hours at 18,000ft (5,486m), these are optimised for

long-range strategic missions. Hermes reportedly

carry out, among other things, intelligence,

surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance

(ISTAR), SIGINT and communications relay.

The Armada de México has also fielded its own UAV

technology. In 2011 its Instituto de Investigación y

Desarrollo Tecnológico (Research and Technology

Development Institute) began a process to produce

two types of UAV with remote video capabilities linked

to a mobile control station. The result was the VANT

01 and Mini VANT (Vehículo Aéreo No Tripulado, UAV).

These have similar characteristics to the G1 Guerrero,

but their role with the AARM remains unknown.

The navy has since launched a new project: the

Sistema de Patrullaje Autónomo de Reconocimiento

Táctico Aéreo de la Armada de México (SPARTAAM,

Mexican Navy Aerial Autonomous Surveillance

Tactical System). Its objective was to develop three

identical UAVs capable of transmitting video to a

mobile control station and work is now complete.

Despite these domestic efforts, in 2016 the navy

acquired two different drones from the US-made

Arcturus family. The first is the T-20, a catapult-

launch, belly-recovery UAV with an endurance of 9

to 16 hours. Meanwhile, the JUMP 20 has a similar

endurance but is capable of vertical take-off and

landing (VTOL). Their surveillance equipment is

unconfirmed, but they are believed to carry electro-

optical turrets. These UAVs are used to prevent illegal

fishing in Mexican waters that are home to the vaquita,

a porpoise that is the world’s rarest marine mammal.

Squadron) at Base Aeronaval de Tapachula.
Retirement of the C212 left some gaps in the
inventory. The M28 Skytruck was evaluated in
Mexico last year with an eye on the requirement
for a new short take-off and landing (STOL)
transport. Between 2014 and 2015, four King
Air 350ERs were purchased to provide a new
ISR platform for long-range tactical surveillance
missions. These were complemented by two
more King Air 350i aircraft for VIP transport and
air ambulance duties. The navy also opted for a
maintenance programme based on fixed costs
per flight hour, to ensure operational availability.
The AARM King Airs serve with Escuadrón
Aeronaval 211 (Naval Aviation Squadron
211), located at Base Aeronaval de la
Paz. Although they arrived in Mexico in a
‘clean’ configuration, at least four naval King
Air 350ERs have been equipped with ISR
packages, installed by ISD of Oregon. Three of
the turboprops have synthetic aperture radar,
FLIR Systems Star SAFIRE 380-HD sensor,
broadband Ku-band SATCOM, Integrated
Microwave Technologies (IMT) over-the-
horizon downlink and a mission management
console. With the exception of the radar,

this is believed to be the same package used

in the FAM’s ISR-equipped King Airs. The

AARM’s fourth modified aircraft has only a

synthetic aperture radar in the lower fuselage.

Two Zlin 143 LSI aircraft are recent additions

to the navy’s surveillance fleet. Unlike the

Zlins operated by the Escuela de Aviación

Naval (Naval Aviation School), these have a

‘tactical’ paint scheme and fly ISR missions

with electro-optical systems, including FLIR.

They perform a role similar to that of the FAM’s

King Air ISR fleet, albeit with reduced range.

Above: Serial ANX-1191, formerly AMP-191, is one of at least four ISR-equipped King Air 350i/ER aircraft

operated by the navy’s Escuadrón Aeronaval 211. The success of the King Air 350 for special missions

might prompt the purchase of additional examples for both the navy and the FAM. Mariano García

Above: Although some local press reports suggest

the FAM has experienced maintenance problems

with its Hermes 450 UAVs, offi cial acquisition

plans consider adding three more off-the-shelf

drones in the near future. As well as the Hermes,

candidates include the Chengdu Wing Loong I

(Pterodactyl) that was presented at FAMEX in April

last year. L Atilano

Above: Available offi cial documentation indicates that development of the navy’s VANT 01 (and Mini VANT)

UAVs has come to an end, but it’s unclear if the drones are still used, or which unit might operate them.

AFM

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #361 APRIL 2018 // 59