Airforces - Typhoon school

support of Operation Sophia,
tackling smuggling and human
trafficking in the Mediterranean.
BA6 Montijo, near Lisbon, is
the home to Esquadra 502,
which operates 12 C295Ms for
transport missions. However,
included in this batch are five
C295MPA Persuaders (PG02
version) equipped with sensors
for maritime surveillance. The
Persuader can be equipped with
the Elta ELM-2022A(V)3 radar and
different sensors and cameras,
including the FLIR Systems Star
SAFIRE HD, which can record
high-definition video. The FAP
received three examples of the
modular Full Integrated Tactical
System (FITS) mission system
developed by EADS CASA, which
manages the Persuader’s

various sensors. The aircraft

has an endurance of around

ten hours, representing a

range of approximately 2,299

miles (3,700km) and missions

include maritime surveillance,

control of fishing and maritime

pollution and observation and

prohibition of illegal activities.

Along with missions over

Portuguese waters, beginning in

2011, Esquadra 502 also took part

in the European Union’s FRONTEX

mission, to help control the EU’s

external borders. FRONTEX

was superseded by the

European Border and

Coast Guard

Agency

in

October 2016, and Portugal

remains a regular contributor.

FAP participation has included

around 650 sorties, with more

than 116,000 boats detected and

almost 9,000 lives saved in the last

six years. Both the C295MPA and

P-3C play a part in these missions.

In 2016 the ‘Elefantes’ assisted in

the rescue of 1,134 people in the

Mediterranean, having travelled

130,488 miles (210,000km) and

patrolled an area of more than

1.16m sq miles (3m km^2 ).

In 2017 the FAP provided

a C295M and 100 flight

hours per month in

support of Operation

Triton (March, April,

September, October

and November)

and Operation

Indalo (May

and June) to control migration

flows from North Africa.

Last summer, the C295MPA

joined the P-3C in surveillance

of forest fires in the northern and

central regions of the country.

BA6 Montijo is one of the FAP’s

largest bases, its squadrons

operating the C-130 (Esquadra

501), C295M (Esquadra 502),

Falcon 50 (Esquadra 504), and

the EH101 Merlin (Esquadra 751)

• it also houses a navy squadron
  comprising five Lynx Mk95
  helicopters. However, it’s almost
  certain the FAP will leave the
  base in future, allowing Lisbon’s
  international airport to use it as a
  low-cost satellite. If this happens,
  the C295Ms and other transports
  are likely to be transferred to BA3
  Tancos air base in the centre
  of the country. Jose Matos

FAP P-3C CUP+ fl eet

Serial c/n Delivery

date

Status

14807 5733 November

5, 1981

In service

14808 5750 October 7,

1982

In service

14809 5758 May 2,

1983

In service

14810 5762 August

13, 1983

In service

14811 5773 April 8,

1984

In service

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #361 APRIL 2018 // 77