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Portugal Air Force
Although the Portuguese air force did not become an
independent service branch until 1952, it has existed
since 1912.
Portuguese pilots flew missions in World War I and
Portuguese
aircraft were involved in the Spanish Civil War. The air
force
played a major role in the colonial wars, attacking
guerrilla
raiding parties, supporting ground troops, and performing
reconnaissance, transport, and medical evacuation
missions.
During this period, its strength increased from about
12,500 in
1962 to a peak of 21,000 in 1973. After the Revolution of
1974
and the withdrawal from Africa, air force strength shrank
as low
as 8,000, but it was at a level of 13,400 in 1991. This
total
included 4,900 conscripts whose service obligation was
sixteen
months, as well as 2,300 airborne troops who were
scheduled to be
shifted to army command. The air force's sixteen squadrons
operated from seven principal bases, including six in
continental
Portugal and Lajes in the Azores. One battalion of the
airborne
brigade was at the Monsanto Air Base, one battalion was at
Aveiro, and the unit's training center was at Tancos.
The air force had a reputation as a well-trained,
dynamically
led, and disciplined service. Its aircraft maintenance and
overhaul facilities at Alverca were considered to be
excellent.
Nevertheless, it has not had a clearly-defined mission
since the
end of the African wars, and its capabilities were limited
by the
lack of up-to-date combat aircraft. With the exception of
ten
Alpha Jets obtained from France and Germany in the early
1990s,
the air force was largely dependent on the transfer of
obsolete
aircraft from surplus stocks of other NATO members.
The backbone of the air forces was composed of two
squadrons
of A-7P Corsairs received under the United States military
assistance program between 1982 and 1985 (see
table 14,
Appendix). The air force had previously been dependent on
Fiat G91s in the attack role. Deliveries of these aircraft from
the
German air force had begun in 1965-66 as partial
reimbursement
for German use of the Beja Air Base for training purposes.
Portugal had no planes designed primarily for air defense,
but
both the A-7Ps and the Fiat G-91s were equipped with
Sidewinder
air-to-air missiles, providing them with the means to
perform a
secondary air defense role.
A result of the 1989 review of the Lajes Air Base
agreement
was the delivery of seventeen F-16A fighters and three
F-16Bs
(training versions) from the United States beginning in
1994.
Although these were earlier models of the highly regarded
F-16
series, the introduction of these aircraft would represent
a
significant upgrading of the Portuguese air defense
capabilities.
The F16s would operate from Monte Real Air Base and from
two
forward bases in Madeira and the Azores. As part of the
same
agreement, Portugal was scheduled to receive a battery of
Hawk
SAMs and associated radar to boost its air defenses.
In 1988 the air force acquired six Lockheed P-3B Orion
maritime reconnaissance aircraft that had previously been
in
service in the Australian air force. After modernization
in
Portugal by the addition of newer radar and navigation
systems,
acoustic sensors, and armaments, the aircraft entered
service in
1990. Operating from Montijo Air Base, the aircraft
provided the
air force with a patrol capability against submarines
within the
sea space linking Portugal with the Azores and Madeira.
For
reasons of economy, however, few patrol missions were
being
flown.
The air force also had in its inventory C-130H Hercules
transport aircraft intended to provide partial airlift for
the
First Composite Brigade earmarked for NATO, as well as
Spanishbuilt CASA C-212 Aviocar light transports, some of which
were
fitted for additional maritime surveillance, weather
reconnaissance, and survey missions. Two of the C-130s
were
scheduled to be stretched to increase their load
capacities, and
an additional stretched C-130 was to be acquired. No
combat
helicopters were included in the air force inventory of
aging
French-built Alouettes and Pumas, the survivors of a
considerable
fleet of helicopters used during the wars in Africa. Under
the
1989 Azores review, the United States was committed to
supply
fifty-seven combat, antisubmarine, and transport
helicopters.
A major component of the air force modernization plan
was the
introduction of an air command and control system for the
planning, tasking, and execution of air operations,
including
coordination with ground and naval forces. The system
would be
linked to the Spanish, French, and NATO air defense
systems.
Although NATO had approved a large share of the funding, a
reassessment was underway in light of the dramatic changes
in the
European security situation.
The Air Force Academy, a four-year institution, was
located
at Sintra near Lisbon. Elementary pilot training for
cadets was
conducted on Aerospatiale Epsilons, eighteen of which were
acquired from France in 1989 for assembly in Portugal. Jet
basic
training followed on Cessna T-37Cs, and advanced training
on
Alpha Jets or Northrup T-38A Talons. Additional officer
training,
carried out at the Air College, consisted of a basic
command
course for lieutenants, a command and staff course for
captains,
and the air war course for colonels.
The air force faced major problems arising from career
dissatisfaction among its highly trained personnel. Pilots
were
requesting permission for transfer to the reserves,
indefinite
leave, or permanent discharge. As of the early 1990s, the
pilot
shortfall was estimated at about 30 percent. The principal
reasons were economic. Even with flight pay, officers
earned much
less than commercial pilots. Air force pilots also
complained
that they did not have sufficient opportunity to develop
and hone
their skills. Annual flying times for pilots and crews
were
reportedly well below the NATO-recommended minima owing to
budgetary and fuel restrictions and the shortage of
serviceable
aircraft.
Data as of January 1993
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