Page 55 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)

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Mirage 5P and Su-22 fighter-
bombers undertook air superiority,
combat air patrol (CAP) and
close-support missions, while
Cessna A-37B-equipped ground-
attack units performed the close-
support role against Ecuadorian
positions inside Peruvian territory.
Notably, FAP units, like their CAP
predecessors in 1941, carried
out aerial assaults on occupied
positions, this time employing
helicopters to carry troops to
their objectives, enabling ground
forces to obtain a quick victory. A Peruvian Mi-25 strikes a menacing pose near San Ramón, over the jungles of the Chanchamayo province. At least 14 new-
In 1982, in response to the build Mi-25s were delivered from mid-1993 followed by at least seven former Nicaraguan aircraft in 1992. After withdrawal
experience gained during the from service in 2001, due to maintenance problems, a handful returned to service in early 2008, following a limited local
jungle operations the previous overhaul. In April 2011, the FAP also took delivery of two new Mi-35Ps.
year, a batch of 14 Soviet Mil forces infiltrating Peruvian territory War – but not without sustaining capabilities of its main combat
Mi-25 Hind-D combat helicopters during January-March 1995. heavy losses of life and materiel: aircraft (among them the Mirage
was ordered for the FAP, which, This time the better-organised around 60 personnel were killed, 5P4, Su-22M2 and M3 variants)
once again, became the first Latin Ecuadorian forces defended while four fixed-wing aircraft and as well as acquiring, during 1996-
American air force to introduce their positions with a network three helicopters were destroyed. 1998, 18 MiG-29S/UB Fulcrum
this type of weapon in the region. of portable air-defence systems. In 1996 the FAP set out to fighter-bombers (followed by
Three years later Peru was the The Peruvians fought bravely to modernise its combat aircraft three MiG-29SEs in 1999) and 18
third air arm to acquire the secure a strategic victory in what force. This included improving the Su-25/UB Frogfoots, the only jet
Dassault Mirage 2000, the most became known as the Cenepa electronic warfare and navigation aircraft optimised for the close
advanced fighter in Latin America
at the time of its introduction.
During the late 1980s and early
1990s economic and social unrest
in Peru meant difficult times for
the nation’s military forces. Despite
the rise of terrorist movements –
such as the communist Sendero
Luminoso (SL, Shining Path) and
Movimiento Revolucionario Túpac
Amaru (MRTA, Túpac Amaru
Revolutionary Movement) – the
precarious economic situation
resulted in a substantial reduction
in the military budget, with a
negative effect on operations and
modernisation plans. It
was under such conditions
that the FAP had to face,
once again, Ecuadorian
Above: Zlin Z-242L serial 464 (c/n 0715) up from Pisco. A total of 18 of these basic trainers entered service from 1998. The
most recent attrition losses occurred in March 2011, February 2012 (resulting in two fatalities) and May 2019. Below: An-23B
serial 327 (c/n 3207) climbs at altitude. A long-term ‘Cline’ operator, the FAP’s current examples are the three survivors from
an original total of seven An-32B versions acquired secondhand during 1995-96. One aircraft underwent complete overhaul
in-country and was returned to service in May 2008.

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