Bolivarian Military Aviation of Venezuela

Bolivarian Military Aviation of Venezuela (Spanish: Aviación Militar Bolivariana), is a professional armed body designed to defend Venezuela's sovereignty and airspace. It is a service component of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela.

Bolivarian Military Aviation of Venezuela
Aviación Militar Bolivariana
Coat of arms of the Bolivarian Military Aviation
Founded	10 December 1920; 105 years ago (1920-12-10)
Country	Venezuela
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Part of	Bolivarian Armed Forces
Nickname	AMB
Patron	Our Lady of Loreto
Mottos	Latin: Spatium superanus palatinus "The paladin of the sovereign space"
Colours	Bleu celeste
March	Spanish: Himno de la Aviacion Militar Nacional "Hymn of the National Military Aviation"
Anniversaries	10 December (Air Force Day)
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	President Nicolás Maduro
Minister of Defence	General Vladimir Padrino López
Commander	Major General Santiago Infante Itriago
Insignia
Flag
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Electronic warfare	Dassault Falcon 20C Prometeo, Fairchild C-26B Metro EW
Fighter	Su-30MK2, F-16
Trainer	SF-260, EMB-312, K-8
Transport	C-130, Y-8, Boeing 707-320C, Short 360

Etymology

The organization is also known as the Bolivarian National Air Force of Venezuela. Its current official name has been in use since the end of 2008. It was previously called the Venezuelan Air Force (FAV; Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Venezolana).

History

Most of the airbases in Venezuela were built in the 1960s as part of a massive expansion program. The main fighter types in those years were the Canberra B(I).88, Venom FB.54, Vampire FB.52, F-86K Sabre Dog and the F-86F Sabre. Bomber squadrons typically operated B-25J Mitchell aircraft. The 1970s and 1980s saw a considerable increase in capacity, with rising oil prices enabling the FAV to re-equip most of its units. The Mirage IIIEV and Mirage 5V, Mirage 50EV, VF-5A and D, T-2D, OV-10A and E, and T-27 were introduced. Venezuela was one of the first export customers for the F-16A/B Fighting Falcon and was the first in Latin America to receive the aircraft, which arrived in 1983 for the newly formed Grupo Aéreo de Caza 16 at El Libertador Airbase.

In both February and November Venezuelan coup attempts of 1992, elements of the Venezuelan Air Force were key participants in the rebellion. FAV units at El Libertador Air Base under the command of Brigadier General Visconti seized control of the airbase and then launched an attack on the capital. OV-10s, T-27s, and Mirage III fighters under Visconti's command bombarded targets in the capital and loyalist air bases, destroying five VF-5 fighters on the ground.

Two loyalist pilots escaped with F-16 fighters and shot down two OV-10s and a Tucano, claiming air superiority for the government. Two more rebel OV-10s were lost to ground fire. As the tables turned on the coup attempt, General Visconti and his allies fled in two C-130s, two Mirages, an OV-10, and several SA 330 helicopters.

Modernization

In July 2006, the AMV purchased 24 Sukhoi Su-30MK2 planes from Russia, as a result of the United States embargo on spare parts for their F-16 fighters and to replace the Mirage 50EV. In 2008, Venezuela sought a potential acquisition of a number of Su-35SE fighter aircraft and a second batch of 12–24 Sukhoi Su-30 from Russia. The acquisition did not succeed.

In 2010, the Venezuelan Air Force retired their aging VF-5A/D and T-2D fleet. Hongdu K-8W took their place, after being received earlier in 2010.

In October 2015, Venezuela announced a plan to purchase 12 more Su-30MK2 from Russia for $480 million.^{[unreliable source?]}

Inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Combat aircraft
F-16 Fighting Falcon	United States	multirole	F-16A/B Block 15	≈3	24 were originally purchased in 1982 but only a very few may be in service or none at all due to lack of spare parts.
Sukhoi Su-30	Russia	multirole	Su-30MK2	21	24 were originally purchased, some were lost in accidents.
Electronic warfare
Fairchild Metroliner	United States	EW		1
Tanker
Boeing 707	United States	Tanker	KC-707	1	Converted to support Aerial refueling
Transport
Cessna 208	United States	Utility		2	1 crashed in 2025
Dornier 228	Germany	Utility	Do 228NG	3
Beechcraft Super King Air	United States	Utility	200/350	5
Fairchild Metroliner	United States	Utility		1
Lockheed C-130	United States	Transport	C-130H	3
Shaanxi Y-8	China	Transport		8
Short 360	United Kingdom	Utility		2
Helicopters
Enstrom 280	United States	trainer		2
Enstrom 480	United States	trainer		11	4 on order. 1 crashed in 2025.
Eurocopter AS532	France	transport		10
Mil Mi-17	Russia	utility		6
Trainer
Diamond DA42	Austria	multi-engine trainer		6
Embraer EMB 312	Brazil	trainer		17
General Dynamics F-16	United States	conversion trainer	F-16B	1
Hongdu JL-8	China	jet trainer	K-8W	23
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260	Italy	basic trainer		11
UAV
Ghods Mohajer	Iran	UCAV	SANT Arpía	12

Ranks

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Venezuelan Air Force v t e
			General en jefe		Mayor general		General de division		General de brigada		Coronel		Teniente coronel		Mayor		Capitán		Primer teniente			Teniente

Other ranks

The rank insignia of Venezuelan non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Venezuelan Air Force v t e																																			No insignia
	Sargento supervisor			Sargento ayudante			Sargento mayor de primera		Sargento mayor de segunda		Sargento mayor de tercera			Sargento primero			Sargento segundo						Cabo primero				Cabo segundo		Distinguido						Aviador

Accidents

• On 3 September 1976, a Lockheed C-130H owned and operated by the Venezuelan Air Force crashed near Lajes Airbase, Azores, Portugal, killing all 68 occupants onboard.

Bibliography

• Hagedorn, Dan. "Latin Mitchells: North American B-25s in South America, Part Three". Air Enthusiast No. 107, September/October 2003. pp. 36–41. ISSN 0143-5450