Ota Airport was the planned site for the new Lisbon airport located in Ota , 50 km (27 nmi; 31 mi) north of Lisbon , the capital of Portugal , from the late 1990s until January 2008, when the project was aborted.
130-566: The area where the future airport was to be built is occupied by the former Ota Air Base, of the Portuguese Air Force . The permanent air operations of this facility were discontinued, but it is still used as the Military and Technical Training Center of the Air Force (CFMTFA). There was already a small airstrip at Ota but that was to be removed prior to construction. Completion of the airport
260-528: A standing army in 1570, however they had existed since the 12th century, as the non-permanent hoste . The Navy and the Army would remain independent from each other for hundreds of years. By the early 20th century, some joint military and national defense bodies had been created but these had mostly mere political coordination responsibilities. The administration of the several forces of the military remained in charge of separate government departments , respectively
390-497: A Portuguese building or structure is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a European airport is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about transport in Portugal is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Portuguese Air Force The Portuguese Air Force ( Portuguese : Força Aérea Portuguesa ) is the aerial warfare force of Portugal . Locally it
520-726: A fighter flight. The growing of the Lisbon suburban area limited the use of the Amadora airfield, ending with it being deactivated and the GAI disbanded. After the inauguration of Ota, Alverca ceased to be an operational air base, becoming a logistical air field dependent from the Aviation Materiel Storage, supporting this body and also the OGMA. From 1940, the air bases became numbered as they are still today, with Sintra, Ota and Tancos, becoming respectively
650-409: A graduate in one of the aeronautics courses, who would assume the role of the aeronautics commandant general in the headquarters of the field army. The tactical aviation unit continued be the flight ( esquadrilha ), each including seven pilots and respective aircraft, headed by a captain. Several flights could be grouped to form groups of aviation flights, each headed by a senior officer. The troops of
780-512: A great part of the available Army forces and most of the AM combat aircraft, including all its fighters. In June 1941, two expeditionary fighter flights – each with 15 Gloster Gladiators – were organised and deployed, as well as five Ju 52 bombers. One of the fighter flights and the bombers became based at Santana airfield ( Rabo de Peixe ), São Miguel Island and the other fighter flight became based at Achada airfield, Terceira Island (soon transferred to
910-793: A handful of airplanes. In 1912, the Portuguese Government received its first airplane, a Deperdussin B , offered by the Portuguese-born Colonel Albino Costa of the Brazilian Army . The Government further received a Maurice Farman MF4 offered by the O Comércio do Porto newspaper and an Avro 500 offered by the Portuguese Republican Party . These aircraft would be integrated in the Aerostation Company, but remained for years without use because of
1040-612: A joint command for the military forces. In 1950, the roles of Minister of National Defense and of Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (CEMGFA) are created. To the CEMGFA were given almost all the responsibilities until then assigned to the majors-generals of the Navy and of the Army (service branches military commanders), whose roles were at the same time extinct. This can be considered
1170-642: A naval air station being installed at Taipa Island . This air force was deactivated in 1932, but it would be reactivated in 1937 due to the Civil War and the Japanese invasion of China. The naval aviation and the only ever existing Portuguese aircraft carrier had an important role in subduing the Army officers' rebellion against the government of the National Dictatorship , which occurred in April 1931. Operating from
1300-651: A possible invasion of the strategic Azores Islands, which were coveted both by the Axis and by the Allies , with both having plans to invade them. Adolf Hitler wanted to use the Azores as the base for the Amerika Bomber , with their seizure being included in the German planned operations Felix , Ilona and Isabella . The Allies wanted to use the Azores as an air and naval base to control
1430-521: A single defense ministry. However, the service branches lobbies for the maintenance of their autonomy – represented by their separate government departments – politically opposed and were able to block this reorganization for the next couple of decades. Nevertheless, the need to defend the Overseas Empire against possible foreign aggression during World War II , did lead to a significant step being taken during this period for an increased integration of
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#17328555165811560-737: A small flight of Farman F.40 airplanes, this being one of the earliest employments of military aircraft in Africa. In 1918, a flight of Caudron G.4 was also deployed to Angola to support the Portuguese forces engaged in the South-West Africa campaign , but arrived after the end of the conflict. This flight however gave origin to a permanent air unit based in Angola. The Portuguese Navy started to have its own aviation service on 28 September 1917, although by that time it already had flying activities performed by
1690-627: A two-letter code that was painted on the fuselages. By the end of World War II, the AM included the BA1, Sintra as a training unit, the BA2, Ota with fighter flights MR (Spitfire), RL (Spitfire), XZ (Spitfire) and OK (Airacobra) and with bomber flight ZE (Blenheim), the BA3, Tancos with Information and Reconnaissance Group ( Westland Lysander ) and Fighter Flight GL (Hurricane), BA4, Rabo de Peixe, with expeditionary fighter flights No 1 (Gloster Gladiator) and No 2 (Mohawk) and with
1820-543: A typical analysis paralysis . According to final governmental decision, the OTA location was turned down in favour of Alcochete Airport , an area used currently for Portuguese Air Force exercises. The location is closer to Lisbon centre and to the Centre of mass of the Lisbon metropolitan area , with future expansions guaranteed. Planes can land and take off from different directions. Also,
1950-583: A viable alternative. The deadline for a final decision was set by the Government as December 2007. Another commonly cited alternative is Alverca do Ribatejo at 38°53′07″N 9°01′42″W / 38.88528°N 9.02833°W / 38.88528; -9.02833 and the Montijo Air Force Base at 38°42′28″N 9°01′34″W / 38.70778°N 9.02611°W / 38.70778; -9.02611 . The decision process has been qualified as
2080-615: Is mainly defined and oriented by the following strategic guidelines: The national deployed forces ( forças nacionais destacadas or FND) are units or teams deployed by the Portuguese Armed Forces in foreign missions, mostly in the scope of NATO, the United Nations or the European Union. Currently, the Portuguese Armed Forces maintain 1775 military personnel, 7 Military vessels and 9 aircraft in forces or elements deployed in
2210-617: Is now a separate body, but continues to be headed by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, with the Air Force assuring most of its activities, namely the air policing service. Its aerobatic display teams have been the Asas de Portugal for jet aircraft and the Rotores de Portugal for helicopter, being both however currently inactive since 2010. The remote origins of the Portuguese Air Force lie in
2340-474: Is referred to by the acronym FAP but internationally is often referred to by the acronym PRTAF . It is the youngest of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces . The Portuguese Air Force was formed on 1 July 1952, when the former Aeronáutica Militar (Army Aviation) and Aviação Naval (Naval Aviation) were united and formed an independent air branch of the Armed Forces. However,
2470-669: The Commandos ( Comandos ) in 1962 and the Navy deployed the Marines ( Fuzileiros ), a force reactivated in 1961. The Portuguese military also counted with a number of paramilitary forces , including the Special Groups ( Grupos Especiais ) and the Arrows ( Flechas ). The Portuguese Armed Forces were also involved in a brief conventional armed conflict with the Indian military, when the latter invaded
2600-702: The Cubando cargo ship, transformed in an improvised seaplane carrier, four CAMS 37 flying boats of the naval aviation carried out an important task of reconnaissance and support of the Government's landing forces. Through the reorganization of the Naval Aeronautics, established by Decree-law 27059 of 30 September 1936, the operational force of the service became the Navy Air Forces (FAA, Forças Aéreas da Armada ). Portuguese Armed Forces The Portuguese Armed Forces ( Portuguese : Forças Armadas ) are
2730-750: The Government's Presidency Office . The Minister of National Defense directed an umbrella organization , named the National Defense Department which included the CEMGFA, the General Secretariat of National Defense (SGDN, Secretariado-Geral da Defesa Nacional ) and the Under-Secretariat of State of the Aeronautics ( Subsecretariado de Estado da Aeronáutica ). As the Navy and Army ministers continued to exist and to administer their own branches,
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#17328555165812860-642: The National Republican Guard ceased policing the military, with the establishment of the Military Police by the Army. Later, the other service branches would create their respective military police type forces: the Air Police for the Air Force and the Naval Police for the Navy. Between 1961 and 1974, the Portuguese Armed Forces would be engaged against emerging nationalist movements in several of
2990-727: The Navy Ministry for the Navy ( Marinha ), the War Ministry for the Metropolitan Army ( Exército Metropolitano ) and the Colonies Ministry for the Colonial Military Forces ( Forças Militares Coloniais ). Operationally, the service branches were also completely independent from each other, with totally separated chains of command. During the 1930s, plans were laid to merge all of the previously mentioned ministries under
3120-731: The Portuguese African provinces . These set of conflicts are collectively referred as the Overseas War in Portugal. In the scope of the Cold War, it was a decisive ideological struggle and armed conflict in African (Portuguese Africa and surrounding nations) and Portuguese European mainland scenarios. Unlike other European nations, the Portuguese regime did not leave its African overseas provinces during
3250-690: The Portuguese India in December 1961. Facing overwhelmingly superior forces and after 36 hours of combat, the Portuguese India Commander-in-Chief, General Vassalo e Silva , surrendered to the Indian Forces . Portuguese forces suffered 30 dead and 57 wounded, with almost 3500 personnel being taken as prisoners of war , these being released six months later. The Indian Armed Forces officially recognized to have suffered 76 casualties during
3380-514: The War Minister . The aeronautical troops would include aviation and aerostatics units, including the already existing Aerostatics Company and the newly created Composite Aviation Depot Flight (EMAD). The EMAD was responsible to train pilots and observers and to prepare the creation of future air units, being initially installed at Alverca and then transferred to Tancos , where an airfield was built to serve as its base. The PMA, installed at Alverca,
3510-517: The baptism by fire of the Portuguese military aviation. Serving in French squadron SPA 65 , in November 1917, Captain Óscar Monteiro Torres became the first Portuguese pilot to be killed in an air combat when his SPAD S.VII was shot down after himself having shot down two German planes. In Mozambique , in the operations against German Eastern Africa , from September 1917, the Portuguese forces included
3640-550: The 1950s and 1960s. Several armed independence movements, most prominently led by communist parties who cooperated under the CONCP umbrella and pro US groups became active in these areas (especially in Angola , Mozambique and Portuguese Guinea ). The Portuguese Armed Forces were able to maintain a large military campaign for 13 years, in these three different theaters of operations, thousands of kilometers apart from each other and from
3770-400: The AM performed air visits to the colonies, projecting a significant air force to Angola and to Mozambique to mark the Portuguese military presence in Africa. Taking off from the Amadora airfield, this air visit included a Junkers W 34 transport aircraft and eight Vickers Valparaiso light bombers , with 12 pilots and seven aircraft mechanics, commanded by colonel aviator Cifka Duarte. In
3900-597: The Aeronautics) were disbanded, with each service branch chief of staff assuming the roles of the former ministers, under the coordination of the CEMGFA, to whom was given a status equivalent to that of the Prime Minister of Portugal . This organization would remain in place until 1982, when the Revolution Council was disbanded after the first revision to the 1976 Constitution . The Armed Forces were again placed under
4030-831: The Aerostatics Company (usually attached to the artillery arm), the Practical School of the arm, the Aviation Materiel Storage, the Aerostatics Materiel Storage (attached to the Aerostatics Company) and a personnel mobilisation depot (attached to the Command General). The creation of the Command General of the Aeronautics - headed by an AM brigadier or general who reported directly to the Minister of War -
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4160-465: The Air Club of Portugal (AeCP) on 11 December 1909, by 30 aviation enthusiasts, the majority of them being Army officers. The AeCP became one of the major boosters of the development of aviation in Portugal in the early 20th century, including its military use. The AeCP sponsored Abeillard Gomes da Silva in the design and building of the first Portuguese airplane , financed by the War Ministry and tested at
4290-518: The Air Force elements deployed on international missions. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact triggered a deep transformation of the Armed Forces. They transited from being a conscription based and defensive oriented Armed Forces to gradually becoming a fully professional and expeditionary warfare oriented force, starting to participate in international missions, most of them under
4420-494: The Air Force, which, if not addressed in due course, may compromise the future capacity of the Armed Forces to continue to do the complete training of their own aircraft pilots. Despite the financial cuts in Defense, all international missions assigned to the Portuguese military have been fulfilled without limitations. Recently purchased equipment include new main battle tanks ( Leopard 2 A6) in 2008 and new coastal patrol vessels ( Tejo -class ) in 2014. The process acquisition of
4550-404: The Angola Group of Aviation Flights (GEAA), which existed until being disbanded in 1924. On 7 February 1919, the Group of Aviation Flights "República" (GEAR) was created. This was the first permanent operational aviation unit in the Portuguese Mainland, including a combat flight – equipped with SPAD S.VII fighters – and a bombardment and observation flight – equipped with Breguet 14 bombers. It
4680-436: The Armed Forces (EMGFA, Estado-Maior-General das Forças Armadas ) is the superior military body and supreme headquarters of the Portuguese Armed Forces. It is responsible for planning, directing and controlling the usage of the three service branches in their fulfillment of assigned missions and tasks. The EMGFA is headed by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and includes: The EMGFA also has under its dependency
4810-571: The Armed Forces and the execution of the national defense policy is however done by the government (chaired by the Prime Minister ) via its Minister of National Defense . The highest-ranking officer in the military is the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, which has operational control of the Armed Forces during peacetime and assumes their full control when a state of war exists. The Armed Forces are charged with protecting Portugal as well as supporting international peacekeeping efforts when mandated by North Atlantic Treaty Organization ,
4940-401: The Armed Forces for operational matters and a direct subordinate of the Minister of National Defense for all other matters. The CEMFA is the only officer in the Air Force with the rank of general ( four-star rank ). Presently, the FAP is an entirely professional force made of career personnel ( officers and NCOs ) and of volunteer personnel (officers, NCOs, and enlisted ranks ). As of 2015,
5070-459: The Armed Forces, his role was simply to act as a connection between the military and the Government. It was the Revolution Council – created in 1975, consisting only of military officers and chaired by the President of the Republic – that had the full control over the Armed Forces, which meant these were completely independent from the civilian administration. The Government military departments (Navy Ministry, Army Ministry and Secretariat of State of
5200-440: The Army School of Engineering, Tancos on 13 January 1910. Despite the previous use of balloons by the Portuguese Army, its first flying unit was only created in 1911, in the scope of the military reorganisation that occurred that year. This unit was the Aerostation Company ( Companhia de Aerosteiros ), which was part of the Army Telegraphic Service and was intended to operate observation aerostats. This unit would later receive
5330-436: The Army Telegraphic Service. Finally, the Parliament issued Law 162 of 14 May 1914, which created the Military Aeronautics School (EMA, Escola Militar de Aeronáutica ), including aviation and aerostation services. The EMA would include a Staff, aeronautical troops (including the Aerostation Company and a Navy Section), and technical and support staff. The Law foresaw the existence of a Military Aeronautical Service from which
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5460-406: The BA1, Sintra. Portugal joined NATO in 1949 as one of its founders. With this joining, the AM increasingly came under the influence of the US air forces, adopting many of its standards. Since its early beginnings, the AM constantly evolved towards an increasing autonomy, with an implicit aim to become an independent branch of service. Important milestones in that journey had been the granting of
5590-409: The British Royal Air Force in the elimination of the German submarine threat in the North Atlantic and then in its use by the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) in the air connection between the US and Europe and North Africa, enabling it to reduce the time of flight and largely increase the number of logistic flights that were able to supply the troops fighting the Axis. Already after the war, by
5720-422: The Defense budget, including the building of a multipurpose amphibious ship (Project NavPoL), the building of coastal patrol ships (Project NPC 2000) and the acquisition of helicopters ( EC635 and NH90 ) for the Army Light Aviation Unit . Another important challenge faced, in terms of equipment, is the lack of funds for the replacement of the Alouette III helicopters and the Alpha Jet advanced trainer jets of
5850-416: The EMA would be dependent. However, while the Aeronautical Service was still not organized, the EMA would be under the inspection of the chairman of the Military Aeronautics Commission. After the formal creation of the EMA, the next steps were to implement it. One of the first steps was to train aviators to serve as the future instructors, with 11 officers being selected for that (nine from the Army and two from
5980-423: The European mainland. This was achieved with almost no external support, in contrast with the nationalist movements which were backed by communist countries and even by some western ones. The Army suffered the majority of the casualties with 8290 soldiers killed in action while the Air Force lost 346 airmen and the Navy lost 195 sailors. During the conflict, in each theater of operations , the operational command of
6110-422: The FAP employed a total of 5,957 military personnel, of which 1,677 were officers, 2,511 were NCOs, and 1,769 were other enlisted ranks. Additionally, the Air Force further included 842 civilian employees. Besides its warfare role, the FAP has also public service roles, namely assuring the Portuguese Air Search and Rescue Service. Until 2014, the FAP also integrated the National Aeronautical Authority (AAN). The AAN
6240-445: The French naval aviation), at Horta, Azores , at Ponta Delgada , Azores (operated by the United States Navy) and at Culatra Island , Algarve (never fully activated). By the Decree 3743 of 5 January 1918, the Navy's Aviation Service became the Naval Aeronautics Services ( Serviços de Aeronáutica Naval ). On 23 August 1918, a Tellier T.3 flying boat of the naval aviation - that was chasing an enemy submarine spotted from Roca Cape -
6370-463: The General Staff of the Armed Forces, the branches of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of National Defense. Defesa 2020 establishes the existence of three sets of force: Future equipment programs are also in course. In May 2019, a new Military Programming Law was published, which will regulate the founding of the military investments programs until 2030. Some of the main next military investments present in this document are: The General Staff of
6500-434: The Independent Group of Protection and Combat Aviation (GIAPC) in 1927. In 1927, the GEAR was disbanded and gave origin to two separate units, the Information Aviation Group (GAI) and the Independent Bombardment Aviation Group (GIAB), this being transferred to Alverca. By the Decree 11279 of 26 April 1926, the Military Aeronautics School was again divided into separate aviation and aerostation schools. With this reorganization,
6630-446: The Ju 52 flight (used mainly in the air transport between Azores islands), BA5, Lajes with Expeditionary Fighter Flight No 2 (Gloster Gladiator), Lisbon Field with Fighter Flight VX (Hurricane) and Transport Aircraft Section ( Consolidated B-24 Liberator , Lockheed Hudson and Douglas C-47 ) and Espinho airfield with Fighter Flight RV (Hurricane). The Lajes Air Base largely contributed to the Allied victory in Europe, first in its use by
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#17328555165816760-459: The Military Aeronautics School was created in 1914 – was organised. It included the Directorate of Military Aeronautics, the Military Aeronautics Technical Commission, the Military School of Aviation, the Military School of Aerostatics, the aeronautical troops and the Aeronautical Materiel Park (PMA) . The Directorate of Military Aeronautics was headed by a senior officer (pilot aviator, aerostat pilot or aeronautical engineer), who directly reported to
6890-402: The Military Aviation School started to include training programs for non-officer military pilots and for civil pilots. It thus became the first civil aviation school in Portugal. In 1925, Carlos Bleck would graduate from this school, becoming the first civil pilot to receive its brevet in Portugal. In 1928, Maria de Lourdes Sá Teixeira would also graduate in the Military Aviation School, becoming
7020-453: The Military School of Aeronautics (EMA). The naval officers Artur de Sacadura Cabral and António Joaquim Caseiro were part of the group of the eleven first Portuguese military aviation pilots, with the first one becoming the first chief of the pilot instructors of the EMA. The EMA included a Navy Section, which received the first naval aircraft (two FBA Type B flying boats ) in January 1917. These aircraft started flying activities in March of
7150-432: The Minister of Defense had merely coordinating roles regarding the Navy and the Army. The SGDN served as the Defense staff support organization, being headed by the CEMGFA. It was foreseen to be remodeled in order to be transformed in the general staff and joint management body of the Armed Forces, but this transformation would only occur in 1974, when the SGDN became the General Staff of the Armed Forces (EMGFA). Despite all
7280-444: The Mission, including some officer aviators, however ended by actively engaging in military operations. Besides these, other AM personnel volunteered as " Viriatos ", these being mainly NCOs aviators who served as officers in nationalist aviation units. By the Decree 29155 of 19 November 1938, the course of military aeronautics was created in the Army School (military academy). Until then, the future officer aviators had to graduate in
7410-427: The Navy Section of the EMA. The Army's Military Aeronautical Service was also finally fully organized on 29 June 1918, in the scope of which the EMA was to be subdivided in separate aviation and aerostation schools and the first Portuguese aircraft factory was established. By the Decree 4529 of 29 June 1918, the Portuguese Army's Military Aeronautical Service ( Serviço Aeronáutico Militar ) – already foreseen when
7540-419: The Navy) and sent to several U.S., French, and British aviation schools, where they were certified as aircraft pilots. Another important step was the building of the facilities for the EMA. The study of the Military Aeronautics Commission pointed to Alverca as the best option to install the school, with Vila Nova da Rainha (a village of the Azambuja Municipality ) as the second best option. Both places satisfied
7670-458: The Navy, of armored vehicles ( Pandur ) for the Army and of heavy helicopters ( EH-101 ) for the Air Force. Ironically one of the most basic challenges – the replacement of the 7.62×51mm battle rifles by 5.56×45mm assault rifles – failed during his mandate due to the soldiers clinging onto their cheap and highly reliable locally made FBP G3 . Some important re-equipment programs were however later canceled or suspended mainly due to cuts in
7800-417: The No 1, No 2 and No 3 air bases. During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), a number of Portuguese pilots and airmen served in the Nationalist Aviation . During this conflict, the Portuguese Government sent a Military Observation Mission to Spain intended to merely observe the new tactics and new weapon systems that were being employed, including the use of aviation and antiaircraft defences. Some members of
7930-421: The North Atlantic in the scope of the Battle of the Atlantic , having plans to invade them if the Portuguese government refused to cede their use. This invasion was part of the planned British operations Alloy , Shrapnel , Brisk , Thruster , Springboard and Lifebelt and of the US Operation Grey. Faced with the imminent danger, the Portuguese authorities decided to reinforce the Azores garrison, sending there
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#17328555165818060-415: The Ordinance 12194 of 19 December 1947, the AM suffered its last major re-adjustment of its units still under the Army tutelage. As part of this, the BA4 (Santana Air Base) was disbanded, with its aeronautical facilities being transferred to the Ministry of Communications to become the civil airport of São Miguel Island . With this disbandment, Lajes was re-designated "No 4 Air Base (BA4)". By this time, Lajes
8190-547: The Portuguese Army deployed a communications battalion to Mozambique, as part of the UNOMOZ , this being the first participation of the Portuguese Armed Forces in international missions, with a complete military unit. After Mozambique, the Portuguese Military deployed forces to international missions in a number of countries, including Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Timor-Leste, Kosovo, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Lithuania, besides deploying military observers and other individual elements to other countries. Recent Defense policy confirmed
8320-431: The Portuguese aviation, but the USAAF. Besides its importance for the Allied victory in World War II, Lajes would continue to be strategically crucial for the US Military in future conflicts, especially in the Cold War , Berlin airlift , Yom Kippur War and Gulf War . In the scope of the re-organization of 1947, the Monte Real airfield (future Monte Real Air Base ) – at that time under construction – became dependent from
8450-421: The Portuguese military would become highly politicized and split into several factions. By the summer of 1975, the tension between these was so high, that the country was on the verge of civil war. The forces connected to the extreme left-wing launched a further coup d'état on 25 November but the Group of Nine, a moderate military faction, immediately initiated a counter-coup. The main episode of this confrontation
8580-418: The Republic. They obey to the competent bodies of sovereignty, accordingly with the Constitution and the law , being integrated in the State direct administration through the Ministry of National Defense. The bodies of State directly responsible for the national defense and the Armed Forces are the following: The Minister of National Defense is the politician responsible for the elaboration and execution of
8710-412: The United Nations or the European Union . Portugal was ranked the 3rd most peaceful country in the World in the Global Peace Index 2017 , presently not having significant national security issues. The Portuguese Armed Forces have been thus focused in non-military public service activities and in external military operations . Recent external operations include anti-piracy action in the Gulf of Aden ,
8840-423: The ability to fight as a single cohesive force. The logistics side however was not able to reach such high levels of integration, mainly because each service branch continued to be administered by its own government department with its own supply chain and different standards. Due to the nature of the conflict, commando -type forces achieved great importance. With the war's evolution, these assumed almost all of
8970-428: The arm were defined at that time as being a fighter flight, a bombardment flight, an observation flight, a training and depot aviation flight and an observation aerostatics company. The aeronautics schools and courses would be the Military Aeronautics School (including an aerostatics section) and the mechanics and specialists courses functioning at the PMA. The Military Aeronautics School would only be activated in 1928, by
9100-493: The assumption that most considerable operations would be undertaken under international organizations mandates, with Portugal not entering alone in a major military engagement since the 1961–1974 overseas conflict. Nonetheless, the Portuguese Military have also conducted a number of unilateral and independent peace-enforcing and humanitarian military missions, namely in Guinea-Bissau (1990, 1998, and 1999) and in Angola (1992). The Operation Crocodile conducted in Guinea-Bissau in 1998
9230-408: The aviators, culminating in the uprising of the GEAR. The uprising was quelled by other military units, with the officer aviators being arrested. These incidents led to the temporary disbandment of the Military Aeronautical Service by the Decree 9801 of 15 July 1924. By the Decree 10094 of 19 September 1924, the Military Aeronautics (AM) was reorganised, becoming a full arm of service of the Army, with
9360-410: The beginning of the existence of the Portuguese Armed Forces as an unified organization. However, opposition from both of the then existing military branches prevented the formation of a single ministry for the military. The political solution for this was to keep the existing Navy and Army ministries and to create the role of Minister of National Defense but without its own ministry, instead integrating
9490-599: The challenges, the operational integration of the Armed Forces rapidly progressed in the 1950s. As part of this integration, the role of commander-in-chief was established in each of the Overseas territories, as a permanent unified commander of the local forces of the three branches. Mainly during the Overseas War, these commanders-in-chief would assume increasing responsibilities, until achieving full operational command of all forces assigned to their theater of operations , leaving
9620-623: The command of the territorial Army commands of the area where they were based. By this new organisation the PMA was transformed in the OGMA . During this period, the Portuguese Military Aeronautics aviators entered in the History of Aviation by performing a number of pioneer flights . Among these were the first flight to Macau performed by Brito Pais, Sarmento Beires and Manuel Gouveia in 1924,
9750-697: The conflicts in the Central African Republic and in Afghanistan , the peacekeeping missions in East-Timor , Lebanon , Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina , and the air policing of Iceland and the Baltic States . Military units and other bodies are stationed all throughout Portuguese territory, including Continental Portugal , Madeira and the Azores . The Portuguese Armed Forces were opened to women during
9880-460: The course of one of the other arms and only then be transferred to the AM. Portugal was not directly involved in World War II , but had to defend its neutrality. The war caught the AM in the beginning of a modernisation plan that could not proceed due to the start of the conflict, meaning that it largely lacked modern aircraft. One of the major Portuguese military priorities became the deterrence of
10010-524: The court of King John V of Portugal . Accordingly, with some opinions, a real scale device would have performed a crewed flight over the city of Lisbon, taking off from the São Jorge Castle and landing at the Cotovia Hill . This may have been the first manned flight in history. In 1876, General Augusto Bon de Sousa proposed the use of aerostats as means of observation and communication. This proposal
10140-464: The creation of special operations , namely the Army's Special Operations Forces and the Navy's Special Actions Detachment . In 1990, the Air Force would create Combat Rescue teams ( Resgate em Combate or RESCOM ) for CSAR operations but in 2006 these were extinct and replaced by the Force Protection Unit ( Unidade de Protecção da Força or UPF ) whose mission is to provide security for
10270-570: The creation of a Military Aviation Institute. Despite the non-approval of the bill, the War Ministry appointed an ad hoc commission, made up of officers of the Army and Navy (including some members of the AeCP), intended to study the basis for the creation of aviation, balloon and airship schools. By the Army Order of 12 February 1913, this became the permanent Military Aeronautics Commission, attached to
10400-497: The deployment of naval and air forces, the landing and occupation of the Port of Bissau by Portuguese Marines, amphibious and helicopter landings in several places of the Guinean coast for the rescuing of civilians, medical and humanitarian aid to the civil population and the support to the peace talks between the two antagonizing parties. A Military Program Law ( Lei de Programação Militar )
10530-526: The early-1990s. Portugal had mandatory conscription for all able-bodied men until November 2004. The national defense is the activity whose objectives are to guarantee the State sovereignty, the national independence and the territorial integrity of Portugal, as well as to assure the liberty and security of the populations and the protection of the fundamental values of the constitutional order against any external threat or aggression. The national defense also assures
10660-595: The ex-French amphibious assault ship Siroco – as an alternative to the suspended NavPoL – failed in 2015, with the Portuguese Armed Forces continuing not having an asset which allows them to easily deploy forces to abroad on a larger scale, enhancing its expeditionary capacity. In the 2010s, the Portuguese Armed Forces created the Immediate Reaction Force (FRI, Força de Reação Imediata ), aimed at providing an autonomous national response capability to intervene abroad in complex situations to conduct operations as
10790-662: The first Portuguese woman pilot. The new organization of the Portuguese Army of 2 August 1926, established by the Decree 12017, defined that the superior technical body of each arm became a directorate of the arm. So the Directorate of the Aeronautics Arm was established, being headed by a general. This Directorate continued to have only a mere technical authority over the AM units and other establishments, which continued to be under
10920-522: The first Portuguese military airplane flight, in the Deperdussin B that had been offered in 1912. EMA and its first course was opened in October of the same year, with naval lieutenant aviator Sacadura Cabral as the chief of the pilots and with Major aeronautical engineer Ribeiro de Almeida as the chief of mechanics. The first students started flying in November, with Army lieutenant Sarmento de Beires being
11050-502: The first night-time flight across the Atlantic performed by Sarmento de Beires, Jorge de Castilho and Manuel Gouveia in 1927, the first flight to Goa , Portuguese India performed by Moreira Cardoso and Sarmento Pimentel in 1930, the first flight to Portuguese Guinea and Angola, performed by Carlos Bleck and Humberto da Cruz in 1931 and the first flight to Portuguese Timor performed by Humberto da Cruz and António Lobato in 1934. In 1935,
11180-606: The first one. During World War I , an air unit was planned as part of the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps fighting on the Western Front , but its activation was cancelled due to the refusal from the British Government to provide the needed aircraft. With this cancellation, several of the Portuguese airmen who were to integrate that air unit, instead volunteered to fly in French aviation units, where they had
11310-634: The following international missions: Some of the exercises organized by the Portuguese Armed Forces annually are: The history of the Portuguese military itself begins in the 12th century with the creation of the Kingdom of Portugal . Since the early beginning, the Kingdom had naval and ground forces. The Portuguese Navy exists as a permanent force since 1317, however non-permanent naval forces existed already before, with their first known naval engagement occurring in 1180. The Portuguese ground forces were established as
11440-470: The forces of the navy, army and air force was successively transferred from each territorial service branch command to joint commands, led by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in that specific theater. Thus the three branches of the military were able to achieve a high level of operational integration, allowing for an effective cooperation between them, the optimization of their scarce assets and
11570-630: The forces that departed from the Cavalry School located in Santarém , led by captain Salgueiro Maia , were the ones that managed to obtain the surrender of prime-minister Marcelo Caetano after a stand-off at the National Republican Guard headquarters in Lisbon, where he and some other members of the Government had taken refuge. However, after the revolution and for about a year and a half,
11700-405: The fulfillment of the international military agreements of the State, accordingly with the national interest. The Portuguese Armed Forces are responsible for the military defense, which is the military component of the national defense. The Portuguese Armed Forces are an essential pillar of the national defense and are the structure of the State that has as its main mission the military defense of
11830-462: The fully integration of the previous Naval Aviation becoming complete in 1958. Unlike the other services which had their own separate ministries, the Air Force was under the fully dependency of the Minister of National Defense via the Under-Secretariat of State of the Aeronautics. In 1961, the status of this department would be upgraded, it becoming the Secretariat of State of the Aeronautics. In 1953,
11960-523: The good relations of the Portuguese authorities with the Allies and the granting of air facilities at Lajes for the operation of anti-submarine aircraft. The AM then started to receive modern fighters including Bell P-39 Airacobra , Hawker Hurricane , Supermarine Spitfire and Bristol Blenheim bombers (which replaced the Junkers Ju 86). The fighter and bomber flights that were formed with them were identified by
12090-692: The initiative of Sacadura Cabral. In 1922, the Sacadura Cabral and Gago Coutinho entered the History of the World Aviation by performing the first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic . Due to the frequent piracy attacks to the local navigation and the civil conflicts affecting China, in 1927 the Portuguese Navy reinforced its station at Macau , including an air force of Fairey III floatplanes , with
12220-581: The invasion. On the morning of 25 April 1974, the Armed Forces Movement (MFA, Movimento das Forças Armadas ) – consisting mostly of junior officers of the three service branches – launched a coup d'état , known as the Carnation Revolution , which would bring an end to the New State regime and shortly the Overseas War. While the revolt included several military units located on the mainland,
12350-502: The mandate of the United Nations, the European Union and the NATO , besides organizing some unilateral missions abroad on their own. The conscription was gradually reduced since the early 1990s, with almost no conscripts serving the Armed Forces by the end of that decade. The formal abolishment of the conscription in time of peace for all men was however only implemented in 2004. In 1993,
12480-472: The military component of the national defense policy, for the administration of the Armed Forces and for the results of their employment. The system of forces defines the set of capacities that should exist for the fulfillment of the missions of the Armed Forces. It encompasses the set of systems of forces of all branches of the Armed Forces. The system of forces includes two components: The Portuguese armed forces' structure includes: The Armed Forces activity
12610-506: The military of Portugal . They include the General Staff of the Armed Forces , the other unified bodies and the three service branches: Portuguese Navy , Portuguese Army and Portuguese Air Force . The President of the Republic is the head of the Portuguese military, with the title of " Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces " ( Comandante Supremo das Forças Armadas ). The management of
12740-537: The mobile and offensive operations, with the more conventional forces remaining responsible mainly for the defensive assignments. By 1961, each service branch had created its own light infantry force oriented for asymmetric warfare. The Air Force created the Parachute Rifles ( Caçadores Páraquedistas ) in 1956, the Army first raised the Special Rifles ( Caçadores Especiais ) in 1960 which were later replaced by
12870-406: The much smaller naval aviation. This branch kept initially the designation of "Military Aeronautics", but from 28 December 1956 it became officially designated "Air Force". Besides the former Military Aeronautics, the former Portuguese Naval Aviation was the other ancestor of the present Portuguese Air Force. The aviation activities performed by the Portuguese Navy started with the establishment of
13000-623: The newly built Lajes airfield ). In October 1941, the AM received Curtiss 75 Mohawk fighters, with 12 forming a third expeditionary fighter flight to the Azores, being stationed at Rabo de Peixe. In 1942, the Rabo de Peixe and the Lajes airfields became, respectively, the No 4 and No 5 air bases. The sending of all the few available AM fighters to the Azores meant that Mainland Portugal remained without air defence. This issue would be gradually solved from 1943, thanks to
13130-589: The non-existence of pilots. Still in 1912, midshipman Miguel Freitas Homem of the naval purser branch applied for admission to any course that would qualify him as an aviator. He was the first member of the Portuguese Military to formally request to be an aircraft pilot. In the same year, by request of the AeCP, the legislator António José de Almeida presented a bill to the Portuguese Parliament for
13260-447: The origins of the Portuguese military aeronautics. Portugal was directly linked with the history of aeronautics since its early beginnings. In 1709, the Portuguese priest Bartolomeu de Gusmão requested a patent for a device to move through the air, which consisted of a kind of hot air balloon . The patent was granted on 19 April 1709 and small scale models of this device were tested with success on several occasions, including before
13390-577: The pilots, each flight would also include around another 70 members, including mechanics, radio-telegraphists and service support personnel. The Sintra Air Base included the Practical School of Aeronautics, with a School Group mainly equipped with Avro 626 and de Havilland Tiger Moth . Later, Sintra Air Base would also include an independent assault aviation flight equipped with Breda Ba.65 ground-attack aircraft . The Ota Air Base - inaugurated in 1940 and until then temporarily installed in Alverca - succeeded to
13520-497: The possible of evacuation of Portuguese citizens from countries under crisis or tension. The FRI includes naval, ground, air and special operations components. Its initial core has an operational readiness of 48 hours and has permanently assigned assets of the three branches of the Armed Forces. In April 2013, the Portuguese Government approved a structural reform of the National Defense, named Defesa 2020 ("Defense 2020"). It
13650-575: The remote origins of the FAP go back to the early 20th century with the establishment of the first military air unit in 1911, the Military Aeronautics School in 1914, the participation of Portuguese pilots in World War I, the establishment of the Army, and the Navy aviation services. The FAP is commanded by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CEMFA), a subordinate of the Chief of the General Staff of
13780-467: The requests of being located in flat grounds (allowing the installation of airfield and hangars ), in the riverside (allowing the operation of seaplanes ) and near the railway (facilitating the communications). Due to budget restraints, the second option was chosen, with the construction of the EMA installations starting at Vila Nova da Rainha on 15 April 1915. On 17 July 1916, lieutenant Santos Leite performed
13910-629: The same status as the cavalry, artillery, engineering and infantry arms. The military aeronautics arm included the Inspectorate General of the Military Aeronautics, the AM Technical Commission, the aviation and aerostatics troops, the aeronautics schools and courses, the AM establishments and the AM services. The inspector general of the AM would preferably be a general or a colonel with all the conditions to be promoted to general,
14040-629: The same year. The Navy's Aviation Service ( Serviço de Aviação da Armada ) was created by the Decree 3395 of 28 September 1917, with the first naval air station being activated at the Bom Sucesso dock, near the Belém Tower in Lisbon. In the scope of World War I, the flying boats started the performance of anti-submarine patrols off Lisbon harbor. During the War, additional naval air stations were installed at São Jacinto peninsula , Aveiro (operated together with
14170-570: The scope of the civil conflict between Republicans and Monarchist , the naval aviation bombs and disables a section of the Porto-Lisbon railway near Espinho , in order to cut the supplies of the Monarchist forces that were advancing to the South. This was the first aerial bombing performed by the Portuguese military aviation. During the 1920s, the naval aviation took its share of pioneer flights, mainly by
14300-582: The scope of the readjustment of the Army units and size established by the Decree-Law 28401 of 31 December 1937, the Military Aeronautics underwent a major reorganisation. The AM would now include the Command General of the Aeronautics (with the Antiaircraft Land Defence Command attached to it), air bases, field bases, information aviation flights, fighter aviation flights, bombardment aviation flights (the flights could be independent or grouped),
14430-450: The several military services, when the Colonial Military Forces were placed under the dependency of the War Ministry, which then became in charge of all Portuguese ground forces (metropolitan and colonial). Lessons learned from World War II, the start of the Cold War and the creation of NATO (which Portugal integrated as a founding member ) partially ended the objections for the creation of
14560-571: The site is already state property. The proposed Portuguese TGV high speed train would have a stop at Ota with connections to the rest of the country. As the decision is instead in Alcochete, the Vasco da Gama bridge will be the main road connection, while a ferry boat and a nearby third crossing on the Tagus River would also serve the airport. The decision process has been controversial, with defenders of
14690-419: The status of arm to the AM in 1924 and its operational autonomy regarding the rest of the Army achieved in 1937. By this time, there was a unanimous opinion that the conditions for the AM to completely separate from the Army and to become an independent branch of the Armed Forces had been obtained. Finally, on 1 July 1952, the AM was established as an independent branch, at the same time controversially integrating
14820-451: The subordination of the civilian administration, more specifically being integrated in the Ministry of National Defense. With the decolonization and the end of the Overseas War, the Portuguese military would change from an asymmetric war oriented force to a conventional war oriented force, focused in defense of Western Europe from a possible Soviet invasion. Meanwhile, the 1980s would see
14950-560: The territorial service branch leadership with mere logistical responsibilities. The Military Aeronautics (Army aviation branch) – which already had a high degree of autonomy since 1937 – becomes an entirely separate branch of service of the Armed Forces in 1952, at the same time starting to control the Portuguese Naval Aviation (Navy aviation service). This third branch of the Armed Forces would soon become officially designated "Portuguese Air Force" ( Força Aérea Portuguesa ), with
15080-585: The then disbanded GIAB and came to include a night bombardment group with Junkers Ju 52 bombers, a day bombardment group with Junkers Ju 86 bombers and a fighter flight with Gloster Gladiator fighters. The Tancos Air Base succeeded to the GIAPC and was intended to be a fighter and observation aviation unit. The Lisbon Field Base was planned to function in the facilities of the Lisbon Airport - at that time under construction, being inaugurated in 1942 - and to station
15210-718: The transformation of the Military Aviation School and the disbandment of the Military Aerostatics School. The AM establishments were the PMA and the Aeronautical Material Storage. The AM included the meteorological, the communications and liaison and the photo-topographical services. In 1924, the fighters of the GEAR were transferred to the EMAD at Tancos, which became the No 1 Fighter Flight in 1926 and then
15340-462: The various offers arguing with all sorts of facts and visions. Local lobbying is also strong. According to polls as at November 2007, public preference is clear for Alcochete (63%) vs Ota (15%). But still lacks an environmental impact study to confirm that Alcochete is indeed the best place to build a large infrastructure like an airport, and that same environmental impact study could overturn that decision over to Ota again. This article about
15470-505: Was already one of the major air bases of the AM, including the longest runway in the world and well developed support facilities that included a seaport and a military hospital. From 1945, it was open to civil air traffic, serving as the civil airport of Terceira island. The AM activities operated from Lajes became increasingly focused on maritime search and rescue operations, using Boeing SB-17 Flying Fortress and Douglas C-54 Skymaster aircraft. Since 1944, its main user had become however not
15600-406: Was done with the objective of defining the level of ambition of the Armed Forces by establishing the guidance parameters for strategic planning, reinforcing the leading responsibility of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces in the execution of the approved military strategy , reducing human resources while at the same time improving their management and enhancing the coordination between
15730-532: Was implemented in 1886, with the beginning of the use of Lachambre balloons by the Army Engineering School at Tancos. The organization of the Army Telegraphic Service of 1900 assigned it the charge for the aerostation service, namely the specific competency for establishing air communications. The history of the Portuguese military aviation proper is deeply connected with the foundation of
15860-509: Was installed at Amadora , for which an airfield was built. In 1920, the Military School of Aviation was transferred from Vila Nova da Rainha to Granja do Marquês ( Sintra Municipality ), the site of what would become the still existing Sintra Air Base . The Decree 9749 of 30 May 1924, defining that the director of the Military Aeronautics could be a colonel of any arm of the Army (and not necessarily an officer aviator), caused revolt among
15990-405: Was launched in 2002 to start the complete modernization of the Armed Forces. Considerable re-equipment of the military started in 2003, led by Defense Minister Paulo Portas , who managed to launch a series of re-equipment programs, including those of new submarines ( Tridente -class ), frigates ( Bartolomeu Dias -class ) and off shore patrol ships ( Project NPO 2000 / Viana do Castelo class ) for
16120-655: Was lost at sea with the death of its crew. At the end of World War I, the naval aviation was operating 18 flying boats (FBA type B, Donnet-Denhaut D.D.8 and Tellier T.3), mainly from the Bom Sucesso Naval Air Station. With the end of the conflict, the São Jacinto and the Ponta Delgada air stations were transferred to the Portuguese Navy, together with some of its materiel, including ex-French Donnet-Denhaut D.D.8 and Georges Levy G.L.40 flying boats. In 1919, in
16250-483: Was notable, by evidencing the capacity of the Portuguese Armed Forces – despite its small size and limitation of means – to rapidly mount a military operation abroad in a scale that is typically only achievable by major military powers. This operations was mainly aimed at the rescuing of thousands of Portuguese and other foreign nationals caught in the middle of the civil conflict that erupted in Guinea-Bissau and included
16380-480: Was one of the major features of this reorganisation. Unlike the previous superior bodies of the AM which only had technical authority over the units of the arm, the Command General now had full command over all the air forces and other bodies of the AM. This meant that the AM started to have a chain of command separated from the rest of the Army, gaining a high degree of autonomy and coming to be considered an almost independent branch. Another feature of this reorganization
16510-625: Was projected around 2017. The airport would have had two runways on the borders of the airport property and would have been able to accommodate the Boeing 747 and perhaps the Airbus A380 . Ota Airport would likely have served the airlines and their destinations that currently serve Lisbon Portela Airport . After over eight years of debate other options such as Alcochete at 38°46′30″N 8°52′55″W / 38.77500°N 8.88194°W / 38.77500; -8.88194 , were still being discussed as
16640-440: Was the precursor of the still existing OGMA aviation industry. By the initiative of the local colonial authorities, the Caudron G.4 expeditionary flight that had been deployed to Angola due to World War I became a permanent air unit of the colony in 1918, as the Initial Colonial Flight, based at Huambo . This unit was increased in 1921, with the reception of Caudron G.3 reconnaissance and Breguet 14 bomber airplanes, becoming
16770-520: Was the structuring of the AM in air bases, with the creation of the Sintra , Ota and Tancos air bases, as well as the Lisbon Field Base. The Practical School of Aeronautics was attached to the Sintra Air Base. By this organisation, each fighter flight ( esquadrilha de caça ) would have 15 pilots (6 officers, 6 NCOs and 4 corporals) and respective aircraft, while each bombardment flight ( esquadrilha de bombardeamento ) would have 10 pilots (5 officers, 3 NCOs and 2 corporals) and five bombers. Besides
16900-491: Was the successful assault on the barracks of the left-wing dominated Military Police Regiment by the moderate forces of the Commando Regiment, resulting in three soldiers killed in action . The Group of Nine emerged victorious, thus preventing the establishment of a communist state in Portugal and ending the period of political instability in the country. The Ministry of National Defense would be created during this period of instability. However this ministry had no power over
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