Misplaced Pages

#337662

91-476: The Peruvian Air Force (Spanish: Fuerza Aérea del Perú , FAP ) is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with defending the nation and its interests through the use of air power . Additional missions include assistance in safeguarding internal security, conducting disaster relief operations and participating in international peacekeeping operations. On 20 May 1929, the aviation divisions of

182-463: A Dragunov sniper rifle killed the co-pilot, causing the pilot to eject, and another that was shot down by an SA-7 missile on November 23, 1990. Nine A-37s remained in operational condition by the end of the war. The A-37B was also exported to Latin America, mostly during the 1970s. It was well suited to their needs because of its simplicity, low cost, and effectiveness for insurgent warfare. Most of

273-646: A naval aviation force, several naval infantry battalions and special forces units. The Peruvian Marines date back to 6 November 1821, when the Peruvian Navy requested a battalion of soldiers. Its first battle was an attack on the Spanish, successfully taking the city of Arica (today Tacna). Into the mid-20th century, the Peruvian Marines modernized their equipment and by the 1980s with the Shining Path emerging as

364-756: A Peruvian protest, as the controversy of the lands, specifically of the northern half of the Department of Loreto in Peru was a major point of contention first with the Gran Colombia, and then with Ecuador and Colombia. Ecuador reinstated its sovereign over the lands north of the Amazon, and assured British creditors of their rights over that territory. Thus, on October 26, 1858, the Peruvian congress authorized president Ramón Castilla to command and army against Ecuador if needed to secure

455-689: A basic trainer aircraft. In late 1962, the United States Air Force 's (USAF) Special Air Warfare Center at Eglin Air Force Base 's Hurlburt Field in Florida evaluated two T-37Cs for the mission. The USAF determined the T-37 to be a promising COIN aircraft and expressed its interest in a prospective improved version that would be able to carry a much larger payload along with greater endurance and better short-field performance. These requirements meant

546-531: A campaign against Bolivia to successfully force the Colombian expeditionary force to leave the country. Furious, Bolivar resolved to declare war against Peru on June 3, 1828, with former president of Bolivia Antonio Jose de Sucre being appointed Commander of the Colombian Army. The Peruvian Navy immediately proceeded to occupy and establish blockades along the Gran Colombia coasts, winning the first confrontation in

637-479: A comprehensive inspection of the Mirage fleet, coupled with some electronics modernization. Since 2013, Peru is in talks with European suppliers as part of a long-term plan of replacing FAP's aging air force aircraft with second-hand Su-35s , Rafales or Eurofighters . Hitherto, FAP was exploring the possibility of buying as many as sixty Eurofighter Typhoon EF-2000 from Spain and sixty Sukhoi Su-35 from Russia . Cost

728-575: A defensive strategy, establishing defensive lines along the Jaen and Maynas , which were claimed by the Grancolombians and one of their motivations for the war. After a series of skirmishes, the Peruvian army was able to hold those provinces, but had to end the occupation of Guayaquil. On February 28, 1829, Peruvian president La Mar and Sucre signed the La Mar-Sucre convention, which ended hostilities but left

819-477: A few minor changes relative to the prototypes, to be rebuilt from existing T-37Bs. These aircraft were initially designated AT-37D , but the designation was quickly changed to A-37A . The second prototype YAT-37D was pulled out of the USAF Museum and upgraded to A-37A standards as part of the test program. The A-37A had a gross takeoff weight of 12,000 lb (5,400 kg), of which 2,700 lb (1,200 kg)

910-445: A low number of annual flying hours (AFH) per pilot if compared to the 1970s. The number of annual flying hours is of course very important in estimating the individual skill and experience of the pilots of an air force: more annual flying hours suggests better trained pilots and general readiness. There are also a number of possible explanations for FAP's low AFH: concern over the aging of equipment, scarcity of spare parts – especially for

1001-726: A new threat to Peru, the Marines began to be tasked with counterterrorism operations. As part of the Peruvian Navy, the Peruvian Marines utilize the equipment and logistics of the Navy. Various Marine battalions are based in Ancón, Iquitos, Mollendo, Pucallpa, Puno and Tumbes. The Peruvian Marines also have a Special Forces composed of the Espíritus Negros and Fuerza Delta, based on the American Delta Force and US Army Rangers . On May 20, 1929,

SECTION 10

#1732838594338

1092-427: A part of the armed forces. Although in fact it has a different organisation and a wholly civil mission, its training and activities over more than two decades as an anti-terrorist force have produced markedly military characteristics, giving it the appearance of a virtual fourth military service with significant land, sea and air capabilities and approximately 140,000 personnel. The Peruvian armed forces report through

1183-601: A redesigned instrument panel to make the aircraft easier to fly from either seat, an automatic engine inlet de-icing system, and revised landing gear. Like its predecessors, the A-37B was not pressurized. In order to accommodate the increased weight, the A-37B was powered by General Electric J85-GE-17A engines, providing 2,850 lbf (12.7 kN) thrust each. These engines were canted slightly outward and downward to improve single-engine handling. Air commando pilots in Vietnam operating

1274-496: A revival in the USAF's interest in COIN aircraft. The YAT-37D seemed like a promising candidate for the role, yet the USAF felt that the only means of being certain was to evaluate the aircraft in real world combat. At the time, this was a relatively unorthodox approach to military aircraft procurement. The USAF issued a contract to Cessna for a pre-production batch of 39 YAT-37Ds, opting for only

1365-403: A slight increase in ordnance. In August 1967, 25 A-37As were deployed to Vietnam under the "Combat Dragon" evaluation program, and flew from Bien Hoa Air Base on USAF "air commando" missions, including close air support , helicopter escort, FAC , and night interdiction . Combat loads included high-explosive bombs, cluster munition dispensers, unguided rocket packs, napalm tanks, and

1456-564: A swift and bloodless coup d'état against president Fernando Belaúnde Terry . Velasco aligned Peru more closely with the Soviet Bloc and relations with the United States deteriorated. The US declared an arms embargo in 1969, making it difficult to obtain spare parts for Peru's American weaponry. In the 1970s and 1980s, Peru turned to the Soviet Union for its military hardware. During this time,

1547-646: A time, with the second prototype "put out to pasture" at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio . The conflict in Southeast Asia continued to escalate during the mid 1960s. Losses of Douglas A-1 Skyraider close-support aircraft in USAF, United States Navy , and Republic of Vietnam Air Force service proved to be greater than anticipated, which led to

1638-632: A total of 54 fighters in Peru's inventory. These purchases were expensive and a number of observers questioned their usefulness against more pressing security concerns at the time such as the Marxist guerillas, the Sendero Luminoso group (translated as Shining Path). On the other hand, the FAP still remembered the 1995 Cenepa War with Ecuador, and stationed its MiG-29s close to the border at Chiclayo AFB and Talara AFB. Peru's Mirage 2000C/B and MiG-29S fighters form

1729-469: A wide range of munitions. During October 1964, the first YAT-37D performed its maiden flight , followed one year later by the second prototype. The second prototype was equipped with four stores pylons under each wing as opposed to three, the first prototype was subsequently upgraded to this configuration as well. Test results were good, however, the USAF's interest in counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft had decreased over time. The program went into limbo for

1820-472: The 1992 Peruvian self-coup . During the Fujimori administration, Montesinos would assume control of the government and placed weak officers as branch heads in order to maintain control, with every military branch's leader being personally filled by Montesinos. During this time, the armed forces' Grupo Colina death squad would kill dozens during various massacres in Peru and the military would participate in

1911-583: The Battle of Punta Malpelo , forcing the Colombians to retreat. Victorious, the Peruvian navy set its sights on the strategic port of Guayaquil and proceeded to attack it at the Battle of Cruces , which saw the destruction of the Grancolombian pacific fleet and the naval blockade of the city of Guayaquil until the end of the conflict. In the land, the ties were more balanced, with the outnumbered Peruvian Army seizing

SECTION 20

#1732838594338

2002-521: The Cenepa War against Ecuador in 1995. Following the downfall of Fujimori and Montesinos, the use of the terruqueo in the beginning of the twenty-first century was used to influence the public instead of violence performed by the military, though its use would provide impunity to members of the armed forces who violently responded to protests in the nation. Following the 2022 Peruvian political crisis , widespread protests occurred throughout Peru;

2093-571: The Douglas A-1 Skyraider were less than fully satisfactory, in part because younger pilots, having been trained and used to flying jet aircraft, had difficulties adapting to the A-1's increasingly uncommon features for a frontline combat aircraft, such as a radial engine and a 'taildragger' landing gear arrangement. At the time, the Cessna T-37 Tweet was in widespread use by the military as

2184-511: The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo ; a feat was partially due to the convenient placement of multiple access panels at strategic locations. The A-37 did not typically attract attention from the media, unlike many other USAF combat aircraft used in the theatre; one reason for this was that the type was never flown into North Vietnam, where hostile air defenses were proved to be challenging, claiming to have downed almost 200 F-4s and 300 F-105s by

2275-761: The Ministry of Defence , while the National Police of Peru report through the Ministry of Interior. The Peruvian Army was officially established on 18 August 1821 when the Peruvian Guard Legion was established by the government of general José de San Martín during the Peruvian War of Independence . San Martín would found the Peruvian Navy months later on 8 October 1821. The first international conflict fought by

2366-584: The Mirage 2000 in 1984. Relations improved with the United States and the FAP obtained American aircraft like the Cessna A-37B Dragonfly attack aircraft, as well as Lockheed C-130 and L-100-20 Hercules transport aircraft. The stagnation of the Peruvian economy during the late 1980s and early 1990s forced cost reductions and the downsizing of the fleet size. Budget cuts in training meant Peruvian pilots had

2457-468: The Peruvian Air Force . On 10 February 1983, a Peruvian A-37 was shot down by an Ecuadorian Air Force IAI Kfir over a border dispute. On 20 April 2001, a Peruvian A-37B shot down a civilian Cessna A185E floatplane with a minigun under surveillance by CIA controllers who advised against engaging. The Peruvian controller had the final authority in this situation, and he believed that the flight

2548-718: The Peruvian Army and Navy were merged into the Cuerpo de Aviación del Perú (Peruvian Aviation Corps, abbreviated CAP). During the Colombia-Peru War of 1933, its Vought O2U Corsair and Curtiss F11C Hawk planes fought in the Amazon region. The CAP lost three aircraft to the Colombian Air Force . The corps was renamed Cuerpo Aeronáutico del Perú (Peruvian Aeronautical Corps, also abbreviated CAP) on 12 March 1936. In 1941,

2639-516: The SUU-11/A Minigun pod. For the majority of missions, the aircraft also carried two additional external fuel tanks on the inner stores pylons. During this period, the A-37As flew thousands of sorties; none were lost to enemy fire, although two were wrecked in landing accidents. While the aircraft was formally named the "Dragonfly", many pilots called it the "Super Tweet". The Combat Dragon program

2730-607: The Salvadoran Civil War , supplied by the United States in 1983 as a replacement for the Salvadoran Air Force's Dassault Ouragans , several of which had been destroyed on the ground by the FMLN . A-37Bs were used to bomb rebel bases, columns, towns, provided close air support, and flew interdiction missions. A total of 21 A-37Bs and 9 OA-37Bs were supplied during the war, one of which was lost on November 18, 1989 when fire from

2821-489: The 1995 Cenepa War against Ecuador's Air Force in the Amazon Basin . It provided aerial support to the Peruvian army, carrying out bombings with Mi-25 helicopters, Canberra bombers, A-37 and Su-22 aircraft. Due to a lack of reliable roads, troops were transported by Mi-17 helicopters, as well as L-100 Hercules, An-28 and An-32 aircraft. During the course of the war, at least two helicopters were shot down. In 1997 and 1998,

Peruvian Air Force - Misplaced Pages Continue

2912-668: The A-37 on only one active engine, an uncommon practice outside of emergency situations at that time. The 20 mm (0.787 in) GPU-2/A and AMD 30 mm (1.18 in) cannon pods were tested with favorable results on the A-37B, but reports indicate that such pods were either seldom or never used in operation. The A-37 proved to excel at the close air support mission. It was able to engage targets at speeds roughly 100 miles per hour slower than swept-wing fighters and by doing so improve its bombing accuracy; pilots were reportedly able to achieve an average accuracy of 45 feet (14 m). While

3003-416: The A-37. In anticipation of a need for additional combat aircraft, the service subsequently procured A-37s from the United States as well. The Guatemalan Air Force flew the A-37 in extensive counter-insurgency operations throughout the 1970s-1990s, losing one aircraft in action in 1985. The type has also been widely used for counter-narcotics operations. During the mid-1970s, 36 A-37Bs were procured for

3094-538: The A-37; it saw active use during the Salvadoran Civil War . Over 200 aircraft were also supplied to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF), and numerous A-37Bs would be captured by North Vietnamese forces near the conflict's end. During the early 1960s, American military involvement in Vietnam was growing, leading to strong interest from military officials in counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft . Existing platforms such as

3185-544: The A-37A had found single-engine cruise an effective means of improving their flight endurance. Modifications were made to control surfaces to improve handling. To improve aircraft and crew survivability, the A-37B was fitted with redundant elevator control runs that were placed as far apart as possible. The ejection seats were armored, the cockpit was lined with nylon flak curtains, and foam-filled self-sealing fuel tanks were installed. To extend endurance, pilots were authorized to fly

3276-555: The A-37Bs exported south had the refueling probe shortened to act as a single-point ground refueling probe, or deleted completely. During the late 1970s, amid rising tensions between Argentina and Chile over conflicting territorial claims, commonly referred to be as the Beagle conflict , the Chilean Air Force retrofitted their T-37s into an armed configuration near identical to that of

3367-734: The Armed Forces of Peru led the nation following the 1968 Peruvian coup d'état , first headed by Juan Velasco Alvarado , who instituted left-wing policies that included nationalizing the economy and enacting the Peruvian Agrarian Reform . During the Revolutionary Government, the nation's debt increased heavily as a result of excessive borrowing and the 1970s energy crisis . Following the Tacnazo and subsequent overthrow of Velasco in 1975, Francisco Morales Bermúdez would lead

3458-521: The CAP participated in the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War . At that time, the CAP were equipped with Caproni Ca.114 and North American NA.50 Torito fighters, Douglas DB-8A-3P attack aircraft, and Caproni Ca.135 Tipo Peru and Caproni Ca.310 Libeccio bombers, among others. The Peruvian Air Force had also established a paratroop unit during the war and used it to great effect by seizing

3549-824: The Coast Guard. The Pacific fleet flagship is the guided-missile cruiser BAP Almirante Grau (FM-53) , named for the 19th-century Peruvian Admiral who fought in the War of the Pacific (1879–1883). The fleet also includes 7 Lupo class frigates (two built in Peru), 6 PR-72P class corvettes, 2 Pohang -class corvettes , several amphibious ships, 2 Type 209/1100 and 4 Type 209/1200 class German-built diesel submarines (the biggest submarine force in South America), as well as patrol vessels, tankers and cargo ships. The Peruvian Navy also has

3640-591: The Ecuadorian anti-aircraft position, destroying it. He was promoted posthumously to captain, and is today considered a National Hero of Peru. In 1942, an aerial photography service was annexed to the air force. During the 1950s presidency of General Manuel A. Odría , the Peruvian Air Force was reorganized and on 18 July 1950, had its name changed to the Fuerza Aérea del Perú (Air Force of Peru, or FAP). Peru

3731-483: The FAP acquired several Soviet-made aircraft, including Sukhoi Su-22 fighters, Antonov An-26 and An-32 transport aircraft, as well as Mil Mi-8 , Mi-17 , Mi-25 and Mi-26 helicopters. Soviet advisors were also dispatched to Peru. Velasco was overthrown by other military officers in 1975 and Belaúnde returned to power as a civilian president in 1980. The FAP purchased the French-made Mirage 5P and 5DP and

Peruvian Air Force - Misplaced Pages Continue

3822-500: The FAP counts in its arsenal with MiG-29 ( interceptor ) and Mirage 2000 ( interdictor / multirole aircraft ). It also has Su-25 close-support aircraft, Mi-25 attack helicopters, Mi-17 transport helicopters, Aermacchi MB-339 , Embraer EMB-312 Tucano subsonic training aircraft, and the Cessna A-37B for light attack and COIN missions. In 1995, the FAP took part in the Cenepa War against Ecuador covering operations by

3913-470: The FAP's outlook started to change for the better. In order to achieve president Alberto Fujimori 's militarily bold plans, it meant that FAP required a much-needed general overhaul and new purchases. In 1997, the FAP acquired 21 MiG-29 fighters and 18 Su-25 attack fighters from Belarus. In 1998, an additional three MiG-29 fighters were bought from Russia, which, along with the 12 Mirage 2000 fighters purchased from France's Dassault Aviation in 1984, made

4004-575: The Italian made, AW139 . The purchase would consist of 12 helicopters for a total of $ 193 million. Following the unveiling of the KAI KF-21 Boramae in April 2021, The National Interest reported that Peru may be a potential customer for the 4.5 generation fighter . One Mirage 2000P lost in April 2024 in a training accident Military of Peru The National Police of Peru is often classified as

4095-816: The North Vietnamese to attack Tan Son Nhut Air Base , still held by the South Vietnamese. Approximately 187 A-37Bs are believed to have been in RVNAF service by the Fall of Saigon in April 1975. Ninety-two of these were recovered by the US, while the other 95 aircraft would be operated by the Vietnam People's Air Force in missions over Cambodia and during the China conflict in 1979 . These "renegade" aircraft were phased out of service in

4186-423: The Revolutionary Government until 1980, with his military government participating in the political repression of leftists during Operation Condor . During the government of Alan García , the nation would begin to begin to experience hyperinflation and increased the beginning of the internal conflict in Peru with Shining Path . The armed force's perception that President Garcia's policies were detrimental to

4277-433: The Soviet Union. After an initial deal with China fell through, Peru has attempted to make a deal with General Dynamics to purchase new military vehicles. The Peruvian Navy ( Marina de Guerra del Perú ) is organized in five naval zones headquartered in Piura, Lima, Arequipa, Iquitos and Pucallpa . It has a strength of around 25,988 troops divided between the Pacific Operations and the Amazon Operations General Commands and

4368-531: The T-37C; a remarkable fraction of the loaded weight, 5,800 lb (2,600 kg), could be external stores. In practice, the A-37B usually operated with at least two and sometimes four underwing fuel tanks to improve combat endurance. The A-37B added a refueling probe to the nose, leading to pipes wrapped around the lower lip of the canopy, for probe-and-drogue aerial refueling . This was an unusual fit for USAF aircraft, which traditionally are configured for boom refueling. Other improvements included updated avionics,

4459-477: The USAF awarded a contract to Cessna to produce two prototype aircraft, designated YAT-37D ; these were essentially heavily modified T-37s. Specific alterations made for the YAT-37D included the adoption of strengthened wings, the use of larger wingtip fuel tanks of 360 litres (95 US gal) capacity, additional avionics suitable for battlefield communications, navigation, and targeting, toughened landing gear that were suitable for rough-field operation, and

4550-419: The United States supported Fujimori because of his relationship with Vladimiro Montesinos , who had previously been charged with spying on the Peruvian armed forces for the CIA. Fujimori was elected president of Peru in 1990, planning a coup with his military handlers during his next two years in office, with Fujimori becoming a figurehead leader and adopting many of the objectives of Plan Verde following

4641-454: The aircraft would have to be considerably heavier and thus necessitate the use of more powerful engines . As to account for the drastic increase in airframe weight along with the need to a significant payload as well, Cessna opted to double the aircraft's engine power by replacing its twin Continental J-69 engines with General Electric J85 -J2/5 turbojet engines, each capable of generating up to 2,400 lbf (11 kN) of thrust. During 1963,

SECTION 50

#1732838594338

4732-414: The aircraft's slow speed was feared to make it more vulnerable to hostile ground fire, the A-37's relatively small size, atypical speeds, and relatively low altitudes combined to make it somewhat hard to effectively hit with gunfire. The A-37 required a relatively low amount of maintenance compared to contemporary fighters—only two hours of maintenance for each hour of flight time, six times less than that of

4823-411: The armed forces and traditional aristocrats viewing their platform of land reform and the political inclusion of the indigenous peoples of Peru as a threat. After Fernando Belaúnde , a presidential candidate in election, raised concerns of electoral fraud, the military would support Belaúnde and would commit the 1962 Peruvian coup d'état against President Prado. The Revolutionary Government of

4914-420: The armed forces performed human rights violations against demonstrators and the politicization of the armed forces created concerns about the creation of a civilian-military government in Peru. The Joint Command of the Armed Forces is tasked with the mission to "plan, prepare, coordinate and conduct military operations and actions to guarantee independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and support

5005-413: The army and navy. After the war, the FAP began acquiring new aircraft, especially MiG-29 fighters and Su-25 close air support aircraft which are, along with the Mirage 2000 fighters, the main combat elements of the FAP. Cessna A-37 Dragonfly The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly , or Super Tweet , is a light attack aircraft designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Cessna . It

5096-639: The army's organization. The equipment of the Peruvian Army includes infantry weapons that include rifles and carbines such as the M16A2 and the M4A1 and pistols like the FN Five-seveN and Smith & Wesson M&P9 . Vehicles include several types of tanks ( T-55 and AMX-13 ), armoured personnel carriers ( M-113 , UR-416 ), artillery ( D30 , M101 , M109 and M114 howitzers ), antiaircraft systems ( ZSU-23-4 Shilka ) and helicopters ( Mil Mi-2 , Mil Mi-17 ). Recently, Peru has sought to update their collection of tanks and armored personnel carriers that have not been updated since acquiring vehicles from

5187-406: The aviation divisions of the Peruvian army and navy were merged into the Peruvian Aviation Corps (CAP, Cuerpo de Aviación del Peru ). In 1950, the corps was reorganized again and became the Peruvian Air Force (FAP, Fuerza Aérea del Perú ). The Peruvian Air Force is divided into six wing areas, headquartered in Piura, Chiclayo , Lima, Arequipa, Rioja and Iquitos. With a strength of 17,969 troops,

5278-478: The backbone of its current multirole fighter fleet, alongside specialized Su-25 close air support jets. Its Mirage 2000Ps sit at La Joya AFB near the border with Bolivia and Chile; the 3 Andean countries have a minor 3-way maritime borders dispute, and residual tensions with historical foe Chile have been a long-running issue in Peru. RAC MiG began the upgrade of FAP's MiG fleet to the MiG-29SMT external link standard in 2008. In 2009, Dassault began working with Peru on

5369-409: The borders on an ambiguous state. Yet, this was seen as a political win by the Peruvians, as holding these provinces opened the way of annexation, which would later be the cause of several Peruvian-Ecuadorian wars after the dissolution of the Gran Colombia in 1830. The next major conflict faced Peru against the newly independent state of Ecuador in the Ecuadorian-Peruvian War (1857-1860) , the first of

5460-403: The city of Cuenca on the Battle of Saraguro on February 13, 1829, and pushing north near Guayaquil. However, Venezuelan general De Sucre inflicted a defeat on the Peruvians at the Battle of Tarqui . The vastly outnumbered 900 Peruvian infantrymen were forced to retreat against the approaching 4,500 Grancolombian counterattack force in order to evade an encirclement. After the battle, Peru adopted

5551-400: The conflict's end, the USAF opted to transfer their A-37Bs from the USAF Tactical Air Command (TAC) to TAC-gained units in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve . During the early 1980s, these aircraft were assigned to the FAC (Forward Air Control) role and given the designation OA-37B . The OA-37Bs were eventually phased out in the 1980s and 1990s and replaced in the FAC mission by

SECTION 60

#1732838594338

5642-415: The conflict's end. Instead, A-37s operated in the south, as well as in neighboring Laos and Cambodia , where it was typically used to support US ground forces. A total of 577 A-37Bs were constructed, 254 of which being delivered to the RVNAF. By the war's end, the A-37 had flown over 160,000 combat sorties, during which only 22 USAF aircraft were recorded as lost due to combat. The type remained active in

5733-444: The country as its coasts were in the middle of a blockade. Receiving no response from an unified Ecuadorian government, Castilla ordered 5,000 of his troops to advance into the Ecuadorian province of “Mapasingue”, near Guayaquil, in order to force Ecuador to accept the Peruvians terms and to abandon its desires on the Amazon. Force by military action, the four governments vying for control of Ecuador selected caudillo Guillermo Franco as

5824-402: The coup as they expected Mario Vargas Llosa , a neoliberal candidate, to be elected in the 1990 Peruvian general election . Vargas Llosa later reported that Ambassador Quainton, personally told him that allegedly leaked documents of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) purportedly being supportive of the candidacy of his opponent, Alberto Fujimori , were authentic, with Rendón writing that

5915-546: The end of the conflict, the USAF's A-37Bs were transferred from the Tactical Air Command (TAC) to TAC-gained units in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve . The type was assigned to the FAC (Forward Air Control) role and given the designation OA-37B . The type were eventually phased out in the 1980s and 1990s, having been replaced in the FAC mission by the more formidable Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II in American service. Various international operators, many of which being South American countries, also operated

6006-446: The fitting of a General Electric -supplied GAU-2B/A 7.62 mm (0.300 in) "Minigun" Gatling-style machine gun capable of a rate of fire of 3,000 rounds/minute and 1,500 rounds of ammunition that was installed in the right side of the aircraft's nose behind a large access panel along with an accompanying gunsight and gun camera . Perhaps most importantly, three stores pylons were installed on each wing that were compatible with

6097-425: The late 1970s or early 1980s, likely due to the lack of spare parts. Some of these captured A-37s were shipped to Vietnam's then- Communist allies such as Czechoslovakia , Poland , the Soviet Union and East Germany . Others were sold to private foreign owners; six A-37B became the property of American warbird fans while four A-37Bs became privately owned by individuals in Australia and New Zealand . Following

6188-422: The main conflicts between these two countries. The conflict originated due to the international debt Ecuador, as the Gran Colombia, had to take from European creditors, mainly British, after the war of independence from Spain. Wanting to find a source of income, finances minister Francisco de Paula gave the creditors rights to several territories in the forest, some of them over disputed lands with Peru. This caused

6279-406: The much more formidable Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II in USAF, Air National Guard, and USAF Reserve service. OA-37s from the 24th Composite Wing 's (later 24th Wing 's) 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron ( 24 TASS ) also saw service during Operation Just Cause , the United States invasion of Panama in December 1989. A-37Bs were used extensively by the Salvadoran Air Force during

6370-469: The nation resulted with the creation of Plan Verde , a clandestine military operation that involved the genocide of impoverished and indigenous Peruvians, the control or censorship of media in the nation and the establishment of a neoliberal economy controlled by a military junta in Peru. A coup initially included in the plan was opposed by Anthony C. E. Quainton , the United States Ambassador to Peru . Military planners also decided against

6461-422: The national development of Peru". This branch of the armed forces was developed in the 1950s following World War II , when Peru evaluated operational tactics used and adapted them to their own military. On 1 February 1957, the Joint Command was created following a commission of defense agencies studied its role, with the Joint Command depending directly on the President of Peru while also being "the highest step in

6552-430: The national territory against European creditors. A blockade against Ecuadorian ports was also preferred. On November 1, 1858, the first Peruvian frigate arrived in Ecuadorian waters, and the start of the blockade of Guayaquil and Quito started. By this time, Ecuador was facing an internal crisis, called by Ecuadorian history books as the “Terrible Year”, in which a number of different politicians were fighting for control of

6643-577: The newly formed republic was the Gran Colombia-Peru War , a maritime and terrestrial conflict against the state of the Gran Colombia , which was formed by the current-day states of Colombia , Ecuador , Panama and Venezuela . In early 1828, an incursion of Colombian troops in Bolivia sent by Simon Bolivar with the objective of gaining a foothold and influence in the country, forced Peru to launch

6734-502: The next century. The War of the Pacific , a conflict between the Bolivia-Peru alliance and Chile resulted with one of the armed forces' worst failures as Chilean troops occupied the capital of Lima and the southern provinces, with Peru ceding the mineral-rich Arica Province to Chile after signing the Treaty of Ancón and later treaties. The incompetence of the government and military

6825-471: The older aircraft – difficulties with worn airframes and the scarcity of fuel are all contributing factors. It is very likely however that some 'elite' pilots and regiments such as those based in Talara AFB and La Joya AFB received considerably more flying hours. Especially since those regiments until today are equipped with modern aircraft and tasked with homeland defence. The Peruvian Air Force participated in

6916-570: The pilot's view. The USAF signed a contract with Cessna in early 1967 for an improved Super Tweet, designated the "A-37B". The initial order was for 57 aircraft, but this was quickly increased to 127; the unit cost of these aircraft were roughly one quarter of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II all-weather fighter aircraft. The A-37Bs were primarily intended to be supplied to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) as replacements for their A-1 Skyraiders . The A-37B prototype

7007-600: The planning and coordination of the operations of the Army, Navy and Aeronautics Forces". Headquartered in Lima , it has a strength of 90,000 troops divided in four military regions with headquarters in Piura , Lima, Arequipa and Iquitos . Every military region is assigned several brigades of which there are different types, including infantry , cavalry and armored . There are also several groups and battalions which operate independently of

7098-582: The sole representative of the country, signing the Treaty of Mapasingue with Castilla, thus agreeing to the Peruvian terms and stating the withdrawal of Peruvian troops from Ecuador. This angered the Ecuadorians, which called Franco as a traitor for collaborating with the Peruvians, and ousted him in the Battle of Guayaquil . This action strengthened the Peruvian position on the Amazon, which would not be challenged until

7189-636: The strategic Ecuadorian port city of Puerto Bolívar , on 27 July 1941, marking the first time in the Americas that airborne troops were used in combat. Lieutenant José Quiñones Gonzales was a Peruvian pilot during the war. On 23 July 1941, his plane, a North American NA-50 fighter, was hit while performing a low-level attack on an Ecuadorian border post on the banks of the Zarumilla river. According to traditional Peruvian accounts, Quiñones, upon being hit by ground fire, crashed his damaged aircraft deliberately into

7280-464: The theatre right up until the Fall of Saigon , shortly prior to which efforts were made to retrieve as many as possible before they fell into North Vietnamese hands. As a consequence of the North Vietnamese capture of Da Nang Air Base at the end of March 1975, their forces captured large amounts of stores and equipment, including 33 intact A-37s. On 28 April 1975, several of these captured A-37s were used by

7371-488: Was carrying drugs out of the country, and so ordered the A-37 pilot to open fire. As a result a US missionary and her daughter were killed. The Cessna A185E crash landed in a river where locals in their boats helped the passengers. Data from Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades General characteristics Performance Armament Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era The initial version of this article

7462-436: Was a major issue for Peruvian President Ollanta Humala , who was looking at competitively priced fighter jets that would fit the national budget. In 2014, Peru began to update the operations and mechanical equipment of its Cessna A-37 aircraft, replacing analog controls with new digital hardware. Peru has been evaluating multiple helicopters to modernize, replace previous utility helicopters and search and rescue operations with

7553-531: Was an ally of the United States during this period, and was predominantly equipped with aircraft built in the US and Great Britain. By the end of General Odria's presidency, the FAP ushered in the Jet Age with the introduction of English Electric Canberra bombers and Hawker Hunter , Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star and North American F-86 Sabre fighters. However, on 3 October 1968, a military junta led by pro-Soviet Peruvian Army General Juan Velasco Alvarado organized

7644-493: Was created in 1957 after observations were made that the branches needed a centralized organization to coordinate the activities of the branches. When the government of Manuel Prado Ugarteche attempted to move political power to civilians, the military became upset with the new approach. In addition, the 1962 Peruvian general election saw the rise of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance , with

7735-781: Was deployed to Vietnam under the "Combat Dragon" evaluation program in August 1967, flying from Bien Hoa Air Base on various missions, including close air support , helicopter escort, FAC , and night interdiction . The type proved itself to be effective in the theater, leading to the USAF issuing a contract to Cessna for an improved Super Tweet, designated the A-37B , in early 1967. It was largely operated over South Vietnam, as well as in neighboring Laos and Cambodia , typically flying close air support missions in coordination with US ground forces. The A-37 proved to be relatively low-maintenance, accurate, and suffered relatively few combat losses. Following

7826-531: Was developed during the Vietnam War in response to military interest in new counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft to replace aging types such as the Douglas A-1 Skyraider . A formal United States Air Force (USAF) evaluation of the T-37 Tweet basic trainer for the COIN mission was conducted in late 1962, after which it was concluded that it could be modified to effectively perform the role. The attack-orientated A-37

7917-489: Was directly derived from the T-37, roughly doubling in both all-up weight and engine thrust to permit considerable quantities of munitions to be carried along with extended flight endurance and additional mission avionics. The prototype YAT-37D performed its maiden flight during October 1964. While test results were positive, a production contract was not immediately forthcoming until an uptick in combat intensity and aircraft losses became apparent. An initial batch of 25 A-37As

8008-449: Was ordnance. It was a relatively uncomplex aircraft, avoiding any advanced weapon systems or the need for a complex training program to operate. The A-37A retained the dual controls of its T-37B ancestor, allowing it to be used as an operational trainer. In combat " forward air control (FAC)" operations, the second seat was occupied by an observer. Only a single crewman normally flew in the aircraft for close support missions, which permitted

8099-484: Was rolled out in September 1967, with deliveries to the South Vietnamese beginning in 1968. The A-37Bs were all newly built airframes that were considerably stronger than those of the A-37A, capable of pulling six g instead of five, and were built to have a longer fatigue life of 4,000 hours. Field experience would demonstrate that 7,000 hours between overhauls could be tolerated. The A-37B weighed almost twice as much as

8190-582: Was so great during the War of the Pacific period that it led to an intellectual movement dedicated to restoring pride for Peru, creating modern Peruvian nationalism . On 20 May 1929, the Peruvian Air Force was created as the Peruvian Aviation Corps when the aviation units of the army and navy merged. Following World War II and the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War , the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Peru

8281-451: Was successful, but unsurprisingly the combat evaluation revealed some of the deficiencies of the A-37A. The most noticeable problem was that the aircraft lacked range and endurance. Other concerns were heavy control response during attack runs (the flight controls were not power-boosted) and the vulnerability of the aircraft's non-redundant flight control system. Some pilots also criticised the machine gun as ineffective and negatively impacting

#337662