Bolivarian Military Aviation of Venezuela (), is a professional armed body designed to defend Venezuela's sovereignty and airspace. It is a service component of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela.
Etymology The organization is also known as the Bolivarian National Air Force of Venezuela. Its current official name has been in use since the end of 2008. It was previously called the Venezuelan Air Force (FAV; ).
History
Most of the airbases in Venezuela were built in the 1960s as part of a massive expansion program. The main fighter types in those years were the Canberra B(I).88, Venom FB.54, Vampire FB.52, F-86K Sabre Dog and the F-86F Sabre. Bomber squadrons typically operated B-25J Mitchell aircraft. The 1970s and 1980s saw a considerable increase in capacity, with rising oil prices enabling the FAV to re-equip most of its units. The Mirage IIIEV and Mirage 5V, Mirage 50EV, VF-5A and D, T-2D, OV-10A and E, and T-27 were introduced. Venezuela was one of the first export customers for the F-16A/B Fighting Falcon and was the first in Latin America to receive the aircraft, which arrived in 1983 for the newly formed Grupo Aéreo de Caza 16 at El Libertador Airbase.
In both February and November Venezuelan coup attempts of 1992, elements of the Venezuelan Air Force were key participants in the rebellion. FAV units at El Libertador Air Base under the command of Brigadier General Visconti seized control of the airbase and then launched an attack on the capital. OV-10s, T-27s, and Mirage III fighters under Visconti's command bombarded targets in the capital and loyalist air bases, destroying five VF-5 fighters on the ground.
Two loyalist pilots escaped with F-16 fighters and shot down two OV-10s and a Tucano, claiming air superiority for the government. Two more rebel OV-10s were lost to ground fire. As the tables turned on the coup attempt, General Visconti and his allies fled in two C-130s, two Mirages, an OV-10, and several SA 330 helicopters.
Modernization
In July 2006, the AMV purchased 24 Sukhoi Su-30MK2 planes from Russia, as a result of the United States embargo on spare parts for their F-16 fighters and to replace the Mirage 50EV. In 2008, Venezuela sought a potential acquisition of a number of Su-35SE fighter aircraft and a second batch of 12–24 Sukhoi Su-30 from Russia. The acquisition did not succeed.
In 2010, the Venezuelan Air Force retired their aging VF-5A/D and T-2D fleet. Hongdu K-8W took their place, after being received earlier in 2010.
In October 2015, Venezuela announced a plan to purchase 12 more Su-30MK2 from Russia for $480 million.
Structure
Air bases: Captain Manuel Ríos Aerospace Base (Base Aero-Espacial Capitán Manuel Ríos) El Libertador Air Base (Base Aérea El Libertador) General-in-Chief José Antonio Páez Air Base (Base Aérea General en Jefe José Antonio Páez) General-in-Chief Rafael Urdaneta Air Base (Base Aérea General en Jefe Rafael Urdaneta) Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base (Base Aérea Generalísimo Francisco de Miranda) Lieutenant Colonel Teófilo Luis Méndez Air Base (Base Aérea Teniente Coronel Teófilo Luis Méndez) Lieutenant Luis del Valle Garcia Air Base (Base Aérea Teniente Luis del Valle García) Lieutenant Vicente Landaeta Gil Air Base (Base Aérea Teniente Vicente Landaeta Gil) Mariscal Sucre Air Base (Base Aérea Mariscal Sucre)
Inventory
AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes Combat aircraft F-16 Fighting Falcon United Statesmultirole F-16A/B Block 15 324 were originally purchased in 1982; only a small quantity may remain in service or potentially none at all, due to a lack of spare parts. Sukhoi Su-30 Russiamultirole Su-30MK2 1424 were originally purchased, some were lost in accidents. Electronic warfareFairchild Metroliner United StatesEW1 Tanker Boeing 707 United States Tanker KC-707 1Converted to support Aerial refueling Transport Cessna 208 United States Utility 2 1 crashed in 2025Dornier 228GermanyUtilityDo 228NG3 Beechcraft Super King Air United States Utility 200/350 5 Fairchild Metroliner United States Utility 1Lockheed C-130United States TransportC-130H3 Shaanxi Y-8 ChinaTransport 8Short 360 United Kingdom Utility 2 HelicoptersEnstrom 280United Statestrainer2Enstrom 480United Statestrainer114 on order. 1 crashed in 2025. Eurocopter AS532 France transport 10 Mil Mi-17 Russia utility 6 Trainer Diamond DA42Austria multi-engine trainer 6 Embraer EMB 312 Brazil trainer 17General Dynamics F-16United Statesconversion trainer F-16B1Hongdu JL-8Chinajet trainer K-8W23 SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 Italybasic trainer 11 UAVGhods Mohajer IranUCAV SANT Arpía12
Ranks
Commissioned officer ranks The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
Other ranks The rank insignia of Venezuelan non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
Accidents
On 3 September 1976, a Lockheed C-130H owned and operated by the Venezuelan Air Force crashed near Lajes Airbase, Azores, Portugal, killing all 68 occupants on board.
References
Bibliography Hagedorn, Dan. "Latin Mitchells: North American B-25s in South America, Part Three". Air Enthusiast No. 107, September/October 2003. pp. 36–41.
External links
Sitio oficial de la Aviación Militar de Venezuela U.S. Arms Sales to Venezuela from the Dean Peter Krogh Foreign Affairs Digital Archives