Mexico’s Navy to incorporate new aircraft

According to a new Investment Program to meet the need for aircraft for naval air operations missions of: Air Ambulance, Support to the civilian population, Search and Rescue, Surveillance and Logistic Transport, among others, the Mexican Navy will incorporate 10 Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircrafts, 06 Bell 412 helicopters and 04 Bell 505 helicopters.

The geostrategic position of the Mexican State entails great challenges for SEMAR in security matters, and it is through the development of specific or multipurpose naval operations that guarantees the maritime defense of the territory and the maintenance of the rule of law at sea, having maritime control in the national seas through the presence and deterrence with sea and air naval units against any actor that attempts against the permanence of the state.

In order to carry out the aforementioned operations, the Secretariat of the Navy-Mexican Navy needs to provide the necessary naval air equipment to the naval air commands, to be used in the development of the different operations whose objective is to comply with the tasks assigned to it by law, as well as those provided by the Federal Executive.

As can be observed, the need for aircraft arises due to the increase in the number of operations that have been carried out in the last three years, mainly due to the following factors considered to be the main needs that must be met at present.

Currently in the area of the First Naval Zone (Matamoros, Tam.), Second Naval Region (Ensenada, BC.), Sixth Naval Region (Guaymas, Son. ), and jurisdiction of the Seventh Naval Region (Lerma Campeche), are executing Air Operations (Services) of Ambulance, Civilian Population Support, Search and Rescue, Surveillance and Logistic Transport, among others; with CASA C-295, CASA CN-235 and King Air B350ER aircrafts, acquired in the years from 2009 to 2015, with an average of 12 years of operation.

The delivery terms of new aircraft depend on their demand worldwide and these range from months to several years; therefore, it was determined the convenience of the acquisition of these modern aircraft, with short-term deliveries, to be able to meet the demand of the institution in a safe and timely manner, likewise, it is important to note that the cost of acquiring a new asset is significantly profitable and complies with the principles of efficiency, effectiveness and economy in the exercise of public expenditure.

A very important characteristic of the Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft is that it allows it to contribute to naval air operations, mainly in Maritime Patrol and Surveillance, due to its long range of 2,539 NM, being able to carry out long range patrols around the more than 3'000,000 kms2 of territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as well as the 11,122 kms. of coastline in both coasts.