Colombian Army Aviation
The Colombian Army Aviation is the most powerful of its type in Latin America, with a huge force of helicopters and a small but growing fixed-wing fleet. Having seen combat since its creation, it’s also extremely experienced, as Santiago Rivas reveals.
Force Report
Colombia waged a counter-insurgency (COIN) campaign against guerrillas for more than 50 years during the longest and bloodiest conflict in Latin America’s recent history. Negotiations with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) began in September 2012 and a final agreement to end the fighting was signed in November 2016.
Until 1995, the Ejército Nacional (Colombian Army) depended on the air force for all types of air support, but after a long campaign, President Ernesto Samper authorised the creation of the Aviación Ejército Nacional (Army Aviation) on August 25, 1995. Planning work took place the following year and it was activated in August 1997.
The Army Aviation initially focused on fielding a rotary force, for air assault and transport, purchasing ten Mi-17-1V and seven UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters. These were used to create two aviation battalions: the Bata…
