Brazilian Air Force

Key facts

Official Name Brazilian Air Force
Local Name Forรงa Aรฉrea Brasileira
Country๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท Brazil
World rank#22
Active aircrafts530 as of 2025
Aircrafts on order145
Roundel

Roundel of Brazil air force

Overview

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) is the largest in Latin America and is structured to provide air defense, surveillance, and power projection across the nation's vast territory. Its organization underwent a significant change in 2016, consolidating its operational flying units under a single Air Force Readiness Command (AFRC). This command is organized into 12 wings, each with a specific mission set, ranging from air defense to transport and reconnaissance. This structure is complemented by the Department of Airspace Control (DECEA), which manages a vast network of radars and air traffic control centers, crucial for monitoring the Amazon basin and Brazil's extensive borders.

The FAB's strategic doctrine, as outlined in national defense documents, is primarily focused on dissuasion and the defense of national sovereignty, with a particular emphasis on the Amazon region. This translates into an operational focus on surveillance, air superiority, and strategic mobility. The doctrine acknowledges the importance of space and cyber capabilities, designating them as strategic sectors for development alongside its nuclear program. While Brazil's strategic culture traditionally favors diplomacy over force, the air force is tasked with being prepared for combat to deter potential aggressors and is increasingly involved in peacekeeping operations as an instrument of foreign policy.

Recent operational activities have been dominated by humanitarian missions and joint exercises. Notably, the FAB was extensively involved in flood relief operations in Rio Grande do Sul, flying over 1,000 hours to rescue people and transport supplies. The service frequently participates in multinational exercises, such as CRUZEX, which it hosts to enhance interoperability with regional and international partners. These exercises provide valuable experience, as the FAB has not been involved in interstate combat in recent decades.

Efforts are made on the induction of new platforms and upgrading existing assets. The cornerstone of this is the acquisition of the Saab F-39 Gripen multirole fighter, which includes a significant technology transfer agreement allowing for local production by Embraer. This program aims to replace legacy fighter aircraft and establish a new level of air combat capability. Another key project is the Embraer KC-390 Millennium, a multi-mission transport and tanker aircraft designed to enhance strategic mobility and replace aging C-130s. Legacy fleets, such as the F-5 Tiger II and A-29 Super Tucano, are undergoing avionics and systems upgrades to maintain their operational effectiveness and ensure interoperability with newer platforms.

Origin countries of aircrafts

Country Active Aircraft
๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท Brazil 219
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France 165
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States 115
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Germany 48
๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spain 14
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Indonesia 14
๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ช Sweden 10
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italy 10
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง United Kingdom 5
๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ Europe 2

Evolution of Brazilian Air Force fleet

Aircrafts by type in 2025

Aircraft type Active
Helicopter Helicopter 206
Transport Transport 130
Training Training 125
Combat Combat 65
Other Other 4

Recent updates applied

The inventory shown below includes 1 recent update from events that occurred in 2025 to the Brazilian inventory.

Date Aircraft Active ฮ” Ordered ฮ”
13 Jun 2025 Gripen E +2 -2
The Brazilian Air Force took delivery of its 10th Gripen E [Source]

Full inventory in 2025

Brazilian Air Force

Aircraft Type Model Origin Country Model Year Active ๐šซ YoY Ordered
CombatCombat F-5EM ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1976 35
-5
0
CombatCombat Gripen E ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ช 1996 10
+4
90
CombatCombat AMX-A/T-1 ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น 1989 8
-34
0
CombatCombat F-5FM ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1965 4
0
0
CombatCombat AMX-T ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น 1989 2
-6
0
CombatCombat Gripen F ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ช 1996 0
0
8
HelicopterHelicopter H125M/AS350 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท 1990 19
0
12
HelicopterHelicopter S-70/UH-60L/M ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1979 16
0
12
HelicopterHelicopter H225M ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท 2005 13
0
3
TransportTransport EMB-110 ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท 1973 44
0
0
TransportTransport Cessna 208 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1984 30
0
0
TransportTransport EMB-120 ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท 1985 17
0
0
TransportTransport C295 ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ 2001 14
0
0
TransportTransport ERJ-145 ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท 1997 14
0
0
TransportTransport C/KC-390 ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท 2019 7
+1
12
TransportTransport Phenom 100 ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท 2008 2
0
4
TransportTransport A330 ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ 1994 2
+1
0
TrainingTraining EMB-314 ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท 1983 62
0
0
TrainingTraining EMB-312 ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท 1983 33
-67
0
TrainingTraining EMB-314 (A-29) ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท 1983 30
0
0
OtherOther P-3AM ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1962 4
+1
0

Brazilian Army

Brazilian Navy

Aircraft Type Model Origin Country Model Year Active ๐šซ YoY Ordered
CombatCombat A-4KU ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1956 3
0
0
CombatCombat TA-4KU ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1956 3
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter H125M/AS350 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท 1990 16
-1
0
HelicopterHelicopter H125/AS350 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท 1990 15
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter H225M ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท 2005 13
0
2
HelicopterHelicopter Bell 206 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1967 10
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter S-70 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1979 6
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Lynx 21 ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง 1978 5
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter H135 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท 1996 2
0
0
Various public data, including Wikipedia, Flightglobal.com, SIPRI Arms Transfer and official government websites.