Brazil’s New-Old Maritime Patrol Aircraft
Jul 29, 2014 18:30 UTCThe discovery of major deepwater oil finds off of Brazil’s coast changed its military priorities. The military’s mission has always been influenced by the land’s vastness, but until recently, that meant keeping a careful watch over the Amazon basin. The Marinha do Brazil had its own role policing the wide swathes of ocean around its long coast, but the air force’s construction was oriented toward supporting the army. Recent years have seen significant changes, as the Navy works to expand its surface fleet and field advanced submarines, and the FAB begins to revitalize its maritime patrol aircraft fleet.
A 2005 contract to buy modernized P-3 Orion long-range sea control planes has created the biggest shift in Brazilian capabilities. The planes began entering service in 2011, and more changes are on the way…