Chilean Air Force
The Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aérea de Chile) was formed on 21 March 1930 as one of the older independent air forces, bombed its own fleet in 1931 and La Moneda in 1973, survived the embargo years on French, Israeli and home-built aircraft, and since 2006 has flown 46 F-16s with tankers and AWACS — while its Hercules keep Chile’s Antarctic air bridge open and its last F-5s count down to 2030.
The Chilean Air Force story: an independent air force in 1930, La Moneda in 1973, the embargo years and 46 F-16s
1913–1931: from Ávalos’s school to an independent air force
Chilean military flying began with one officer. Captain Manuel Ávalos Prado was sent to Louis Blériot’s school in France in 1911 and opened the army’s aviation school in February 1913. Through the 1920s army pilots flew Avro 504s, Bristol M.1Cs, DH.9s and SE5as across the Andes, and on 3 March 1926 Grupo Mixto de Aviación N° 1 was formed at El Bosque. Its driving force was Arturo Merino Benítez, who ran the army aviation school from 1926, founded the airmail line that became LAN in 1929, and became the first commander when President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo merged army and navy aviation by Supreme Decree 1,167 on 21 March 1930. Chile thus had an independent air force twelve years after the RAF. It was tested within eighteen months: on 6 September 1931 its Junkers bombers and Curtiss Falcons attacked the mutinous fleet at Coquimbo. They hit little, but the mutiny collapsed.
1931–1970: a small air force, Antarctica and the first jets
German influence shaped the young service until the Second World War; after it, American aid, doctrine and aircraft dominated. Transport Group 1, later Grupo 10, began in 1945 at Los Cerrillos with two C-45s and a T-6, and in 1947 the air force flew to Antarctica for the first time, the start of a commitment that still defines it. The jet age arrived in 1954 with Grupo 7, followed by F-80Cs, T-33s, Vampires and, from the 1960s, Hawker Hunters. Twin Otters from 1966 opened the far south. The fleet was small and old, but the routes it flew — to Punta Arenas, Easter Island and the ice — were among the longest any South American air force had to cover.
1973–1990: La Moneda, the junta and the embargo years
On 11 September 1973 the air force’s commander, General Gustavo Leigh, joined the coup against President Salvador Allende and ordered La Moneda bombed. Grupo 7 Hunters fired rockets into the palace and the Tomás Moro residence and silenced radio transmitters; one pilot hit the FACh hospital by mistake. The service also turned on its own: General Alberto Bachelet, held at the Air War Academy, died in custody in March 1974. Leigh sat on the junta until Pinochet removed him on 24 July 1978. His successor, Fernando Matthei, would on the night of the 1988 plebiscite be the first junta member to admit publicly that the No vote had won. Abroad, the coup brought isolation: the Kennedy Amendment embargo of 1976 cut US support just after the F-5Es arrived, and British workers blocked Hunter engines until 1978. In the Beagle crisis of December 1978 the FACh faced Argentina with armed T-37 trainers as stopgaps.
1980–2010: Mirage, Pantera and the F-16
The embargo pushed Chile to France, Spain and Israel and to its own industry. ENAER assembled the T-35 Pillán and the C-101 Halcón; Mirage 50s were rebuilt with Israeli help into the canard-equipped Pantera; 25 ex-Belgian Mirage 5 Elkans followed; and in 1994 a converted Boeing 707 became the world’s first Phalcon airborne radar. In 1982, during the Falklands/Malvinas war, Chile stayed neutral while, according to British accounts, UK radar and intelligence flights operated from its territory. Only after Washington ended its restrictions on advanced arms sales to Latin America in 1997 could Chile buy a modern fighter: the F-16, with the contract for ten Block 50s signed on 2 February 2002 and 36 ex-Dutch MLUs bought in 2005 and 2009.
2010–2026: tankers, AWACS and the end of the old fleet
The 2010s turned a fighter force into an air force with reach. KC-135E tankers arrived from 2010, A-29B Super Tucanos replaced the A-37 and later the A-36, Black Hawks were added in 2018, and in 2022 two ex-RAF E-3D Sentrys replaced the Phalcon. The FACh became the host of Salitre, the region’s largest air exercise. Its worst loss came on 9 December 2019, when Hercules 990 vanished over the Drake Passage on the way to King George Island with 38 aboard. The air force chief said the cause might never be known. In 2026, as the F-5 turned fifty and the UH-1H made its last parade, the service began choosing what comes next.
What it is good at, and what is still missing
What is good: Chile runs one of the most capable air forces in South America — 46 F-16s, tankers, AWACS and its own F-16 maintenance capacity — and its Antarctic air bridge is a public service that few others could perform. What is weak: the fleet is ageing in layers. The F-5s are to go between 2030 and 2035 with no replacement chosen; only 32–34 of the F-16s are said to be kept active; the KC-135Es are old; the UH-1H and T-35 are being replaced only now. The history is still contested: the bombing of La Moneda and the abuses of the 1970s are part of the record, attributed here to the truth commissions and published accounts.
The Chilean Air Force in numbers
Service
- Native name
- Fuerza Aérea de Chile (FACh)Spanish is the only official language
- Founded
- 21 March 1930Supreme Decree 1,167 merged army and navy aviation; army flying dates from February 1913
- Part of
- Armed Forces of ChileUnder the Ministry of National Defence; minister in 2026: Fernando Barros
- Headquarters
- SantiagoEdificio Delphos, Cerrillos, according to Wikipedia
- Commander-in-chief
- Gen. Hugo Rodríguez GonzálezSince 5 November 2022; four-year term to November 2026
- First commander
- Arturo Merino BenítezCommodore; English Wikipedia gives his term as 1930–1931, Spanish Wikipedia 1930–1932
Strength
- Personnel
- 10,600–12,000English Wikipedia: 10,600 including 700 conscripts; Spanish Wikipedia: about 12,000
- Fighters
- 57–5846 F-16 (10 Block 50, 36 MLU) and 11–12 F-5E/F; only 32–34 F-16s are said to be kept active
- Tankers and AEW
- 3 KC-135E, 3 KC-130R, 2 E-3DThe KC-130Rs also serve as transports
- Trainers
- About 6622 A-29B, about 30 T-35, 8 SR22T and 6 GB1 for the display team
- Helicopters
- About 4213 UH-1H, 16 Bell 412, 7 Black Hawks, 5 Bell 206 and one H145
Infrastructure
- Air brigades
- I, II, IV and V named in 2024–2026 reportingI Iquique, II Santiago, IV Punta Arenas, V Antofagasta; Spanish Wikipedia counts four brigades
- Fighter bases
- Iquique and Punta ArenasF-16 Block 50s with Grupo 3 at Los Cóndores; F-5s with Grupo 12 at Punta Arenas
- Antarctica
- Teniente Marsh and Glaciar Unión1,292 m gravel runway on King George Island; seasonal Glaciar Unión station
- Major exercise
- SalitreFifth multi-domain edition at Cerro Moreno, 29 June–12 July 2026
- Display team
- HalconesGB1 GameBird since 2019
How the Chilean Air Force is organised
One commander-in-chief in Santiago over air brigades numbered I to V, from Iquique in the north to Punta Arenas in the south, each with numbered aviation groups. The front line is 46 F-16s — ten Block 50s bought new with Grupo 3 at Iquique and 36 ex-Dutch MLUs with Grupos 7 and 8 at Antofagasta — backed by three KC-135E tankers and two E-3D Sentrys at Santiago. The last F-5 Tigre IIIs fly from Punta Arenas and are to be retired between 2030 and 2035, with no replacement chosen.
Chilean Air Force Headquarters
One of the Armed Forces of Chile, under the Ministry of National Defence, with its headquarters in the Edificio Delphos at Cerrillos according to Wikipedia. Gen. Hugo Rodríguez González, a helicopter pilot, has been commander-in-chief since 5 November 2022; his four-year term ends in November 2026, and no successor had been announced in the sources checked.
I Air Brigade: Grupo de Aviación N° 3
Flies the only F-16s Chile bought new: six F-16Cs and four F-16Ds of the Peace Puma programme, signed on 2 February 2002 and delivered in 2006, armed with Python 4 and Derby missiles and JDAM. Five of them and a KC-135E went to Cruzex 2024 in Brazil, and five deployed to Punta Arenas in September 2026.
V Air Brigade: Grupos de Aviación N° 7 and 8
Both squadrons of the 36 ex-Dutch F-16AM/BM MLUs, bought in two batches of 18: Grupo 8 from 2006–2007 and Grupo 7 from late 2010. Of all 46 F-16s, only 32–34 are said to be kept active, and a US$177 million upgrade to the M6.6 tape is due to finish by 2032.
IV Air Brigade: Grupos de Aviación N° 12 and 6
Grupo 12 has flown the last 11–12 F-5E/F Tigre IIIs from Punta Arenas since 2010; the FACh said on 15 September 2026 that they will be retired between 2030 and 2035, with more F-16s or the F-35 as options. Grupo 6’s Twin Otters fly to the seasonal Glaciar Unión station and on to Mount Vinson.
II Air Brigade: Grupos de Aviación N° 10 and 9
Grupo 10, which began as Transport Group 1 in 1945, flies three KC-135E tankers, two ex-RAF E-3D Sentrys that replaced the 707 Phalcon in 2022, and the 737, 767 and Gulfstream IV transports; Grupo 9 flies the Black Hawks. The Hercules, four C-130H and three KC-130R, carry the Antarctic air bridge and disaster relief.
Grupo de Aviación N° 1
Formed at El Bosque on 3 March 1926, four years before the air force, it flies 22 A-29B Super Tucanos as the last step before the F-16 and graduated the Halcón XLI tactical combat course on 30 September 2026. Pilots start on the T-35 Pillán, to be replaced by 33 ENAER T-40 Newens from 2028.
III Air Brigade and the helicopter fleet
The III Air Brigade at Puerto Montt flies Twin Otters and Bell 412s, with Grupo 5 as its flying group according to Wikipedia. The UH-1H flew in the Parada Militar for the last time on 19 September 2026, and Proyecto Pantera is to buy 14 light helicopters to replace it; the type had not been chosen by September 2026.
What the Chilean Air Force flies today
Every type on charge, linked to its Book of Beasts page where one exists. Counts are aircraft on the books, not aircraft available on a given day.
| Type | Role | In service | Since | Units | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 50 Fighting FalconIn service | Multirole fighter | 10 | 2006 | 6 F-16C and 4 F-16D (serials 851-860), all new-build under Peace Puma. | ||
| General Dynamics F-16AM/BM MLU Fighting Falcon (ex-Netherlands)In service | Multirole fighter | 36 | 2006 | 36 delivered in two batches of 18.
MoreF-16.net gives the 2026 split as 24 AM and 12 BM, but its own delivery lists (11 A + 7 B, then 18 A) add up to 29 A and 7 B; the split is therefore uncertain. Only 32–34 of all 46 F-16s are said to be kept active. |
||
| Northrop F-5E/F Tigre IIIIn service | Light fighter | 1976 | 11–12 in service: English Wikipedia counts 11, Spanish Wikipedia 12. 18 were delivered (15 F-5E, 3 F-5F). | |||
| Boeing E-3D SentryIn service | Airborne early warning and control | 2 | 2022 | Three bought; two fly (ZH103 and ZH106), the third is a spares source. | ||
| Boeing KC-135E StratotankerIn service | Air-to-air refuelling and transport | 3 | 2010 | Three. | ||
| Lockheed C-130H and KC-130R HerculesIn service | Tactical transport and tanker | 7 | 1972 | 4 C-130H and 3 KC-130R according to Wikipedia; two of the C-130Hs date from 1972–73 and two came from the USAF in 2021; the KC-130Rs arrived 2015–16.
MoreOne aircraft (990) was lost on 9 December 2019; the crash article calls it a C-130H built in 1978, while the Wikipedia list of C-130 accidents calls it a KC-130R. |
||
| Boeing 737 and Boeing 767-300ERIn service | Strategic transport | 3 | 2008 | Two 737s (-300QC and -500 variants are reported) and one 767-300ER (2008), per Wikipedia. | ||
| Gulfstream IV and Cessna CitationJet CJ1In service | VIP, liaison and medical transport | 8 | 2001 | 4 Gulfstream IV (2005–2021) and 4 CJ1 (2001), per Wikipedia. | ||
| de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin OtterIn service | Utility transport, Antarctic support | 13 | 1966 | Wikipedia figure; bought 1966–1978. | ||
| CASA C-212 AviocarIn service | Light transport | 3 | 1995 | Wikipedia figure. | ||
| Sikorsky UH-60L, S-70A-39 and MH-60M Black HawkIn service | Utility and SAR helicopter | 7 | 1998 | One acquired in 1998 and six in 2018, per Wikipedia. | ||
| Bell 412SP/EPIn service | Utility helicopter | 16 | Wikipedia figure. | |||
| Bell UH-1H IroquoisIn service | Utility helicopter | 13 | Wikipedia figure; being retired. | |||
| Bell 206B JetRangerIn service | Light helicopter | 5 | Wikipedia figure. | |||
| Airbus Helicopters H145In service | Rescue and medical evacuation helicopter | 1 | 2026 | One used 2021-built aircraft. | ||
| ENAER T-35 PillánIn service | Basic trainer | 30 | 1985 | Wikipedia gives 30 (31 in 2017); 80 were delivered by 1990 (60 T-35A, 20 T-35B). | ||
| Embraer A-29B Super TucanoIn service | Advanced trainer and light attack | 22 | 2009 | 22 per English Wikipedia and Infodefensa (12 in 2009–10, 6 in 2018, 4 in 2020); Spanish Wikipedia says 24. | ||
| Cirrus SR22TIn service | Primary trainer | 8 | 2013 | Wikipedia figure; acquired 2013–2017. | ||
| Game Composites GB1 GameBirdIn service | Aerobatic display (Halcones) | 6 | 2019 | Wikipedia figure. | ||
| Elbit Hermes 900In service | Surveillance UAV | 3 | 2011 | Wikipedia figure; purchased 2011. | ||
| Cessna O-2A Skymaster and L-19 Bird DogIn service | Liaison | Wikipedia lists 2 O-2A and 3 L-19; not corroborated elsewhere. |
On order
| Type | Ordered | First delivery | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENAER T-40 NewenOn order | 33 | 2028 | Contract signed 24 October 2022 for 33 aircraft and systems at US$142 million.
MorePrototype unveiled 25 November 2025 and shown at Fidae in April 2026; flight testing in the second half of 2027 and series production 2028–2030. Replaces the T-35 Pillán. |
|
| Proyecto Pantera light helicopter (H125, Bell 407GXi or AW119Kx)On order | 14 | Requirement for 14 light helicopters to replace the UH-1H; type not chosen as of September 2026. | ||
| F-16 M6.6 upgradeOn order | US$177 million Lockheed Martin contract of October 2024 (IFF, Link 16, electronic warfare), due to finish by 2032. An upgrade, not new aircraft. |
Every type the Chilean Air Force has retired
17 types, from the Avro 504, Blériot XI, Bristol M.1C, DH.9 and SE5a to the Boeing 707 Phalcon ’Cóndor’. Peak figures are airframes taken on charge over the whole service life, not fleet strength on any one date.
| Type | Role | Peak | Served | Replaced by | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 707 Phalcon ’Cóndor’ | Airborne early warning | 1 | 1994–2022 | E-3D Sentry | One converted ex-LanChile 707. | |
| CASA/ENAER C-101 Halcón (T-36 and A-36 Toqui) | Jet trainer and light attack | 35 | 1982–2022 | A-29B Super Tucano | 12 C-101BB (T-36) and 23 C-101CC (A-36). | |
| Cessna A-37B Dragonfly | Light attack | 44 | A-29B Super Tucano | Wikipedia says 44 were received; whether that includes locally armed T-37s is unclear. | ||
| Avro 504, Blériot XI, Bristol M.1C, DH.9 and SE5a | Army aviation trainers and fighters | 1913–1930 | ||||
| Dassault Mirage 50C/FC/DC and ENAER Pantera | Fighter | 17 | F-16 | 6 new Mirage 50C, 8 Mirage 50FC (re-engined ex-French Mirage 5F), 3 Mirage 50DC two-seaters; 13 single-seaters and 2 two-seaters were upgraded to Pantera. | ||
| Dassault Mirage 5MA/5MD Elkan (ex-Belgian) | Fighter-bomber | 25 | F-16 MLU | 20 upgraded (15 5BA, 5 5BD) plus 4 Mirage 5BR and 1 5BD not upgraded. | ||
| Hawker Hunter | Fighter-bomber | |||||
| English Electric Canberra PR.9 | Strategic reconnaissance | 3 | Three per Wikipedia. | |||
| Cessna T-37B/C Tweet | Jet trainer | |||||
| de Havilland Vampire FB.5 | Fighter-bomber | |||||
| Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star | Fighter-bomber | |||||
| Lockheed T-33A | Jet trainer | |||||
| Beech T-34 Mentor | Primary trainer | |||||
| CASA CN-235 | Transport | |||||
| North American AT-6 and Beech C-45 | Trainer and transport | |||||
| Junkers Ju 86 | Bomber | |||||
| Junkers R-42, Curtiss Falcon, Vickers Vixen and Vickers-Wibault | Bombers and fighters | 1926– | 2 R-42 and 14 Falcons and Vixens took part in the 1931 attack. |
Where the Chilean Air Force flies from
Black pins are active bases, hollow pins the airfields that have closed. All three fighter bases share their runways with civil airports: Iquique and Antofagasta in the Atacama and Punta Arenas on the Strait of Magellan, where the air bridge to Antarctica begins. Los Cerrillos, Santiago’s first main airport, closed on 8 February 2006; Teniente Marsh on King George Island lies within the Chilean Antarctic Territory claimed by Chile.
Chile
One of the 10 bases above sits outside Chile, so the world map has to pull back until the home airfields cannot be told apart. The same pins again, without the overseas base.
| Base | ICAO | Status | Runway | Units and aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerro MorenoAntofagasta Region (Región de Antofagasta) | SCFA | Active | 01/192,800 m |
|
| ChabuncoMagallanes and Chilean Antarctica Region (Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena) | SCCI | Active | 07/252,790 m12/302,400 m01/191,677 mconcrete |
|
| El BosqueSantiago Metropolitan Region (Región Metropolitana) | SCBQ | Active | 03/211,836 mconcrete |
|
| El TepúalLos Lagos Region (Región de Los Lagos) | SCTE | Active | 17/352,650 mconcrete |
|
| Los CóndoresTarapacá Region (Región de Tarapacá) | SCDA | Active | 01/193,350 m |
|
| MaquehueAraucanía Region (Región de La Araucanía) | SCTC | Active | 06/241,700 m06R/24L600 mgrass |
|
| PudahuelSantiago Metropolitan Region (Región Metropolitana) | SCEL | Active | 17L/35R3,750 m17R/35L3,800 m |
|
| QuinteroValparaíso Region (Región de Valparaíso) | SCER | Active | 02/201,200 mconcrete |
|
| Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martín AerodromeKing George Island, Antarctica (within the Chilean Antarctic Territory claimed by Chile) | SCRM | Active | 11/291,292 mgravel | |
| Los CerrillosSantiago Metropolitan Region (Región Metropolitana) | SCTI | Closed 2006 |
|
No air base matches that search.
Who is stationed where in the Chilean Air Force
Flying units by base, current units first. Chilean flying squadrons are numbered aviation groups (Grupo de Aviación) under the air brigades, and Grupo 1, formed at El Bosque on 3 March 1926, is older than the air force itself. Several groups have moved between bases over the decades, and their earlier homes are listed as former units. Where a group’s aircraft or base rests on Wikipedia alone, the entry says so.
- Grupo de Aviación N° 3Fighter squadron · active
- F-16C/D Block 50 Fighting Falcon (10)
- Grupo de Aviación N° 1Combat training and light attack squadron · active
- Embraer A-29B Super Tucano (22)
- Grupo de Aviación N° 2Aviation group · active
- Grupo de Aviación N° 7Fighter squadron · active
- F-16AM/BM MLU Fighting Falcon, F-5E/F Tigre II/III (1976–2010)
- Grupo de Aviación N° 8Fighter squadron · active
- F-16AM/BM MLU Fighting Falcon (from 2007), Dassault Mirage 5MA/MD Elkan (from 1995), Hawker Hunter (from 1973), Douglas B-26C Invader (from 1955), North American B-25J Mitchell
- V Air Brigade rescue helicopterSearch and rescue and medical evacuation · active
- Airbus Helicopters H145 (1)
- Grupo de Aviación N° 12Fighter squadron · active
- F-5E/F Tigre III (11–12)
- Grupo de Aviación N° 6Transport and Antarctic support squadron · active
- DHC-6 Twin Otter
- Grupo de Exploración Antártica N° 19Antarctic exploration group · active
- Grupo de Aviación N° 10Strategic transport, tanker and airborne early warning group · active
- Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker (3), Boeing E-3D Sentry (2), Boeing 737 and 767, Gulfstream IV
- Grupo de Aviación N° 9Helicopter group · active
- Sikorsky UH-60L / MH-60M Black Hawk
- Grupo Mixto de Aviación N° 11926–1927
- Grupo de Aviación N° 5Transport and utility group · active
- Grupo de Mantenimiento N° 55Maintenance group · active
- Grupo de Aviación N° 81946–1954
- North American B-25J Mitchell
- Grupo de Aviación N° 31928–2003
- Cessna OA-37B Dragonfly, ENAER A-36 Halcón
No unit matches that search.
Chilean Air Force milestones, 1914 to today
February: Captain Manuel Ávalos Prado, trained at Blériot’s school in France, opens the army’s military aviation school.
3 March: Grupo Mixto de Aviación N° 1 formed at El Bosque.
5 March: the airmail line Línea Aeropostal is created as a branch of military aviation; it later becomes LAN.
21 March: Supreme Decree 1,167 merges army and navy aviation into an independent air force under Arturo Merino Benítez.
6 September: first combat, the air attack on the mutinous fleet at Coquimbo.
First FACh flight to Antarctica.
Grupo 7 receives the FACh’s first jets.
11 September: Hawker Hunters attack La Moneda and the Tomás Moro residence in the coup ordered by FACh commander Gustavo Leigh.
25 July: the first four F-5Es land at Cerro Moreno, months before the Kennedy Amendment embargo.
24 July: Leigh removed from the junta; Fernando Matthei takes command. December: Beagle crisis.
May: the Boeing 707 Phalcon, the world’s first, is delivered.
2 February: Letter of Offer and Acceptance signed for ten F-16C/D Block 50s (Peace Puma).
New F-16 Block 50s and the first ex-Dutch F-16 MLUs delivered.
February: first KC-135E. 27 May: the last A-37s fly to El Bosque.
9 December: Hercules 990 lost over the Drake Passage with 38 aboard.
E-3D Sentrys replace the Phalcon; 24 October T-40 contract; 5 November Hugo Rodríguez takes command; December A-36 retired.
October: US$177 million F-16 M6.6 upgrade contract. November: F-16s and a KC-135E at Cruzex 2024.
3 March: Grupo 1 centenary. 29 June-12 July: Salitre 2026. 15 September: F-5 retirement set for 2030-2035. 19 September: last UH-1H parade.
Every conflict the Chilean Air Force has been part of
Sorties and losses where the record gives them, and an honest blank where it does not.
- The 1931 naval mutiny 1931 Attacked the mutinous fleet from the air on the government’s orders
- The coup of 11 September 1973 1973 Attacked the presidential palace, the president’s residence and radio transmitters during the military coup against President Salvador Allende
- The Beagle crisis 1978 Prepared to defend Chile against an Argentine attack that was called off; no air combat took place
- The Falklands/Malvinas war 1982 Chile was neutral and not a belligerent
- UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti 2004–2017 Provided helicopter units to the UN mission
The Chilean Air Force display team
Each team has its own page: history, aircraft, the display, the accidents and the sources.
Chilean Air Force news from Afterburner
Everything MiGFlug’s magazine has published on the Chilean Air Force and the aircraft it flies. This list refreshes itself — new Afterburner stories appear here automatically.
Everything people ask about the Chilean Air Force
What is the Chilean Air Force called in Spanish?
When was the Chilean Air Force founded?
Which fighter jets does the Chilean Air Force fly?
Did the Chilean Air Force bomb La Moneda?
When did Chile buy the F-16?
What happened to the Chilean C-130 lost in 2019?
Does the Chilean Air Force fly to Antarctica?
What is replacing the F-5 Tigre III?
Who commands the Chilean Air Force?
Did Chile help Britain in the Falklands War?
Read the aircraft the Chilean Air Force flew
Every type with a page in the Book of Beasts, in service first, then by the year it left the fleet.
Every fact, checked
- The Clinic: General Hugo Rodríguez González, nuevo comandante en jefe de la FACh (21 October 2022)Designated by President Boric 21 October 2022; took office 5 November 2022 at El Bosque; four-year term; career incl. helicopter units in Haiti.
- Infodefensa: Caza Northrop F-5E/F Tigre II/III, 50 años rugiendo en la Fuerza Aérea de Chile (26 July 2026)First four F-5E at Cerro Moreno 25 July 1976; 15 F-5E and 3 F-5F (Peace Llama); Tigre III upgrade 1992-93; Grupo 12 at Punta Arenas.
- Infodefensa: La FACh analiza el balance del poder aéreo regional y la necesidad de reemplazar los cazas F-5 Tigre III (18 July 2026)Defence Minister Fernando Barros; F-5 kept for at most ten years.
- Infodefensa: La FACh confirma el retiro de los F-5 a partir del 2030 (15 September 2026)Gen. Milton Zablah: F-5 out 2030-2035; F-35 or more F-16s considered, no official talks.
- Infodefensa: Los Bell UH-1H de la FACh desfilarán por última vez en la Parada Militar 2026 (17 September 2026)Last parade 19 September 2026; Proyecto Pantera for 14 light helicopters (H125, Bell 407GXi, AW119Kx).
- Infodefensa: Enaer renueva certificaciones clave para el proyecto T-40 Newen y el MRO multiflota de la FACh (21 August 2026)ENAER MRO for C-130/KC-130, F-16 MLU, A-29B, 737, E-3D.
- Infodefensa: La Fuerza Aérea de Chile presentará en Fidae 2026 el prototipo del avión de instrucción T-40 Newen (13 February 2026)Contract 24 October 2022 for 33 aircraft, US$142 million; prototype unveiled 25 November 2025; series 2028-2030.
- Infodefensa: La Fuerza Aérea de Chile proyecta su liderazgo regional al inaugurar el ejercicio multidominio Salitre 2026 (30 June 2026)Salitre 2026 at Cerro Moreno, 29 June-12 July 2026, six nations.
- Infodefensa: Los Twin Otter de la Fuerza Aérea de Chile inician operaciones en apoyo a la misión Glaciar Unión (8 December 2025)Grupo 6 Twin Otters at Glaciar Unión from 26 November 2025; IV Air Brigade at Chabunco.
- Infodefensa: El KC-135 extiende la autonomía de los F-16 de Chile en Cruzex 2024 (15 November 2024)Five F-16C/D Block 50 and one KC-135E (Grupo 10, II Air Brigade) at Natal.
- Infodefensa: Chile iniciará en octubre mejoras por 19 millones de dólares en el aeródromo Teniente Marsh (2025)US$19 million runway works from October 2025; 1,292 m gravel strip; 798 operations and 17,597 passengers in 2024.
- F-16.net: Fuerza Aérea de Chile user pagePeace Puma LOA 2 February 2002; 6 C + 4 D Block 50; Peace Amstel I and II ex-Dutch MLU; M6.6 contract October 2024.
- Infodefensa: El embajador Judd de EEUU conoce en Iquique los F-16 Block 50 de la FACh (1 September 2026)F-16 Block 50 with Grupo 3, I Air Brigade, Los Cóndores, Iquique.
- Infodefensa: La Fuerza Aérea de Chile entrega a la UdeC un avión de combate A-36 (16 September 2026)T-36 in service 1982; A-36 delivered October 1986; Toqui upgrade; retired December 2022.
- Infodefensa: La FACh efectuará un desfile aéreo en Iquique para conmemorar los 100 años del Grupo de Aviación N° 1 (2 March 2026)Grupo 1 formed 3 March 1926; types flown; 22 A-29B.
- Infodefensa: La Fuerza Aérea de Chile recibirá un Airbus H145 financiado con fondos del Core Antofagasta (26 July 2025)Used 2021 H145, US$8.5 million, V Air Brigade at Cerro Moreno.
- Infodefensa: Helicóptero UH-60L Black Hawk de la Fuerza Aérea de Chile alcanza las 4.000 horas de vuelo (26 July 2026)UH-60L since July 1998 with Grupo 9; South Pole 28 January 1999.
- Infodefensa: Chile – Aire news index (pages 1-30, read 1 October 2026)Headline index used to locate 2024-2026 reporting (Python V on the F-5, US openness on F-35, KC-135E Venezuela relief flight, Parada Militar 2026).
- AIP Chile, AD 2 SCDA Iquique / Diego Aracena (AMDT 65, 27 November 2025)DGAC; reference point 20°32’07"S 70°10’53"W, elevation 48 m (156 ft), runway 01/19 3,350 x 45 m asphalt.
- AIP Chile, AD 2 SCFA Antofagasta / Andrés Sabella (AMDT 67, 6 August 2026)DGAC; reference point 23°26’40"S 70°26’42"W, elevation 139 m (455 ft), runway 01/19 2,800 x 50 m asphalt.
- AIP Chile, AD 2 SCCI Punta Arenas / Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo (AMDT 63, 15 May 2025)DGAC; reference point 53°00’13"S 70°51’13"W, elevation 43 m (139 ft); runways 07/25, 12/30 and 01/19; FACh hangars 179 m from the runway 25 threshold.
- AIP Chile, AD 2 SCEL Santiago / Arturo Merino Benítez (AMDT 67, 6 August 2026)DGAC; reference point 33°23’39.99"S 70°47’37.69"W, elevation 474 m (1,555 ft); runways 17L/35R 3,750 m and 17R/35L 3,800 m; II Air Brigade facilities named in the helicopter taxi procedures.
- AIP Chile, AD 2 SCTE Puerto Montt / El Tepúal (AMDT 63, 15 May 2025)DGAC; reference point 41°26’20"S 73°05’38"W, elevation 90 m (294 ft), runway 17/35 2,650 x 45 m concrete.
- AIP Chile, AD 3 aerodrome list, Región Metropolitana (6 August 2026)El Bosque (SCBQ): owner FACh, military; 33°33’34"S 70°41’09"W; 562 m; runway 03/21 1,836 x 40 m concrete. Los Cerrillos is no longer listed.
- AIP Chile, AD 3 aerodrome list, Región de Valparaíso (14 May 2026)Quintero (SCER): FACh, military; 32°47’25"S 71°31’18"W; 4 m; runway 02/20 1,200 x 40 m concrete; prior permission from the II Air Brigade 24 hours ahead.
- AIP Chile, AD 3 aerodrome list, Región de Magallanes (6 August 2026)Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martín (SCRM): owner DGAC; 62°11’27"S 58°59’12"W; 45 m; runway 11/29 1,292 x 39 m gravel. Also lists Glaciar Unión (SCGC) and the FACh field at Patriot Hills (SCPZ).
- AIP Chile, AD 3 aerodrome list, Región de La Araucanía (6 August 2026)Maquehue (SCTC): owner FACh; 38°46’01"S 72°38’14"W; 93 m; runways 06/24 1,700 x 45 m asphalt and 06R/24L 600 x 18 m grass; only FACh and Club Aéreo Temuco aircraft, others by coordination with the III Air Brigade.
- F-16.net: Fuerza Aérea de Chile F-16 unitsGrupo 3 (F-16C/D Block 50) at Los Cóndores, I Air Brigade; Grupos 7 and 8 (F-16A/B MLU) at Cerro Moreno, V Air Brigade.
- F-16.net: Grupo de Aviación N° 3Activated 1928 at Maquehue; disbanded 1981; reactivated at Maquehue 1992 with OA-37B and A-36; disbanded 2003; reactivated at Los Cóndores 2006 with F-16C/D Block 50. Motto Parate ad Bellum.
- F-16.net: Grupo de Aviación N° 7Activated 1949 at Los Cerrillos; Vampire, F-80C (1958), Hunter (1967), F-5E/F (1976, at Cerro Moreno), Tigre III (1993), F-16AM/BM (first late 2010, last first half 2011).
- F-16.net: Grupo de Aviación N° 8Activated 1946 at Quintero with B-25J; to Cerro Moreno 1954; B-26C 1955; Hunter 1973; Mirage 5 Elkan 1995; F-16AM/BM 2007. Motto Predominio.
- Infodefensa: La Fuerza Aérea de Chile gradúa a una nueva generación de pilotos de combate con miras a operar el F-16 (30 September 2026)Tactical combat course Halcón XLI graduated at Los Cóndores on A-29B of Grupo 1; Cdr Daniel Adriazola commands Grupo 1.
- Infodefensa: Cinco F-16C/D Block 50 entrenarán con los F-5E/F Tigre III de la FACh en Magallanes por 20 días (22 September 2026)Five Grupo 3 F-16C/D Block 50s and a KC-135E to Chabunco from 21 September 2026 for 20 days with Grupo 12 and the IV Air Brigade.
- Infodefensa: El F-16 Block 50 de la FACh exhibe el pod israelí RecceLite en su despliegue a la Región de Magallanes (24 September 2026)F-16C Block 50 photographed at Chabunco with a RecceLite reconnaissance pod; arrival on Monday 21 September 2026.
- Infodefensa: El E-3D Sentry de la FACh entrena con los cazas F-16 Block 50 y F-5 Tigre III en la Región de Magallanes (1 October 2026)A Grupo 10 E-3D flew from Santiago to Punta Arenas to train with Grupo 3 and Grupo 12.
- Infodefensa: Detienen a tres sujetos tras ingresar a la base aérea Chabunco de la FACh y fotografiar zona restringida (3 February 2026)Intrusion on 1 February 2026; armament storage area photographed with cameras and a drone; Punta Arenas court released the three under conditions.
- Infodefensa: La FACh apuesta por cinco Beechcraft King Air 350 y King Air 360 para fortalecer la conectividad antártica (28 September 2026)Five King Airs planned, three to operate from Punta Arenas; one funded by the Magallanes regional government.
- Infodefensa: La FACh acelera motores en la planificación de Salitre 2026 junto a Argentina, Brasil, Colombia, EEUU y Paraguay (1 March 2026)FACh has organised Salitre since 2004; previous edition 2022 and the aircraft that flew in it; 2026 planned 28 June–12 July in Antofagasta.
- Infodefensa: La teniente Francisca Caces se convierte en la primera piloto de cazas F-16 de la Fuerza Aérea de Chile (26 May 2026)Completed the F-16 MLU course with Grupo 8 at Cerro Moreno, V Air Brigade.
- Infodefensa: La IIIª Brigada Aérea de la FACh optimizará el mantenimiento de sus aeronaves con la solución Ilias Guide (31 May 2026)Grupo de Mantenimiento N° 55 at El Tepúal, Puerto Montt; brigade commander Gen. Rodrigo Zeballos; Twin Otter returned to service, Bell 412 inspected.
Figures verified 2026-10-01. Order of Battle pages are regenerated from a single dataset; if a number here disagrees with a Book of Beasts page, this page is the more recent of the two.
Photographs: Photo: TheReaper2033 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Hippocamelus / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Photo: Aeroprints.com / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Photo: Daniel Case / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo: TRTPUWU / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Don Ramey Logan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Bengt Oberger / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Royal Air Force Hunter. [[User:Ad Meskens|Ad Meskens You are free to use this picture for any purpose as / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Master Sergeant Dave Casey / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)