Brazilian Air Force

The Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira, FAB) is the largest air arm in Latin America and is structured to ensure the sovereignty of Brazil's vast airspace. Its organization is centered around three general commands that oversee all operational, personnel, and logistical aspects. Operationally, the FAB is divided into numbered air forces, which in turn control various aviation groups dedicated to specific roles like fighter aviation, transport, and surveillance. This structure is designed to support a strategic doctrine based on the trinomial of "monitoring/control, mobility, and presence," with a significant emphasis on the Amazon region.

The FAB's strategic doctrine is intrinsically linked to Brazil's broader national defense policy, which prioritizes dissuasion and the protection of national territory and interests, particularly in the Amazon. This is achieved through extensive aerial surveillance, supported by the Integrated Air Defense and Air Traffic Control Centers (CINDACTA) and the Amazon Surveillance System (SIVAM). Brazil's defense strategy shuns foreign intervention, instead focusing on developing indigenous defense capabilities and maintaining peace. This doctrine drives the FAB's focus on controlling its airspace, providing airlift mobility across the continent-sized nation, and maintaining a credible presence along its borders.

To align its capabilities with its doctrine, the FAB is undergoing significant modernization. The cornerstone of this effort is the acquisition of the Saab F-39 Gripen NG fighter, which represents a generational leap in air combat capability and is integrated through a joint production agreement that enhances Brazil's domestic aerospace industry. Complementing the Gripen is the planned modernization of the A-29 Super Tucano light attack fleet. This program will upgrade the aircraft's avionics and weapon systems to ensure interoperability with the new fighters. Furthermore, the FAB is evaluating the Leonardo M-346FA to replace its aging A-1 AMX and A-4 aircraft, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and reduce maintenance costs. These programs underscore a strategic shift towards advanced, multi-role platforms and a focus on maintaining a modern and effective air force capable of defending Brazil's sovereignty.