Colombian Air Force

The Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC) is a strategically significant and combat-experienced air arm in Latin America. Its structure is centered on several major commands, including the Air Combat Command (Comando Aéreo de Combate - CACOM), the Air Transport Command (Comando Aéreo de Transporte Militar - CATAM), and the Military Aviation School (Escuela Militar de Aviación). Operationally, the force has been shaped by decades of sustained counter-insurgency and counter-narcotics operations. This has honed its capabilities in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), close air support, and air interdiction, often conducted in challenging geographic environments.

The FAC's strategic doctrine emphasizes the control of its airspace to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. A key element of its contemporary strategy is enhancing interoperability, notably through cooperation with NATO to certify its capabilities, such as air-to-air refueling, against international standards. The doctrine identifies several "distinctive capabilities" it aims to master, including strategic air operations, air defense, and exploitation of information. The FAC has established a long-term vision to be a regional leader with global reach and credible deterrent capabilities by 2042.

For decades, the FAC has been engaged in the country's internal armed conflict against guerrilla groups and drug trafficking organizations. These operations provided extensive experience in employing precision air power to support ground forces and disrupt illicit activities, proving air power's strategic value in asymmetric warfare.

Replacement of the force’s aging fleet of IAI Kfir fighters is underway. Colombia has announced its selection of the Saab Gripen E/F multirole aircraft from Sweden, with plans to acquire between 16 and 24 units. This acquisition represents a major step in bolstering the country's air defense and deterrent posture. The selection of the Gripen also signals a move to diversify defense partnerships. Furthermore, the force is considering the acquisition of Leonardo M-346FA light combat aircraft to replace its retired A-37B Dragonfly fleet and fill a gap in its light attack and operational training capabilities. These programs are central to the FAC's transformation into a more technologically advanced and capable force.