Colombian Naval Aviation

Colombian Naval Aviation • Aviación Naval (ARC) Colombian

COLOMBIAN NAVAL AVIATION • Aviación Naval (ARC) Colombian
Naval Aviation 150 Personnel.

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
(incl Coast Guard & Surface units)

• AIRCRAFT No combat capable. Total 38 Aircraft.

Maritime Patrol 1 unit with:

• 2 CASA CN235 MPA Persuader.,

Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) 1 unit with:

• 1 Piper PA-31 Navajo (upgraded for ISR duties).,

Transport (Light) 1 unit with 16 ac:

• 1 ATR-42;,
• 2 Beech 350 King Air;
• 1 Beech 360ER King Air;
• 2 Beech C90 King Air;
• 1 CASA C-212 (configured for Medevac);,
• 4 Cessna 206;,
• 3 Cessna 208 Caravan;
• 1 Piper PA-31 Navajo;,
• 1 Piper PA-34 Seneca.,

• HELICOPTER No combat capable. Total 20 Helicopter.

Search & Rescue (SAR) / Multi-role Helicopter Multiple units with 12 SAR Helo:

• 2 Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin;,
• 1 Eurocopter AS555SN Fennec;,
• 8 Bell 412/EP/EPI Twin Huey.,
• Note: Recent 2026 data also tracks 1 Mil Mi-8 Hip in the naval inventory.

Transport Helicopter (Light) 8 Lt Helo:

• 5 Bell 212 / UH-1N;,
• 1 MBB/Kawasaki BK-117;,
• 2 MBB Bo-105.,

Naval Surface & Sub-Surface Units

• Submarines: 4 vessels.
  • 2 Pijao (GER Type-209/1200) SSK;,
  • 2 Intrépido (ex-GER Type-206A) SSC.,
• Principal Surface Combatants: 6 vessels.
  • 4 Almirante Padilla (FSGHM) with Hae Sung I AShM and Mistral SAM;,
  • 1 Almirante Tono (ex-ROK Po Hang) FSG;,
  • 1 Narino (ex-ROK Dong Hae) FS.,
• Patrol & Coastal Combatants: 58 vessels.,
• Coast Guard Units: 17 patrol vessels.,

Capabilities & Role The Colombian Naval Aviation is primarily tasked with maritime surveillance, counter-narcotics, and search and rescue operations, supporting the Navy's objective of ensuring sovereignty in both the Caribbean and Pacific theaters. Colombia is a NATO global partner and maintains a very close military relationship with the United States for training and technical support.,

A significant part of Colombia's naval modernization is driven by its indigenous defense industry, specifically the state-owned shipbuilder COTECMAR., COTECMAR is currently executing the Strategic Surface Platform (PES) program to build five new frigates based on the Damen SIGMA 10514 design to replace legacy corvettes., The Navy is also expanding its reach through new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and specialized riverine craft to combat illicit maritime activities.,