Colombian Army Aviation

Colombian Army Aviation • (Aviación del Ejército - EJC)

COLOMBIAN ARMY AVIATION • Aviación del Ejército (EJC)
Colombia Army Aviation - Personnel included in 160,000+ Army total.

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
(incl Armoured & Support units)

• AIRCRAFT No combat capable. Total 29 Aircraft.

Air Assault / Aviation Command

• 1 Air Assault Division.
• 1 Counter-Narcotics Brigade (4 battalions, 1 support battalion).
• 1 25th Aviation Brigade (4 helicopter battalions, 5 aviation battalions, 1 aviation logistics battalion).
• 1 32nd Aviation Brigade (1 aviation battalion, 2 maintenance battalions, 1 training battalion, 1 support battalion).
• 1 Special Forces Aviation Battalion.

Special Mission (Electronic Warfare) 1 unit with 4 ac:

• 4 Beechcraft King Air 200/350 (configured for EW duties).

Transport (Light / Tactical) Multiple units with 25 ac:

• 2 Antonov An-32;
• 3 CASA C212;
• 8 Cessna 208 Caravan;
• 5 Beechcraft King Air 90/200/350;
• 2 Piper PA-34 Seneca;
• 5 Turbo Commander.

• HELICOPTER 50 combat capable. Total 101 Helicopter.

Attack / Multi-role Helicopter Multiple units with 50 hel:

• 50 Sikorsky S-70i/UH-60L Black Hawk.

Transport Helicopter Multiple units with 51 hel:

• 17 Mil Mi-17 Hip;
• 34 Bell UH-1H/N Iroquois.

• Armoured Fighting Vehicles (EJC)

• Reconnaissance: 121 EE-9 Cascavel.
• Infantry Fighting Vehicles: 60.
  • 28 Commando Advanced;
  • 32 LAV III.
• Armoured Personnel Carriers: 114.
  • 54 M113A1/A2;
  • 56 EE-11 Urutu;
  • 4+ RG-31 Nyala.

Capabilities & Role: The Colombian Army Aviation is a highly specialized force primarily focused on air assault, counter-insurgency, and counter-narcotics operations. It maintains one of the largest fleets of Black Hawk helicopters in the world to support rapid deployment of infantry and special operations units across the country's diverse terrain.

The force is integrated into the larger Army structure, providing critical tactical mobility and medical evacuation capabilities. Modernization efforts are currently focused on armoured vehicle recapitalization and enhancing electronic warfare (EW) and reconnaissance capabilities through the addition of specialized sensors to the fixed-wing transport fleet. As a NATO global partner, the Colombian Army participates regularly in multilateral training exercises with the United States and other international partners to maintain high readiness and interoperability standards.