Mexican Air Force

Mexican Air Force • Fuerza Aérea Mexicana (FAM)

Based on the source materials provided, here is the 2026 inventory for the Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Mexicana - FAM), prepared in the requested standard format.

MEXICAN AIR FORCE • Fuerza Aérea Mexicana (FAM)

Mexican Air Force 8,000 Personnel (Personnel included in 216,000 Armed Forces total).

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
(incl Presidential & Internal Security units)

• AIRCRAFT 4 combat capable (Total 230 Aircraft).

Fighter 1 squadron with 3 ac:

• 2 Northrop F-5E Tiger II;
• 1 Northrop F-5F Tiger II (Two-seat training variant).

Ground Attack / ISR 5 squadrons with 87 ac:

• 55 Beechcraft T-6C+ Texan II;
• 32 Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer.

Special Mission (ISR / AEW&C / ELINT) 1 unit with 7 ac:

• 1 Embraer EMB-145AEW (AEW&C);
• 2 Embraer EMB-145RS (MPA);
• 2 Beechcraft King Air 350 (Recce);
• 2 Cessna Citation I (Recce).

Transport (Medium / Heavy) 1 unit with 7 ac:

• 4 Alenia C-27J Spartan;
• 3 Lockheed C-130K / L-100.

Transport (Light / Utility / Liaison) Multiple units (incl 5 Liaison sqns) with 71 ac:

• 6 Airbus C295;
• 59 Cessna 182;
• 2 Beechcraft King Air 90;
• 2 Turbo Commander 680;
• 1 Pilatus PC-6.

Government / Presidential Airlift Specialized wings (Presidential / VIP) with rotational assets:

• Boeing 737 (incl. 737-800);
• Boeing 757 / 787;
• Gulfstream 150 / 450 / 550;
• Bombardier CL-605 Challenger;
• Beechcraft King Air 200 / 350i (VIP configuration);
• Learjet 35A / 36 / 45 / 60.
  

Training Multiple units with 55 ac:

• 24 Grob G120TP;
• 30 Pilatus PC-7;
• 1 Pilatus PC-9.
  
  

• HELICOPTER 13 combat capable. Total 121 Helicopter.

Attack / Armed Helicopter 1 specialized squadron with 13 hel:

• 13 MD Helicopters MD530F.

Transport / Multi-role Helicopter Multiple units with 99 hel:

• 18 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk (7 more on order);
• 12 Airbus H225M Caracal (4 more on order);
• 23 Mil Mi-8 / Mi-17 Hip;
• 9 Bell 412;
• 17 Bell 407;
• 15 Bell 206;
• 4 AgustaWestland AW109;
• 1 Bell UH-1H.

Training Multiple units with 9 ac:

• 9 Bell 206 (Training configuration);

• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (ISR) 1 unit with 9 UAVs:

• 4 Elbit Hermes 450;
• 1 Elbit Hermes 900;
• 4 Hydra Technologies S4 Ehécatl (Indigenous design).

Capabilities & Role

The Mexican Air Force (FAM) is the most capable air arm in Central America, though its primary focus is shifted heavily toward internal security, counter-narcotics, and providing support to the National Guard. As of 2026, the FAM maintains a minimal conventional fighter capability, having brought some of its aging F-5 Tiger II fleet back to service to maintain basic air sovereignty.

The force's operational core relies on a large fleet of T-6C+ Texan II and PC-7 aircraft for light strike and reconnaissance missions. The FAM also operates a sophisticated Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) component featuring EMB-145 platforms for airborne early warning. Significant investment has been placed in rotary-wing transport to ensure tactical mobility for anti-cartel operations, centered on modern platforms like the UH-60M Black Hawk and H225M Caracal. Mexico also possesses an indigenous defense industry capable of producing tactical vehicles and the S4 Ehécatl UAV to support domestic surveillance requirements.