Anápolis Air Force Base Explained

Anápolis Air Force Base
Native Name:Portuguese: Base Aérea de Anápolis|italic=yes
Country:Brazil
Type:Air Force Base
Coordinates:-16.2386°N -48.9722°W
Pushpin Map:Brazil
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Brazil
Pushpin Label:SBAN
Ownership:Brazilian Air Force
Open To Public:No
Site Area:160001NaN1
Code:ALA2
Current Commander:Cel. Av. Renato Leal Leite
Occupants:
  • 1st Troop Transportation Group
  • 1st Air Defense Group
  • 2nd Squadron of the 6th Aviation Group
Icao:SBAN
Lid:GO9001
Elevation:1137m (3,730feet)
R1-Number:06R/24L
R1-Length:2233m (7,326feet)
R1-Surface:Asphalt
R2-Number:06L/24R
R2-Length:3300m (10,800feet)
R2-Surface:Asphalt
Footnotes:Sources: History,[1] DECEA[2]

Anápolis Air Force Base – ALA2 is a base of the Brazilian Air Force, located in Anápolis, Brazil.

History

The history of Anápolis Air Force Base begins on 9 February 1970,[1] when its construction started, with the main purpose of receiving the new air force fighter at the time, the Mirage III,[3] designated by the Brazilian Air Force as F-103. For strategic reasons, was decided that the new air base would be close to the capital Brasília. After several studies (including issues of air traffic and radio interference) the choice was the city of Anápolis, located 160 km from Brasília.[1]

The facility became operational on 23 August 1972,[1] with the completion of the airstrip. A new air unit, specially created to operate the F-103, was then activated: the 1st Air Defense Wing (1º ALADA). This unit was decommissioned on 19 April 1979, transferring its mission to the 1st Air Defense Group (1º GDA), the unit was responsible for operating the F-103 until 2005. In 2006, started to operate the Mirage 2000,[4] already retired. Currently operates the F-5EM & FM.[5]

From 2021 operates the JAS 39 Gripen, designated by Brazil as F-39 E & F.[6]

Units

The following units are based at Anápolis Air Force Base:[1]

AircraftModelAir unit
Embraer KC-3901st Troop Transportation Group (1º GTT) Zeus[7]
Saab JAS F-39 Gripen E & F1st Air Defense Group (1º GDA) Jaguar[8] [9]
Northrop F-5 EM & FM
Embraer E-99 M & R-992nd Squadron of the 6th Aviation Group (2º/6º GAv) Guardião[10]

The base also operates a battery of surface to air missile called 3rd Air Defense Group (3º GDAAE).[11]

Access

The base is located 12 km from downtown Anápolis.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Base Aérea de Anápolis: o destino dos caças Gripen da FAB. 23 April 2014. pt.
  2. Web site: Campo Marechal Márcio de Souza e Mello (SBAN). DECEA. 27 August 2023. pt.
  3. Web site: Trade Registers . Armstrade.sipri.org . 3 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100414022558/http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php . 14 April 2010 . live .
  4. News: Brasil renova acordo e prolonga a vida dos Mirage 2000 . Portuguese . Brazil renews agreement and extends Mirage 2000s' life . Plano Brasil . 5 October 2011 . 25 January 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120114150308/http://planobrasil.com/2011/10/05/brasil-renova-acordo-e-prolonga-a-vida-dso-mirage-2000 . 14 January 2012 . live .
  5. Web site: World Air Forces 2019. Flightglobal Insight . 2019 . 4 June 2019.
  6. Web site: Saab, Brazil finalise Gripen NG deal . Dan . Thisdell . Flight Global . 27 October 2014.
  7. Web site: 1º GTT – Esquadrão Zeus . Spotter . 21 April 2021 . pt.
  8. Web site: FAB: Esquadrão Jaguar, que receberá o Gripen, completa 43 anos . Aeroflap . 11 April 2022 . pt.
  9. Web site: 1º GDA – Esquadrão Jaguar . Spotter . 21 April 2021 . pt.
  10. Web site: 2º/6º GAv – Esquadrão Guardião . Spotter . 21 April 2021 . pt.
  11. Web site: 3º GDAAE - Terceiro Grupo de Defesa Antiaérea . Spotter . 25 June 2022 . pt.