Everything about The Mexican Navy totally explained
The
Mexican Navy (official name
Armada de México) is a branch of the
Mexican Military responsible for conducting
naval operations. Its stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for the exterior defense, and to help with internal order". The Navy consists of over 37,000 men and women, over 589 ships and about 100 aircraft.
The Navy has entered a constant modernization program, in order to upgrade its response capability.
For Mexico's huge mass of water the importance of its navy is really decisive, mainly to protect
PEMEX's
oil wells in
Campeche over the
Mexican Gulf. Another important task of Mexican Navy is to help people in hurricane relief operations, applying "Plan Marina" (Navy plan) in order to help affected people in case of natural disasters .
Organization
The commander in chief of all military forces is the
President of Mexico. Day-to-day control of the Navy is the Navy Secretary (currently
Mariano Francisco Saynez Mendoza.
The Navy is divided into three main forces, the Fuerza Naval del Golfo (Naval Force of the
Gulf), the Fuerza Naval del Pacifico (Naval Force of the
Pacific) and Fuerza Aeronaval (Navy Air Force).
Modernization budget
The anual Navy's budget has a 3 to 1 proportion of the national budget to the Army & Air Force versus Navy. For the year 2007, the Army got 3 billion dollars budget, versus one billion dollars for the the Navy. The Navy has a reputation for being a well-run and well organized outfit. This reputation allows for a close relationship with the U.S. Navy, as evidenced by the procurement of numerous former USN ships.
The Secretary of the Navy, Admiral
Francisco Saynez Mendoza, announced on October 1, 2007, detailed plans to upgrade and modernise the country's naval capabilities. On the following day,
La Jornada newspaper from Mexico City, published the disclosure of the Mexican Navy plans, which are among others, to build eleven oceanic patrol vessels (
OPV) with length of 86 meters, 1680 tons and each housing a
Eurocopter Panther helicopter as well as small high speed interception boats. The budget for this project is above $200 million USD.
Another project is to build twelve
CB 90 HMN high speed (50 knots) interception boats under license by a Sweden boat company to the Mexican Navy. Also, a number of fully equipped planes for surveillance and maritime patrol are being considered. Combinations of options and development are being defined.
Naval Infantry
The Mexican Marines consists 8,000 of a paratroop brigade of three battalions, a battalion attached to the
Presidential Guard Brigade, three battalions with headquarters in Mexico City, Acapulco, and Veracruz, and thirty-five independent companies and detachments distributed among ports, bases, and zonal headquarters. The marines are responsible for port security, protection of the ten-kilometer coastal fringe, and patrolling major waterways. In addition to having light arms, the marines are equipped with 105 mm towed howitzers, 60 mm and 81 mm mortars, and 106 mm recoilless rifles, as well as
Pegaso BMR VAP-3550 and
BTR-60 amphibious vehicles. The marines riverine duties have been increasingly taken over by the
Mexican Army. More recently the Navy has ceded most of its riverine responsibilities (formally handled by the Marines) to the Army, and has reduced the size of the Marine force, putting them back aboard ships where they play a vital role in drug interdiction and boarding of suspect vessels in territorial waters.
Navy Special Forces
Fuerzas Especiales (FES)
Ixtoc-Alfa
Missiles
SA-18 Grouse: Surface to Air Missiles
Gabriel missile: Anti-Ship Missile
The Mexican Navy initiated studies to develop and construct its first missile, according to a May 2005 interview with the undersecretary of the Navy, Armando Sanchez; he explained that the missile should should have an average range of 12 to 15 kilometers and target enemy ships and aircraft.
The undersecretary added that they already have the solid propellant, and the basic design of the missile. All aspects relative to their fuselage were solved as well as the launch platforms. The Mexican Navy is currently developing the software to direct the missile to its target. As of May 2008, the project is reported to be 40% complete.
Currently, the Mexican missile ships make use of the Israeli Gabriel MK II missile, which has an average range of 15 kilometers and targets enemy ships and aircraft.
Mexican oil rigs are also protected with Igla, a portable Russian anti-aircraft missile system.
Equipment
The Navy consists of surface ships and some aircraft.
Surface equipment
Destroyers
Quetzalcoatl Class
Manuel Azueta Class
Frigates
Bravo Class (Ex- US Bronstein class frigate)
Allende Class (Ex- US Knox class frigate)
Amphibious ships
Panuco Class
Papaloapan Class
Huracan Class
Valle class
- ARM Barrera
- ARM Escobedo
- ARM Doblado
- ARM Santos
- ARM Alvarez
- ARM Zamora
- ARM Farias
- ARM Zarco
- ARM Vallarta
- ARM Ortega
- ARM Matamoros
Uribe class
- ARM Uribe
- ARM Azueta
- ARM Baranda
- ARM Breton
- ARM Blanco
- ARM Monasterio
Holzinger class
- ARM Holzinger
- ARM Godinez
- ARM DE LA Vega
- ARM Berriozabal
Sierra class
- ARM Sierra (PO-141)
- ARM Juarez (PO-142)
- ARM Prieto (PO-143)
- ARM Romero (PO-144)
Durango class
- ARM Durango (PO-151)
- ARM Sonora (PO-152)
- ARM Guanajuato (PO-153)
- ARM Veracruz (PO-154)
Oaxaca class
Other ships
The Mexican Navy counts with 60 smaller patrol boats and 32 auxiliary ships. The Mexican Navy acquired 40 units, designated CB 90 HMN, between 1999 and 2001 and obtained a production license in 2002 allowing further units to be manufactured in Mexico.
For the year 2008 budget, the Mexican Congress approved a $15 million USD funds to build only 17 out of 60 combat boats requested; these ships, designated CB 90 HMN, are to increase its fast boat fleet. Additional budgets will be awarded each passing year. In total, the Mexican Navy has over 589 operational ships.
A project under code name "Bulom", was started by the Mexican Navy to replace existing U.S. Navy ships in the Mexican fleet with a new multi-purpose ship. The new ship is a compact frigate and is capable of carrying a fully loaded helicopter on its landing pad and house it internally. These multipurpose ships will have a length of 436.35 ft (133 mts), beam 65.6 ft (20 mts), draft 9.84 ft (3 mts), ballasted 19.68 ft (6 mts). Storage for small size fast boats, procurement to other ships, both for amphibious assaults and logistical support.
Aircraft
The aircraft quantities are approximate.
Future Aircraft
The Mérida Initiative » A purchase request of two CN-235 Persuader is included in the $1.4 billion USD program package of the Mérida Initiative for naval patrol operations reinforcement. Included in this package are also eight Bell 412 EP helicopters for the Mexican Air Force. As of May 2008, the U.S. congress hadn't yet approved this budget.
Land vehicles
Gama Goat
Ural-4320
BTR-70/BTR-60
Pegaso BMR
Other minor transport vehicles as buses, trucks, pick-ups, and cars.Further Information
Get more info on 'Mexican Navy'.
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