Chilean Air Force

The Chilean Air Force’s (FACh) aircraft fleet primarily consists of models from the 1970s and 1980s, leading to a rapid aging of the fleet and a need for several new types to replenish diminishing capabilities. Despite significant fluctuations in the FACh’s defense budget in recent years, it is set to grow, providing resources for essential modernization. Recent legislative activities have also enhanced coordination between the armed forces and the government in defense procurement, paving the way for more efficient procurement processes. One victim of the inefficiencies was the procurement of light transport aircraft, which the FACh requested back in 2019, and as of today a tender has not yet been issued. A type in a weight class between the Lockheed Martin C-130 and Viking Air DHC-6 is sought. The FACh’s basic trainer platform also is due for replacement, as the staple of the fleet, the ENAER T-35 Pillan, has recently reached the milestone of 200,000 operational hours. The next generation of this domestically developed aircraft will join the FACh service from 2027, boosting ENAER’s supplier share of the fleet to 19% by 2033. The FACh’s rotary-wing fleet, dominated by Bell aircraft, needs a replacement for the UH-1H Huey. The FACh is considering a light transport version that could serve as both a training and combat support helicopter. Due to the urgency of finding a replacement, secondhand airframes also are being considered. Chile’s fleet of fighter jets is relatively new, with a replacement search likely to commence only in the 2030s. The FACh is phasing out its Northrop Grumman F-5E and F light combat aircraft as the A-29 Super Tucanos have assumed their role.