Within the framework of efforts to strengthen aerospace surveillance and control tasks, as well as to combat illicit incursions, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has intensified its interdiction operations in coordination with Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal), through the deployment of F-5M Tiger II aircraft and A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft. These joint actions are focused on air corridors considered sensitive, with particular attention to the border regions of Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul, where routes used by smuggling and drug trafficking continue to pose a permanent challenge to national security.
The measures implemented by the Air Operations Command (COMAE) include the combined use of radar systems, Northrop F-5M Tiger II fighter jets, Embraer A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft, as well as support from helicopters and ground inspection personnel from the Receita Federal. This comprehensive arrangement makes it possible to detect, intercept, and neutralize irregular flights entering the country without a flight plan or with altered registrations, ensuring a rapid response to any violation of Brazilian airspace.
According to Receita Federal auditor Delbert Almeida, cooperation between both institutions has been key to enhancing inspection capabilities in hard-to-access areas. In this regard, he stated: “This partnership with the Air Force allows us to tighten the net in the aerial domain. While the Receita operates at ports and airports, the FAB controls the skies and the routes of irregular entry into national territory.” His remarks reflect the growing level of operational integration between defense and customs control agencies.
Within the scope of surveillance operations, the A-29 Super Tucano has stood out for its role in intercepting illegal aircraft, particularly over the Amazonian region of Roraima. In December, these aircraft once again operated under the Brazilian Aerospace Defense System (SISDABRA), intercepting a Cessna 182P flying without identification over the Yanomami Indigenous Territory. The aircraft was forced to land and subsequently abandoned by its pilot, confirming the effectiveness of the FAB’s early detection and immediate reaction system.
These operations add to a series of interceptions carried out throughout 2025, in which A-29s and F-5Ms actively participated in the application of Airspace Control Measures. Last November, a similar mission ended with the neutralization of an illegal aircraft, highlighting the continuity of Brazil’s efforts to maintain the integrity of its airspace and curb illicit activities originating from the northern part of the continent.
The increase in these missions reflects a sustained trend within the FAB toward greater interagency coordination, focused on monitoring aerial borders and strengthening response capabilities against irregular flights. The combination of early warning assets, fighter aircraft, and light attack platforms demonstrates the pursuit of a balance between territorial coverage, operational efficiency, and deterrence in the face of aerial threats.
Image credits: Brazilian Air Force.
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