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pilots. Meanwhile, the concept of Army light aviation evolved and plans were being made to equip it in the future also with helicopters and to give it other missions besides those related with the artillery. The process of the raising of the Army Light
Aviation is however terminated in 1955, with the transference of the Piper Super-Cub aircraft to the Air Force, these forming an Army cooperation Liaison and Training Flight based at the Tancos Air Base.
332:
176:
245:(1961-1974), all military air assets were part of the Air Force. These were employed both in independent operations and in cooperation with the land and naval forces, under the coordination of the joint military commands. The Air Force was equipped with assets oriented for the counter-insurgency, including new
203:
The
Portuguese Army maintained its own aviation arm from 1914 to 1952. This arm received a high degree of autonomy in 1937, including its own separate chain of command, although continuing to be administratively connected to the Army. In the early 1950s, the decision was taken to completely separate
237:
observation and liaison planes. Eight of these aircraft started to be permanently based at the Army
Artillery School Air Field, being used in the artillery observation role and piloted by artillery arm pilots-observers. The remaining aircraft were only used in maneuvers, being piloted by Air Force
311:
During its existence, the UALE was responsible to serve as the administrative parent unit of the
Communications Company of the Rapid Reaction Brigade' and to operate and maintain the Tancos airfield. Due to the lack of aircraft, it however never performed air activities, which were supposedly the
228:
General
Abranches Pinto to boost the process of activation of what was intended to be the future Artillery Observation Light Aviation. The process advances in 1952, with the sending of officers for training in the US Army Artillery Aviation, with the construction of the General Abrantes Pinto Air
223:
At the same time that the process of the separation of the
Portuguese Air Force was being carried away, the Army felt the need to continue to maintain its own light aviation service to support the artillery arm in the observation and direction of fire over targets located beyond the horizon. This
346:
was acquired for the light utility, anti-tank and reconnaissance role. The EC635 had been specifically developed by
Eurocopter precisely to meet the Portuguese Army requirements for its light aviation unit. However, the EC635 program was cancelled in 2002 with the lack of a certification to fire
273:
military operations, a work group was created by the Army's
Cavalry Arm Directorate to study and plan the creation of a light aviation unit. On July 12, 1991, the National Defense Superior Council decided to add a light aviation unit to the Medium Term Forces System
658:
162:). It was planned to be equipped with light fire support and medium maneuver helicopters. The process of helicopter procurement, however, suffered successive setbacks until being finally canceled in 2012, causing the unit disbandment in 2015.
380:
The pilots and ground crews of the UALE underwent training with the
Portuguese Air Force, with pilots undergoing flight training in the PoAF's Alouette III helicopters. The Army's pilot have also received training on the
974:
665:
1010:
569:
1091:
1086:
154:), it was the Army's unit dedicated to missions of light aviation, being integrated in the Army Forces System, under the operational command of the Ground Forces Operational Command (
323:
361:
In 2004, the
Portuguese government prepared to open a new competition for the acquisition of light helicopters for both the UALE and the Portuguese Air Force, to replace the
779:
983:
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522:
261:(these then being part of the Air Force). Occasionally, the Air Force established detachments of cooperation that operated under the command of Army units.
1076:
891:
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A commission to prepare for the creation of the unit was then created in 1997. On June 1, 2000, the Army Light Aviation Group was officially formed.
327:
A Swiss EC635, a helicopter initially developed to address the specific requirements of the Portuguese Army, but that ended up not being used by it.
953:
439:
837:
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746:
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187:
912:
305:
101:
607:
339:
The unit was originally intended to be equipped with nine light utility helicopters and with ten medium transport helicopters.
767:
212:
from the Navy and to put it under the control of the new independent air branch. The new branch created in 1952, became the
690:
636:
547:
400:
helicopters in fire-fighting and other public interest missions for the Portuguese Ministry of Internal Administration.
386:
362:
192:
720:
179:
Old Piper Super-Cub L-21 of the Artillery Observation Light Aviation of the Portuguese Army in the 1950s, now in the
867:
514:
254:
209:
1096:
917:
282:). On June 30, 1993, the Ministry of National Defense approved the addition of the Army Light Aviation Group (
881:
269:
In the 1980s, based on the experience gained in Africa and the increasingly importance of the helicopter in
258:
242:
225:
1030:
948:
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368:
In June 2012, the Portuguese government officially announced that it would cancel the order of all ten
808:
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On July 1, 2006, the Army Light Aviation Group (GALE) was re-designated as Army Light Aviation Unit (
246:
213:
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283:
275:
155:
127:
17:
943:
443:
833:
800:
335:
NH90 TTH mock-up with Portugal's flag representing the Portuguese participation in the program.
742:
355:
217:
196:
382:
343:
922:
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anti-tank missiles and the delivery of the helicopters being cited as the official reason.
315:
The unit was disbanded in the scope of the new Army organization established in July 2015.
290:, GALE) to the list of units to be created, and on August 31 the financing of the program.
1043:
978:
205:
143:
73:
1059:
595:
1070:
409:
348:
139:
83:
483:
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230:
975:"Celebração de protocolo entre o Exército e a Empresa de Meios Aéreos - EMA, S.A."
397:
250:
234:
180:
1017:(in Portuguese) (1). Tancos: Unidade de Aviação Ligeira do Exército. May 2012
632:
543:
331:
721:"Ministério da Defesa prepara abertura concurso hélis Força Aérea e UALE"
369:
63:
175:
396:, a company owned by the Portuguese government, Army pilots flew EMA's
111:
570:"Nine EC 635 Helicopters for the Portuguese Army, start-up Customer"
544:"Nine EC 635 Helicopters for the Portuguese Army, start-up Customer"
330:
322:
229:
Field in the artillery range area of the Army Artillery School at
186:
174:
501:
Counterinsurgency in Africa: The Portuguese Way of War, 1961-1974
728:
270:
372:
due to budget cuts, thus compromising the future of the UALE.
606:(in Portuguese) (204/2002): 15204–15205. September 4, 2002.
768:"Governo abandona programa de helicópteros para o Exército"
864:
Jane's: Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis
304:, UALE), as part of the Army's Base Structure and of the
93:
Tactical Air Transport, Reconnaissance, Close Air Support
572:. Airbus Helicopters. October 22, 1999. Archived from
392:
Between 2007 and 2012, under an agreement with EMA —
1092:
Military units and formations disestablished in 2015
913:"Pilotos dos helicópteros vão para Espanha e Itália"
882:"Pilotos voam em Espanha por falta de helicópteros"
204:it from the Army, becoming an entirely independent
107:
97:
89:
79:
69:
59:
51:
43:
29:
515:"Decreto Regulamentar n.º 11/2015 de 31 de julho (
195:performing a medical evacuation during the war in
1087:Military units and formations established in 2000
486:Pioneiros de uma Aviação que Não Chegou a Existir
365:, but the competition was eventually cancelled.
35:
1013:[Information and Divulgation Bulletin]
982:(in Portuguese). June 15, 2012. Archived from
220:assets and operations under a single command.
208:. The decision was also taken to separate the
8:
358:was selected for the medium transport role.
944:"Exército cede pilotos para combater fogos"
467:
465:
463:
461:
160:Comando Operacional das Forças Terrestres
265:Creation of the Army Light Aviation Unit
440:"Portuguese Military Aviation in brief"
431:
1060:Unidade de Aviação Ligeira do Exército
1039:
1028:
860:"Portugal ducks out of NH90 programme"
302:Unidade de Aviação Ligeira do Exército
132:Unidade de Aviação Ligeira do Exército
37:Unidade de Aviação Ligeira do Exército
26:
1082:Army units and formations of Portugal
701:from the original on February 1, 2014
691:"Portugal signs up for NH90 purchase"
639:from the original on February 2, 2014
613:from the original on February 1, 2014
550:from the original on February 2, 2014
7:
1011:"Boletim de Informação e Divulgação"
288:Grupo de Aviação Ligeira do Exército
664:. EADS. August 2002. Archived from
18:Portuguese Army Light Aviation Unit
1077:Army aviation units and formations
633:"Portugal cancels EC 635 contract"
472:Boletim de Informação e Divulgação
442:. October 20, 2009. Archived from
25:
858:Barreira, Victor (July 3, 2012).
598:[Decree no. 19 554/2002]
743:"A substituição do ALOUETTE-III"
280:Sistema de Forças de Médio Prazo
249:that were used to perform joint
956:from the original on 2014-02-02
921:(in Portuguese). Archived from
894:from the original on 2014-02-02
840:from the original on 2012-07-23
836:(in Portuguese). Área Militar.
815:from the original on 2014-02-02
782:from the original on 2012-07-07
749:from the original on 2014-02-02
745:(in Portuguese). Área Militar.
546:. helis.com. October 22, 1999.
525:from the original on 2016-02-04
635:. helis.com. August 23, 2002.
394:Empresa de Meios Aéreos, S. A.
233:and with the reception of 22
216:, unifying all the Portuguese
1:
801:"Exército perde helicópteros"
517:Aprova a orgânica do Exército
387:Spanish Army Airmobile Force
1113:
312:reason for its existence.
206:branch of the Armed Forces
596:"Despacho nº 19 554/2002"
210:Portuguese Naval Aviation
148:Army Light Aviation Group
146:. Created in 2000 as the
112:Tancos Military Air Field
34:
834:"Portugal cancela NH-90"
124:Army Light Aviation Unit
30:Army Light Aviation Unit
243:Portuguese Overseas War
191:A Portuguese Air Force
1038:Cite journal requires
870:on September 25, 2012.
499:Cann, John P. (2005).
336:
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306:Rapid Reaction Brigade
301:
287:
279:
200:
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159:
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102:Rapid Reaction Brigade
36:
488:, Asas nos Céus, 2009
356:NHIndustries NH90 TTH
334:
326:
251:helicopter operations
190:
178:
503:. Hailer Publishing.
415:Portuguese Air Force
319:Aircraft procurement
235:Piper Super-Cub L-21
214:Portuguese Air Force
986:on February 2, 2014
671:on February 3, 2014
604:Diário da República
576:on February 1, 2014
446:on October 20, 2009
376:Operational history
344:Eurocopter EC635 T1
47:June 1, 2000 — 2015
1063:, official website
949:Jornal de Notícias
918:Diário de Notícias
887:Jornal de Notícias
354:In June 2001, the
337:
329:
201:
185:
138:) was the planned
952:(in Portuguese).
890:(in Portuguese).
807:(in Portuguese).
774:(in Portuguese).
727:(in Portuguese).
697:. June 20, 2001.
218:military aviation
197:Portuguese Guinea
117:
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16:(Redirected from
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1053:External links
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1031:cite journal
1019:. Retrieved
1003:Bibliography
988:. Retrieved
984:the original
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958:. Retrieved
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927:. Retrieved
923:the original
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896:. Retrieved
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868:the original
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842:. Retrieved
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817:. Retrieved
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795:
784:. Retrieved
772:RTP Notícias
771:
762:
751:. Retrieved
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725:Agência LUSA
724:
715:
703:. Retrieved
695:Flightglobal
694:
685:
673:. Retrieved
666:the original
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641:. Retrieved
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615:. Retrieved
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578:. Retrieved
574:the original
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552:. Retrieved
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527:. Retrieved
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494:
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448:. Retrieved
444:the original
434:
420:NHIndustries
393:
391:
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363:Alouette III
360:
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259:Paratroopers
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231:Vendas Novas
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193:Alouette III
151:
147:
142:unit of the
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123:
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98:Part of
1021:January 20,
990:October 23,
705:January 20,
675:January 20,
643:January 20,
617:January 20,
580:January 20,
554:January 20,
450:January 20,
398:Kamov Ka-32
247:helicopters
241:During the
108:Garrison/HQ
1071:Categories
960:2012-10-23
929:2018-07-28
898:2012-10-23
844:2012-10-23
819:2018-07-28
786:2012-06-30
753:2012-10-23
529:2016-06-29
474:1, pp. 8–9
426:References
298:Portuguese
284:Portuguese
276:Portuguese
253:involving
181:Air Museum
171:Background
156:Portuguese
128:Portuguese
255:Commandos
52:Disbanded
954:Archived
892:Archived
838:Archived
813:Archived
780:Archived
747:Archived
699:Archived
637:Archived
608:Archived
548:Archived
523:Archived
404:See also
370:NHI NH90
140:aviation
64:Portugal
385:in the
166:History
60:Country
70:Branch
44:Active
1015:(PDF)
669:(PDF)
662:(PDF)
611:(PDF)
600:(PDF)
349:HOT 2
1044:help
1023:2014
992:2012
729:RTP1
707:2014
677:2014
645:2014
619:2014
582:2014
556:2014
452:2014
271:NATO
257:and
152:GALE
136:UALE
122:The
90:Role
80:Type
74:Army
55:2015
776:RTP
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1033:}}
1029:{{
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