Boyacá will be home to the first Unmanned Aircraft Battalion in Latin America.
At a recent ceremony The Colombian National Army officially activated the first Unmanned Aircraft Battalion (BANOT) of Latin America, marking a new milestone in the modernization of the Public Force.
The event took place at the airfield of the Tolemaida Military Fort during the commemoration of the 30 years of the Aviation Weapon, a celebration chaired by the commander of the National Army, General Luis Emilio Cardozo Santamaría and which brought together senior commanders, military personnel and civil authorities.
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The BANOT will be under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Ernesto Patiño Camargo, officer of the Aviation Arm and a native of Bogotá, and will have his command post in the department of Boyacá.
This unit, the only one of its kind in all of Latin America, was born in response to the challenges imposed by the evolution of the armed conflict and the constant transformation of threats to national security.
“The activation of this battalion is not only a commitment to technology, but a strategic need that responds to an increasingly dynamic, complex and challenging operational environment,” said an Army spokesperson during the ceremony.
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The Unmanned Aircraft Battalion It will be made up of four specialized companies, designed to operate autonomously:
- First Company: Specialized in reconnaissance missions using multirotor aircraft, capable of operating in difficult-to-access environments, providing detailed, real-time information on the terrain and possible threats.
- Second Company: Equipped with fixed-wing aircraft, aimed at longer-range and longer-duration operations, essential for in-depth strategic missions.
- Third Company: In charge of electronic countermeasures systems, with the aim of protecting air platforms against interference or electronic warfare threats.
- Fourth Company: Responsible for specialized maintenance, a key piece to ensure the continuous availability and operational sustainability of unmanned systems.
Source: Integrated Information System
