201 Squadron (Portugal)

201 Sqn has as its primary mission the execution of air defense operations and conventional attack: The origins of 201 Squadron "Falcões" date back to the creation of 50 Squadron "Falcões" (Falcons) in 1958, based at Ota (then designated Air Base No.

[2] In the beginning of the 1960s, the flight demonstration team "Dragões" (Dragons) was reactivated with the F-86F as part of 51 Squadron.

[2][3] The F-86F Sabre ended its service in the Portuguese Air Force officially on July 31, 1980, and 201 Squadron was later disbanded on June 1, 1981.

[2] 201 Squadron was reactivated on October 4, 1993, with aerial defense as its mission, the first F-16 Fighting Falcon arriving in June 1994.

In 1999, the tactical air support for maritime operations (TASMO) was also assigned as one of its secondary missions.

Portuguese F-86F displayed at Monte Real Air Base. Note the blue nose scheme used by aircraft of 51 Squadron
PoAF T-38A Talon , nicknamed " Falcão Branco " (White Falcon)
A PoAF F-16 armed with four Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and equipped with an AN/ALQ-131 ECM pod, prepares to refuel from a USAF KC-10 while conducting a CAP , during Operation Allied Force, March 1999.