September 22nd, 1937

The Chilean National Air Force (FAN) became the second of the Chilean armed forces to issue its expansion plan for the 1937-1940 period.

Parte Uno: Organización

Cláusala A: Fuerza Aérea Nacional

New organizational priorities mean that the organization of the FAN will be expanding and changing considerably in the immediate future.

The highest organizational unit of the FAN is the Air Wing (Ala Aviacion), which corresponds to an Army Division and is usually allocated as such. Previously, however, limitations in the number of planes meant that only two Air Wings had been raised. With the acquisition of new aircraft, additional Air Wings can be raised and organized. Each wing is composed of two squadrons (sometimes less, if only a limited number of a type is available), with the number of planes in a fighter squadron being 20 to 24 and the number of planes in a heavier type of squadron (such as a transport or bomber squadron) being 8-12.

Alas Existente (Extant Wings)

Ala Caza 13

13th Fighter Wing, assigned to the Northern Region in concert with I Infantry Division. Currently operates ACdA DN.28 aircraft (copies of the Dewoitine D.21) but will be re-equipped with 22 Gloster Gladiators when these become available.

Ala Caza 20

20th Fighter Wing, assigned to the Central Region in concert with II Infantry Division. Currently operates ACdA DN.28 aircraft. To be equipped with 18 of the new Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft.

Ala Bombardero 23

23rd Bomber Wing, assigned to the Central Region. Equipped with 11 Armstrong Whitley Whitworths.

Ala Transporte 25

25th Transport Wing, assigned to the Central Region. Equipped with 10 Bristol Bombays.

Ala de Instrucción 200

200th Training Wing, assigned to the Central Region. Operates 18 domestically produced ACdA AeMOe.1 training/observation aircraft.

Ala de Instrucción 204

204th Training Wing, assigned to the Central Region. Operates 18 domestically produced ACdA AeMOe.1 training/observation aircraft.

Alas Nuevo (New Wings)

Ala Caza 22

22nd Fighter Wing, assigned to the Central Region in concert with II Infantry Division. Planned to operate 22 Gloster Gladiators.

Ala Bombardero 29

29th Bomber Wing, assigned to the Central Region. Planned to operate 11 Armstrong Whitley Whitworths.

Ala Especial 52

52nd Special Wing, assigned to the Central Region. Performs experimental operations using modified equipment.

Ala de Instrucción 209

209th Training Wing, assigned to the Central Region. Planned to operate 18 domestically produced ACdA AeMOe.1 training/observation aircraft.

Cláusala B: Aviación Naval

In addition to the expansion of FAN, a new force, Aviación Naval (AN) will be formed under the direction of the Chilean Navy. This force will allow the Navy to operate air assets, such as patrol flying boats and naval bombers. In addition, Naval Aviation will direct the reconnaissance of ship-based floatplanes and those flown from seaplane tenders.

Alas de Aviación Naval

Ala Patrulla 4

4th Patrol Wing, assigned to the South Atlantic region. Equipped with 4 Short Sunderlands.

Ala Patrulla 5

5th Patrol Wing, assigned to the Southern Tip region. Planned to equip 6 Armstrong Whitley Whitworths.

Cláusala C: Aviación de Ejército

The army directly operates some observation aircraft themselves, and this ability will also be expanded in the future. Each of the four extant Infantry Divisions (I, II, III and IV) operate an Ala Observación (Observation Wing), though only one is at full strength (the I Division). It is planned to re-equip each of these wings with new ACdA AeEO.20 light utility aircraft as more are produced.

Parte Dos: Aviones y Equipo

Cláusala A: Aviones

Cazas

The National Air Force is greatly indebted to the Union of Britain and their generous provision of 20 Hawker Hurricanes and 50 Gloster Gladiators. These modern aircraft give us a decisive edge in both defensive and offensive combat in South America. The Hawker Hurricanes we have received will be armed with eight 7mm Modelo 1931 Aeronave machine guns, while the Gloster Gladiators will be armed with four of the same type of gun. This type of gun, with its high (1100 RPM) rate of fire and large drum magazine will be deadly against enemy aircraft.

With the arrival of these modern fighters, our old ACdA DN.28s will become surplus to requirements and will be provided to friendly Peru and Argentina.

Bombarderos

The National Air Force formally requests to purchase 64 Ki-32 light bombers from the Empire of Japan. These light bombers will be useful for attacking point targets and performing interdiction patrols. We request that these aircraft be provided unarmed to allow us to arm them ourselves. Further, we request that these aircraft be supplied with 40 surplus Kawasaki Ha-9-IIb liquid cooled engines, for possible repairs in the future.

The National Air Force formally requests to purchase 42 Mitsubishi G3M2 Model 21 medium bombers and 16 Mitsubishi L3Y1 Model 11 armed transport aircraft from the Empire of Japan. The G3M2 medium bomber, with its naval capability, will serve as an important counter to any naval aggression in the region, while the L3Y1 will be an important facet of the National Air Force's transport commitment. As usual, we request these aircraft be supplied unarmed so that we can arm them ourselves. In addition, we request 100 surplus Mitsubishi Kinsei engines to be provided along with these aircraft.

Aviónes de Patrulla

Naval Aviation would like to purchase 12 H6K2 Model 11 patrol bombers and 6 H6K2-L unarmed transports from the Empire of Japan. These brand new types would be greatly useful to our new Naval Aviation wing and provide great patrol ability and striking power up and down the coasts of South America. We request that these planes all be provided unarmed to allow us to arm them locally, as well as requesting an additional 20 Mitsubishi Kinsei engines for spares to be provided along with these aircraft.

Naval Aviation would also like to purchase 40 Mitsubishi F1M2 reconnaissance seaplanes from the Empire of Japan. These seaplanes would be placed aboard the new Revolución class cruisers, as well as used by our seaplane tenders for reconnaissance, artillery spotting and light harassment duties.

Aviónes de Transporte

To expand our transport fleet, we would like to issue a specification to Japanese industry to produce a new type of transport plane. We request the production of a large, multi-level trimotor transport plane, capable of carrying up to 40 troops, or capable of being used as a bomber with a bombload of 4,000 kg, with a range of at least 2,000 km. The plane should have a crew of four, with a mixed steel and wood construction. The plane should be equipped with three of the same Mitsubishi Kinsei engines used on the H6K2 and G3M2 bombers. We expect this plane to have very good performance, and that it will be well within the manufacturing capability of the Japanese aircraft industry.

Since this plane will be a brand new design, we plan to purchase 80 of this type, as well as purchasing 8 of a civil variant of this type equipped with 14 seats for service with LAN-Chile, our national airline. Some of these planes may be provided to friendly nations, and, if successful, FAN plans to purchase more of this type in the future.

Aviónes de Observación

A new type of Observation and Utility Aircraft, the ACdA AeEO.20, is being developed by ACdA with initial prototypes expected by the end of the year. This aircraft, designed to be small and lightweight with the ability to take of from short runways, is expected to be important for observational purposes in any future war. Production is expected to reach five units per month, with materials permitting, by the middle of 1938, and it is expected this aircraft will be provided to friendly militaries.

Planeadores

In collaboration with Argentine aviation engineers, ACdA also announced a program to develop an assault glider, the ACdA PdA.25 "Mañque" (vulture). It is planned that this glider, which will hold 13 troops and be constructed of locally-available woods, will be the basis of a new air force glider force that will prove highly effective in future wars in South America, due to the lack of comparable forces by the enemy. Several planes in the Chilean inventory already have the ability to tow this type of glider, and can easily be converted to that role.

Cláusala B: Equipo

Cañónes Automático y Ametralladoras

For use in aircraft, we plan to convert two of our ground-based weapons into air-based weapons. To do this, we will develop drum magazines for the FAMAE 25mm AA gun and the FAMAE Model 1929 13.2mm gun. While these drum magazines will provide around 50 rounds for the 25mm gun and around 120 rounds for the 13.2mm gun, we feel they will both be useful offensive and defensive weapons to place in our fighters and bombers. The technology for this drum magazine will be adapted from those provided by the Federation of French Communes with their FAMAE Modelo 1931 license.

Bombas y Minas

The state armament industry, FAMAE, in concert with the Argentinian Fabricaciones Militares, have announced a collaborative effort to develop improved bombs and air-dropped naval mines. Reverse-engineered examples of 50, 100, and 250 lbs will be improved and will expand to include 500 and 1000 lb bombs in the future. In addition, air-dropped naval mines are planned to be developed using new parachute technology.

Conclusión

As with our recent Army Expansion plan, the expansion of the air force will mostly be paid for through previous trading arrangements and currency payments. We hope that this large and varied aircraft expansion will upgrade our air force from a small, locally powerful force to one that can project force across the southern hemisphere. In particular, we feel the massive expansion of our transport fleet will prove a decisive advantage in future battles.