This strategic military unit will be commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Ernesto Patiño Camargo, of the army Aviation and native of Bogotá.
With a solemn and imposing military ceremony, the 30th anniversary of the army Aviation was commemorated, at the airfield of the Military Fort of Tolemaida. The event was presided over by General Luis Emilio Cardozo Santamaría, commander of Colombian National Army. Within the framework of this significant commemoration, the Unmanned Aircraft Battalion (BANOT) was activated, a military unit that will be commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Ernesto Patiño Camargo, and will have its command post in the department of Boyacá. This Battalion was born as a response to the challenges of military operation and as a concrete manifestation of the Army's commitment to innovation, efficiency and strategic superiority.
The evolution of conflict and the changing nature of threats require an increasingly adaptable, precise, fast and technologically advanced Force. That is why the activation of this strategic unit represents not only a milestone in modernization, but in the same way a strategic and necessary step to strengthen the resources of the military operation throughout the national territory.
This new battalion will be made up of four specialized companies, each designed with a clear mission and specific resources that, together, integrate an autonomous, robust and highly efficient system:
* The first company, specialized in reconnaissance, will lead to have a detailed and accurate view of the military operations environment, even in areas of difficult access.
* The second company, equipped with fixed-wing aircraft, will provide strategic coverage for prolonged in-depth operations.
* The third company, specialized in electronic countermeasure systems, will strengthen the protection of the platforms against interference or technological threats.
* The fourth company, in charge of specialized maintenance, is working to ensure the permanent availability of these systems, strengthening their military operations and sustainability.
The potential of this Battalion goes beyond the technical. Its creation multiplies the resources in fundamental aviation tasks, such as reconnaissance, surveillance, command and control, security and air support to the movement of troops; in addition, it strengthens the maneuvering capacity of combined arms and special operations, and consolidates the dominance over the area of operations both today and tomorrow.
The Unmanned Aircraft Battalion of the Air Assault Aviation Division of the Army will have its command post in the department of Boyacá. The Colombian Army is ready to face the threats of the present and the future, with innovation, with preparation and with determination.
Source: National Army - Aviation Division Air Assault
