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Description

The CAV P-1 Mako is a long-range maritime patrol aircraft designed and manufactured by Construcciones Aeronáuticas Venezolanas. Introduced to service in 1965, it has been commonly performing maritime roles such as reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare. The Mako is also capable of carrying air-to-ground munitions to perform ground-attack missions; a small number of aircraft were also equipped to perform ELINT operations.

The P-1 is an adaptation of the four-engined turboprop AC-6 for use as a maritime patrol aircraft for the Venezuelan Navy. It meets a requirement to counter Russian ballistic missile submarines. The Ministry of defense issued a directive on 20 July 1958, calling for a prototype to be ready for trials by the second quarter of 1960. The fuselage, wing, tail unit and engine nacelles were the same as the AC-6 and it had the same powerplant and flight deck. An aerodynamic prototype of the P-1 first flew on 22 August 1960, with the first production aircraft following in September 1964.

In 1970 the Argentine naval aviation began receiving its eight P-1’s, this aircraft became an important asset for the Argentinians in 1986 during the Falklands campaign where they provided cover for Argentinian ships from British submarines and helped to identify enemy ships for Argentine aircraft, this combination proved to be particularly deadly with the arrival of the Mirage 4000s.

Description

The CAV P-1 Mako is a long-range maritime patrol aircraft designed and manufactured by Construcciones Aeronáuticas Venezolanas. Introduced to service in 1965, it has been commonly performing maritime roles such as reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare. The Mako is also capable of carrying air-to-ground munitions to perform ground-attack missions; a small number of aircraft were also equipped to perform ELINT operations.

The P-1 is an adaptation of the four-engined turboprop AC-6 for use as a maritime patrol aircraft for the Venezuelan Navy. It meets a requirement to counter Russian ballistic missile submarines. The Ministry of defense issued a directive on 20 July 1958, calling for a prototype to be ready for trials by the second quarter of 1960. The fuselage, wing, tail unit and engine nacelles were the same as the AC-6 and it had the same powerplant and flight deck. An aerodynamic prototype of the P-1 first flew on 22 August 1960, with the first production aircraft following in September 1964.

In 1970 the Argentine naval aviation began receiving its eight P-1’s, this aircraft became an important asset for the Argentinians in 1986 during the Falklands campaign where they provided cover for Argentinian ships from British submarines and helped to identify enemy ships for Argentine aircraft, this combination proved to be particularly deadly with the arrival of the Mirage 4000s.