The Portuguese Paratroopers are an elite infantry assault force, representing the bulk of the airborne forces of Portugal. They were created in 1956 as part of the Portuguese Air Force, being transferred to the Portuguese Army in 1993. Presently, most of the Paratroopers are part of the Portuguese Rapid Reaction Brigade which comprises all 3 special forces troops.
Portuguese Paratroopers during NATO Trident Juncture 2015 exercise
The first female paratrooper nurses and an instructor in 1961
Paratroopers being launched from an Alouette III helicopter in an air-mobile assault in Angola in the early 1960s
Paratroopers after conducting a high altitude low opening (HALO) jump in multinational airborne training (2018)
The Portuguese Air Force is the aerial warfare force of Portugal. Locally it is referred to by the acronym FAP but internationally is often referred to by the acronym PRTAF. It is the youngest of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces.
Captive balloon being employed at the Army Engineering School in the beginning of the 20th century
Portuguese Farman F.40 in Mozambique, during the East African Campaign of World War I
The Bréguet 16 Pátria, used by Army aviators Sarmento de Beires, Brito Pais and Manuel Gouveia in the first air connection between Portugal and Macau
A Vickers Valparaiso III light bomber operated by the GEAR
