Field Firing Range of Alcochete The Field Firing Range of Alcochete ( , CTA ) is a military firing and bombing range located in Alcochete , in Setúbal , Portugal , and is ( since 1993 ) , a unit of the Portuguese Air Force ( PoAF ) . It covers 7 , 539 hectares and provides the PoAF and other branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces , national law enforcement agencies and defense industries , with the necessary space and safety to execute exercises , training and testing involving live ammunition and weapon systems . As part of its activities , the range has a permanent bomb disposal unit and its security is handled by the " Polícia Aérea " . The range is also home to a natural reserve which helps preserve flora and the existing wildlife , such as partridge , wild boar , little bustard , fox , common genet and rabbit . For preservation of its surroundings and natural life , the range has obtained an environmental management certificate ( ISO 14001 ) , in 2001 , which has been regularly renewed over the years . Since 1998 the range also has a photovoltaic plant that powers its facilities . History . The range was created by royal decree on March 24 , 1904 , but dates back to 1896 , when the Portuguese Army started acquiring the land necessary to establish a new artillery firing range . It was created mainly because the then existing range at Vendas Novas was not large enough to safely train with new artillery pieces being taken into service . Its first operational use was on September 18 , 1904 , when it was employed in testing the recently acquired French Schneider - Canet Bocage howitzers . After reorganization of the Ministry of War , the area was later seen as unnecessary and its sale was considered , thus it was abandoned and had its equipment transferred to the School of Applied Artillery at Vendas Novas . In 1911 , with a reorganization of the Army , the range was put under the command of the Army ' s Arsenal ( ) for testing equipment and ammunition manufactured or adapted by the Army ' s workshops and units . Two new ranges were then established . In 1912 the field firing range began to be used to test both national and foreign ammunition manufactured by " Fábrica Militar de Braço de Prata " , a weapons factory that at the time was part of the Army ' s Arsenal . In 1933 , " Fábrica Militar de Braço de Prata " took control and command of the field firing range and expanded its infrastructure . During World War II , as part of the Barron Plan ( ) , the range was mainly used for storing anti - aircraft ammunition and artillery to aid in the aerial defense of the capital ( Lisbon ) and nearby military installations . This led to the range being transferred to the command of the Artillery Arm Directorate , integrated in the 1st Air Defense Group of Lisbon , and most of the complex ' s installations being abandoned after the end of the war . In 1954 , the range was assigned to the State Aeronautics Sub - secretary , which oversaw the then newly formed Portuguese Air Force , and its firing ranges were only used for air - to - ground combat training . This use of the area led to the construction of new bombing ranges with targets for air - to - ground machine gun , bombing and rocket fire , as well three control and observation towers , warehouses , ammunition depot s and an airstrip . At the end of 1955 , a new reorganization of the Armed Forces assigned the range to the command of the National Defense General - Secretary while the administration was assigned to the Ministry of the Army . The unit was reassigned to provide support in the training of pilots and air crews in live fire and bombing , as well in the study and testing of ammunition , explosives and gunpowder . At this time the " Fábrica de Braço de Prata " had signed a contract to supply the United States Army with artillery ordnance . As such , new facilities were built at the Alcochete field to allow the testing of projectiles . With the beginning of the Ultramar War , Alcochete was equipped with five long - range radio antennas that allowed communications between the continent and the Portuguese military forces stationed in Angola , Guinea , Mozambique and Timor . In 1970 , West Germany ' s Air Force was given temporary and transitional access to the field firing ranges at Alcochete as part of an agreement in which it maintained a training facility in Portugal , due to airspace limitations for military training in its country . In 1980 , as part of a new agreement between the two countries , activity on the range was divided between Portuguese and West German units , which gave more access and dedicated areas to German training units in exchange for West Germany financing further development of the infrastructure in the area . The range received new equipment and upgraded existing facilities for ballistics testing and started negotiations to expand its area in 1980 . With the dismantling of the Portuguese ammunition and weapons manufacturing industry in the 1990s , all equipment and facilities connected to this sector were removed and the focus of the area changed to only serve as a firing and bombing range and for military maneuvers . On February 26 , 1993 , the range was integrated into the Air Force , under the control of the Air Command ( " COFA " ) . The designation was changed from " Campo de Tiro de Alcochete " ( CTA ) to " Campo de Tiro " on September 15 , 2010 . In 2007 , the 81st Fighter Squadron made use of the air - to - ground firing ranges while deployed to Monte Real Air Base . Current users . The field firing range is currently used by all branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces for military maneuvers involving units preparing for deployment , evaluation of new equipment , large scale military exercises and Explosive Ordnance Disposal ( EOD ) training . In addition to the Air Force units undergoing training and live ammunition exercises , the field firing range is also used by 552 Squadron for helicopter gun - mounted machine gun and cannon live fire training ; 201 and 301 Squadron also use it for both air - to - air and air - to - ground training . This involves the firing of Mk - 82 , Mk - 84 , GBU - 12 Paveway , GBU - 49 , GBU - 31 , GBU - 33 and Mk - 106 ordnance . In addition , the range has an all - terrain track certified by the National Firefighter School ( ) which is used for training by the Air Force ' s rescue and firefighting units . The Portuguese Army makes further use of the complex for mortar and artillery training and MILAN anti - tank missile instruction courses . Airborne units make use of the area for parachute jumps due to the field ' s proximity to the Montijo Air Base , where the Air Force ' s C - 295 and C - 130 transport aircraft are based . The Portuguese Navy ' s Marine Corps use the field ' s firing range for small arms and heavy weapons fire training . The National Republican Guard ' s " Companhia de Operações Especiais " and subunits of the Infantry Regiment make use of the range for small arms fire , EOD and tactical training . The " Grupo de Operações Especiais " and " Corpo de Intervenção " , of the " Polícia de Segurança Pública " ( PSP ) , use the range for anti - riot training . The PSP ' s Setúbal District Command also makes use of the area ' s firing range for civilian firearms carry license courses .