3rd Army Aviation Command The 3º Batalhão de Aviação do Exército ( 3º BAvEx ) Esquadrão Pantera , is a unit of the Brazilian Army , the most recent air units encountered in Army Aviation , being created in August 17 of 1993 . Performs attack missions , reconnaissance , security , raid , medical evacuation , artillery shooting aid , infiltration and exfiltration of troops in combination with other units of the Brazilian Army and the other military services . Also performs actions for the benefit of other organs of the Federal Government , given also to state and local governments in cases of public calamity , transportation of patients and social actions . It features two squadrons : A Reconnaissance and Attack Squadron , consisting of aircraft HA - 1 Fennec armed with rocket launchers seventy millimeters and with axial . 50 caliber machine guns ( 12 . 7mm ) and a General Employment Squadron , consisting of aircraft HM - 1 Pantera armed with machine guns and missiles in the sides . Currently , the squadron is based in Base Aviation of Taubaté , But with his change was announced for Campo Grande , Mato Grosso do Sul . History . Through Decree No . 2961 of January 20 , 1941 , was created the Ministry of Aeronautics and extinguished the Air Corps of the Navy , Army Air Force Weapon and the National Aeronautics . The Army Aviation rose by Decree No . 93 , 206 of September 3 , 1986 with the creation of the First Squadron of the Army Aviation in Taubaté , in the state of São Paulo . After successive reorganizations , on January 1 , 2005 the Aviation Squadron became known as Aviation Battalions , with the structure basically composed of a Command and Service Company , two companies Helicopter Employment General to perform mainly airmobile operations and a Maintenance and Supply Company . As members of Rapid Action Force ( FAR ) , the Army Aviation Battalions , within its capabilities , canm act anywhere in the country . The Third Battalion of the Army Aviation ( 3rd BAvEx - Panther Battalion ) was established on August 17 , 1993 , and is also based in Taubaté , São Paulo . The Panther Battalion is part of the Rapid Action Force ( FAR ) of the Army , whose mission is to act quickly where therein conflicts within the country , providing support to actions to combat , combat support and logistics operations . In addition to these missions in support of the Army , the 3rd BAvEx also stands for Missions YamTues humanitarian , medical evacuation and community support , including situations of public emergency . Aiming to serve the western region of Brazil , especially the borders with Bolivia and Paraguay , the Brazilian Army is transferring the 3 BAvEx Taubaté to Campo Grande , Mato Grosso do Sul On January 17 , 2009 , landed in the barracks of the Western Military Command five HA - 1 Fennec helicopters , initiating activities of the Detachment Jabiru in Campo Grande . Installed temporarily and using a collapsible hangar , the Jabiru Detachment maintains their normal activities while awaiting the completion of the works of its permanent headquarters to be built in a wide area near the airport of Campo Grande . = Helicopters used by the 3rd BAvEx = Helicopters Helibras ( Eurocopter ) HA - 1 Fennec used by the 3rd BAvEx are military versions of the Beechcraft civil AS350 Ecureuil designed and assembled by Eurocopters in Brazil by Helibras as HB350 L1 Esquilo , equipped with a turbine of 625 shp Turbomeca Arriel and armed with rocket launchers SBAT seventy mm and . 50 caliber machine guns thrust ( 12 , 7 mm ) . In Army Aviation are used primarily to fulfill reconnaissance and attack . Para fulfill tasks of medical evacuation and transportation of external loads , the HA - 1 can be equipped with an external hook up to 750 kg and 136 kg winch to side . Helicopters Eurocopter HM - 1 Pantera are the twin - engine AS365 K side armed with machine guns 7 . 62 mm . Conceptually , the Panther is a helicopter maneuver of Army Aviation , with the primary mission of transporting troops in airmobile operations . Due to its characteristics , can also be used in secondary missions such as reconnaissance , electronic warfare support , search and rescue , air evacuation and cargo transport . Powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 1M1 653 shp , carrying seven soldiers , in addition to its crew . It can carry up to 1 , 600 pounds of external load on a winch under the fuselage .