The Mozambican Air Force successfully completed its first Forward Air Controller training course of 2026 this Monday in Maputo.
Major General Cândido José Tirano led the graduation ceremony alongside military personnel from the European Union Military Assistance Mission.
This rigorous four-month program marks a crucial milestone in strengthening the air-to-ground integration capabilities of national defense forces.
Trainees endured a demanding regimen split into foundational field operations and highly specialized tactical air control phases.
The basic phase equipped soldiers with essential battlefield survival skills, tactical combat casualty care, and precision combat shooting.
Students then transitioned into advanced specialization, mastering close air support planning, aerial reconnaissance, and complex airspace communication.
The intensive course culminated in a realistic operational assessment to validate the safe, effective coordination of active air power.
This milestone significantly enhances institutional capability, allowing the military to independently support ground maneuvers during high-pressure combat deployments.
Notably, the training was conducted entirely by local instructors, showcasing a major leap forward for domestic military instructional autonomy.
Such localized expertise remains vital as defense forces continue countering the ongoing, complex extremist insurgency in northern Cabo Delgado.
The European Union mission operates on a non-executive mandate to foster long-term self-sufficiency across Mozambique’s armed forces.