The Monte Real Airbase 5 (in Portuguese, Base Aérea 5 - BA5) was created in 1959 and it is located in the centre of the country at about 10 Km from the sea.

In 1959 the first Portuguese F-86F Sabre squadron was transferred to Monte Real and a second F-86F squadron was formed. These two squadrons became part of the new Operational Group 501 which totaled 50 F-86F combat aircraft. This number was later increased to 65 fighters which were the first aircraft to operate from the Airbase.

Besides the F-86F Sabre the Airbase operated the following aircraft:

• Fiat G.91 (from 1966 to 1973)
• T-33A Shooting Star and T-38A Talon (from 1974 to 1987)
• A-7P Corsair II (from 1981 to 1999)

In 1993, the 201 Squadron was activated and equipped with F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters. This squadron resumed the mission of Air Defense. From 2002 to 2013 the fleet of 40 F-16 was locally upgraded with the Mid-Life Update (F-16AM and F-16BM). Work on the Portuguese Air Force's F-16 Mid-Life Update program was entirely carried out at the workshops at Monte Real Air Base.

The Air Base currently operates the 201 Fighter Squadron "Falcões" (Falcons) and the 301 Fighter Squadron "Jaguares"(Jaguars) equipped with F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon, with a total of 30 aircraft.

Monte Real Air Base

Portugal - September 2014