Post war, Beech AT-11, Fairchild PT-19, Boeing Stearman and Vultee trainers were obtained. After joining the Organisation of American States in 1948, c-47 transports and North American T-6 Trainers were provided, followed by 6 Vought F4U Corsair and 6 North American F-51D Mustang fighter bombers for two squadrons, and Beech T-34 trainers.

Jet equipment arrived much later, second hand Dassualt Ouragan fighter bombers and Magister armed jet trainers, followed by Cessna A37B Dragonfly armed trainers and O-2A Super skymasters. COIN operations became increasingly importat during a civil war, during which the government relied heaily on US support, including MD500E and Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopters.

Today a small force the Ouragans and Magisters are grounded, although 6 Magisters are believed to be still airworthy. There are 8 surviving A-37B Dragonfly armed jet trainers and 13 Super Skymasters in a single squadron. A squadron operates 7 MD500D/E and 3 UH-1M armed helicopters, with another operating 18 UH-1H in the transport and SAR role; many more UH-1H are in storage. Eight C-47 have been converted as turboprops for transport and COIN. Other transport aircraft ninclude a VIP DC-6B, an Arava 201, and a Fairchild Merlin IIIB. Training uses 10 ex-Chilean Air Force T-35B, as well as 5 Socata Rallye 235S, 6 Hughes 269 and a T-41D.

A major earthquake during 2000 had a large impact on the economy which has affected further planned equipment purchases.