Esquadra de Busca e Salvamento 751

Also known as The Pumas, Esq 751 is primarily a SAR helicopter unit, which also has a light-medium lift capability.

Esq 751 also maintains SAR detachments at Lajes in the Azores and Porto Santo in Madeira, so that the FAP can provide cover for Maritime Search & Rescue over its 5.8M km² assigned area, (equivalent to more than half the area of Europe). On 1 Aug 2016, a second Merlin was permanently detached to Lajes.

Between 7 and 17 Sep 2018, the unit undertook its first Missão ao Estrangeiro, when it visited and displayed at Kleine Brogel (Belgium), Gilze-Rijen (Netherlands) and Merville (France) before returning to Montijo.

The unit has achieved a number of significant milestones, since its formation on 28 Apr 1978:

• On 4 Mar 2015, it was awarded the Sikorsky Humanitarian Service Award, for outstanding service in using helicopters to provide aid to those in need
• on 29 Sep 2017, it was the first ever Squadron to be admitted to the Portuguese Ordem Militar da Torre e Espada and
• on 20 Jan 2023, Esq 751 rescued its 5000th life.