Aircraft from the Air Forces of Brazil, Chile and Argentina participate in an expositionAircraft from the Air Forces of Brazil, Chile and Argentina participate in an exposition

KC-390 Millennium and F-5M were some of the aircraft on display to the public during the event that took place this Saturday (15), in Antofagasta, Chile

Air Force Agency, by Lieutenant Flávia Rocha and Major Oliveira Lima

Aircraft from the Air Forces of Argentina, Brazil and Chile participated, this Saturday (10/15), in a static display as part of the Multinational Exercise Salitre 2022, one of the largest air combat training exercises in South America. The event, attended by about 1,500 people, took place at the Cerro Moreno Air Base, in Antofagasta, northern Chile.

The exhibition included aircraft from the Brazilian Air Force (FAB): F-5M and KC-390 Millennium; from the Chilean Air Force (FACh): F-16, A-36 Toqui, MH-60M Black Hawk and Bell 412 helicopters; and two aircraft from the Argentine Air Force (FAA), IA-63 Pampa III and A-4R Fightinghawk.

The activity was attended by local authorities, representatives of the Armed Forces, Police and Security Forces, Firefighters, aeroclubs, educational establishments, among others.

“This event is very important for us, so that we can further foster the bonds of friendship between our Forces,” underscored Exercise Salitre’s Co-Director and Chilean Air Force Operations Director, Air Brigade General Máximo Venegas.

The Chief of the Argentine delegation in Exercise Salitre and Chief of the Sixth Airborne Brigade of Argentina, Commodore Aníbal Leiva, also commented on the event. “The Open Day is important for people to have access to the different aircraft of the three countries and to learn more about the aeronautical industry and military aeronautical activity,” he said.

One of the FAB military personnel present at the activity was Captain Aviator Guilherme, a pilot from the First Fighter Aviation Group (1st GAVCA). “The event was an excellent opportunity to promote the FAB aircrafts, interact with the public and get to know a little more about the Argentinean and Chilean Air Forces”, he emphasized.

One of the visitors was Maria Paz Obando, an employee of the Chilean Air Force, who attended the event with her husband and three children. “We live in Antofagasta, but we never had the chance to see the planes up close, especially the aircraft from other countries. The children enjoyed it very much,” she said.

SALITRE IV

The Salitre 2022 exercise seeks the exchange of experiences and knowledge among its participants, besides strengthening the bonds of friendship and mutual cooperation among the human and material resources of the Air Forces of Argentina, Brazil and Chile, a delegation of the United States Space Force, Special Forces of the Air Force of that same country, as well as observers from Canada, Peru, Mexico and Uruguay.

The objective of Exercise Salitre is to expand cooperation and relations among the Air Forces involved, increasing their interoperability through common planning in a NATO format. The event is also an opportunity for training crews, command and control systems, as well as logistics systems and Defense personnel.

This is the fourth time that FAB is participating in the exercise, the last version of which was held eight years ago, in 2014. In this edition, the Brazilian delegation is formed by 75 military personnel and counts on the participation of seven FAB aircraft, belonging to the First Fighter Aviation Group (1°GAVCA) – Jambock and Pif-Paf Squadrons; the First Squadron of the Fourteenth Aviation Group (1º/14th GAV) – Pampa Squadron; the First Troop Transport Group (1º GTT) – Zeus Squadron; and the First Squadron of the First Transport Group (1º/1st GT) – Gordo Squadron.

Photos: Petty Officer Joelson NERY / CECOMSAER *** Translated by the DEFCONPress FYI Team) ***

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