Representatives of the Brazilian Armed Forces took part in various activities, including those carried out by the Scenario Cell
Air Force Agency, by Lieutenant Eniele Santos
During the sixth edition of Joint Exercise (EXCON) Tápio, which is taking place at Campo Grande Air Base (BACG), the Chief of Joint Operations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, Army General José Eduardo Pereira, and the Chief of the Air Operations Preparedness Branch (SPOA), Air Brigadier Alessandro Cramer, accompanied by a delegation from the Ministry of Defense (MD), visited the base’s facilities on August 22 to learn about the training’s operational activities. The authorities were able to see details of the activity, whose main function is to train and level up the military personnel who make up the Brazilian Armed Forces, thus promoting interoperability.
The delegation followed the conduct of a mission from the Scenario Cell with the RQ-900 remotely piloted aircraft (ARP), watching, in real time, all the images captured by the aircraft in the vicinity of the city of Aquidauana (located 140 km from Campo Grande), as well as the actions of the military personnel involved.
General José Eduardo, who attended the 2018 edition of EXCON Tápio as Deputy Chief of the Joint Operations Directorate of the Military Ministry (CHOC), highlighted the difference this year’s training makes, since the exercises are attended by more than 700 Brazilian and foreign military personnel.
“It’s very important to have the presence of all three forces here. This is a joint activity and, for the Ministry of Defense, it is essential to have operations of this nature, especially because in real situations, we need the Navy, Army and Air Force to work together, as is the case with Operation Ágata Fronteira Norte, in humanitarian aid in the Yanomami Indigenous Land (TIY), in the state of Roraima (RR),” he said.
After visiting the Scenario Cell, the Head of SPOA, Brigadier Cramer, pointed out that the main objective of EXCON Tápio is, in a joint environment with the three Forces, to train crews, advanced air guides and SAR teams for actions in an irregular warfare environment. “It’s well known that in these situations no single force can operate alone. So we combined the need to train our crews, our medical team and our SAR men with the possibility of interoperability with Special Forces and also with the Army and Navy, in this great joint exercise,” concluded the General Officer.
Observation visit
On the same date and at the same time as the exercise, Foreign Attachés from 23 countries began visiting Campo Grande Air Base on a mission to observe the Midwest. Until August 26, they will have the opportunity to get to know the operations scenario and air power in the region. In addition, they will have demonstrations of air capabilities, observing aircraft in action, as well as strategic equipment and technologies.
Photos: Private André Gomes/ BACG