Air Force acts in monitoring, air defense and logistical airlift missions
Air Force Agency,by Capt. Emília Maria
On Monday (22), an H-60L Black Hawk aircraft from the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) supported the Federal Police (PF) in an action that resulted in the destruction of an aircraft used for illegal mining in the Yanomami Indigenous Land region. The action is part of the FAB’s support for the PF in the context of Operation Liberation, which collects or dismantles materials used in the logistics or security of illegal miners.
Over the next two months, the FAB, through the Aerospace Operations Command (COMAE), will also distribute 15,000 food baskets to indigenous communities in the region. The action is coordinated by the Ministry of Defense, in accordance with Ordinance 263 of January 16, 2024, and aims to distribute food on an emergency basis, through the Catrimani Joint Operational Command, activated between January 17 and March 31, 2024.
To provide aerological support for Operation Catrimani, the FAB has so far deployed two C-105 Amazonas aircraft: one from the First Squadron of the Ninth Aviation Group (1º/9º GAV – Arara Squadron) and one from the First Squadron of the Fifteenth Aviation Group (1º/15º GAV – Onça Squadron), located in Manaus (AM) and Fleet (MS), respectively, which deliver around 140 baskets per flight.
In addition, four C-98 Caravan aircraft are carrying out missions in support of the operation: two from the Seventh Air Transport Fleet (7th ETA – Cobra Squadron), located in Manaus (AM), one from the First Air Transport Fleet (1st ETA – Tracajá Squadron), located in Belém (PA), and one from Boa Vista Air Base (BABV).
On Friday (19/01), the first 600 baskets delivered by the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (FUNAI) arrived at BABV. From there, FAB aircraft transported the food to the Surucucu indigenous area, from where the baskets will be distributed with the support of Armed Forces helicopters. The FAB is expected to launch around 300 food parcels a day from the Surucucu support base.
Airspace monitoring
Monitoring in the region was intensified in 2023 through the activation of the Air Defense Identification Zone (ZIDA) over the airspace overlying and adjacent to the TIY, in order to increase actions to crack down on illegal mining.
The ZIDA remains activated and the planned overflights are authorized, provided that the regulatory flight plan is completed and the air traffic rules are followed, in addition to the technical observations available to all crew members, in particular NOTAMs G2260/23 and G2261/23.
The Aerospace Operations Command (COMAE) uses the existing radar network to control the airspace and, in addition, has carried out unannounced Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (IVR) operations, mainly with E-99 radar planes, which significantly increase the coverage capacity of the FAB’s day-to-day monitoring.
“This is a dynamic scenario and a complex operation, in the light of the legislation and protocols in force, in an area corresponding to the size of Portugal,” says Colonel Leonardo Venancio Mangrich, from COMAE’s Joint Aerospace Operations Center (CCOA). “Any flight monitored by Brazilian airspace control is systematically subjected to identification processes and, if necessary, air defense aircraft are used. This work is carried out throughout the country,” he added.
Photos: FAB *** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***