The Brazilian Air Force has kicked off Exercise Cruzeiro do Sul (CRUZEX) 2024 at Natal Air Base! With 16 participating countries, more than 3,500 military personnel and 100 aircraft, the training, which runs until November 15, aims to improve joint tactics and strengthen the preparation of the Air Units. A war simulation to guarantee the operational excellence of our Armed Forces!
Between Friday (01) and Sunday (03), most of the aircraft scheduled for Latin America’s largest war training exercise landed.
The number of aircraft arriving at the Natal Air Base (BANT), in Rio Grande do Norte, for the Southern Cross Exercise (CRUZEX) was intense this weekend. Between Friday (01) and Sunday (03), most of the aircraft scheduled for Latin America’s largest war training exercise landed.
CRUZEX 2024, which will be held from November 3 to 15, will involve around 100 aircraft and more than 3,600 military personnel in a multinational and operational exercise organized by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) since 2002 and aimed at joint training in conflict scenarios, promoting the exchange of experiences between the participating countries.
This year, 16 countries are taking part, with Brazil using F-39 Gripen, F-5EM, A-1, A-29B fighters, C-105/SC-105 Amazonas transport planes, KC-390 Millennium, E-99M and H-36 Caracal helicopters from the FAB, as well as an A4 from the Brazilian Navy (MB); Argentina, with IA-63 Pampa and KC-130H; Chile with KC-135 and F-16; Colombia with KC-767; the United States with F-15 and KC-46 (767); Paraguay with AT-27 and C-212; Peru with KT-1P and KC-130; and Portugal with KC-390.
Military training runs until November 15 at the Natal Air Base (BANT)
Last Sunday (November 3), the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) kicked off the activities of Exercise Cruzeiro do Sul (CRUZEX) 2024 at the Natal Air Base (BANT). The opening ceremony took place with the initial briefing, in which the Director of the training, Air Brigadier Ricardo Guerra Rezende, gave a briefing on the guidelines and determinations that will be followed.
With a combination of operational skill and coordination between various military units, the training, which runs until November 15, brings together 16 countries, more than 3,500 military personnel and around 100 aircraft with the aim of improving joint tactics and technical training for the Armed Forces.
CRUZEX 2024, conceived by the Preparedness Command (COMPREP), is aimed at maturing doctrine and identifying opportunities for improvement in the preparedness process of the Air Units (UAe) and Aeronautical Units (UAer). During the exercise, participants will face a hypothetical situation of Regular, Regional and Limited Warfare, thus focusing on the fulfillment of Air Force actions.
According to the Preparedness Commander, Air Brigadier General Pedro Luís Farcic, CRUZEX is a fundamental training exercise for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which is based on preparing crews, especially with the arrival of new aircraft and technologies. “The exercise is an opportunity to strengthen ties with the participating partner nations and to collaborate with the training of other countries. The logistical planning that has been carried out is already a training exercise for us, since we are dealing with the challenge of uniting different squadrons and teams for a period of time at the Natal Air Base. In this sense, we involved all the Sectoral Management Bodies to coordinate what was necessary for the execution of CRUZEX, from sending aircraft and equipment to support for feeding our participants, and we will certainly have many lessons learned at the end of this process,” said the General Officer.
Do you know what Regular, Regional and Limited Warfare are?
Regular warfare, also known as conventional warfare, is characterized by direct confrontation between the conventional military forces of two or more states, usually involving formally organized armies with clear divisions. Regular War is also the most likely type of conflict in territorial or political disputes between countries with traditional armed forces.
Regional War involves disputes which, although they may have international impacts, are confined to a specific region or geographical area. And Limited War refers to conflicts in which the use of military force is restricted in a deliberate way, in which the parties involved set clear limits. These conflicts tend to be more focused, such as specific interventions, localized military operations, or precision attacks with smart weapons.
CRUZEX 2024
The exercise will be divided into three stages: the first, called FAM (Familiarization), will consist of familiarization flights in the region, allowing crews to adapt to the Area of Operations; the second, FIT (Forces Integration Training), will promote integration between the various participating Air Forces; and the last stage will involve flights in pre-planned scenarios and with various aircraft, known as Composite Air Operations (COMAO) or Composite Air Missions.
Under the direction of the BANT Commander, Air Brigadier Ricardo Guerra Rezende, CRUZEX 2024 aims to keep up-to-date with tactics, techniques and procedures in composite air missions, preparing our Forces for conventional war scenarios and facing complex challenges. “In addition, I reinforce the importance of the exercise in contributing to world order and peace, as well as maintaining Brazil’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he emphasized.
With a special focus on cyber defense, anti-aircraft defense and satellite control, CRUZEX 2024 promises to be a milestone in the preparation and integration of the Armed Forces of Brazil and its allies, strengthening the operational capacity of the Brazilian Armed Forces, as well as promoting international cooperation, essential in times of crisis and complex military operations.
What’s new for the 2024 edition
One of the main new features is the introduction of CRUZEX Cyber, a cyber simulation designed to improve the security of critical systems that support aerospace operations.
The simulation adopts a Capture The Flag (CTF) model, in which participating forces will be challenged to protect and attack virtual systems. This approach reflects the growing importance of cyber warfare in the contemporary military context, enabling the Armed Forces to deal with emerging threats in this domain.
In addition to the cyber innovations, the FAB will be represented by a diverse fleet of aircraft, including the modern F-39 Gripen fighters – which are taking part in a military exercise for the first time – the F5EM, A-1AM and A-29B, as well as the C-99, C-105/SC-105 Amazonas, KC-390 Millennium and E-99M transport planes and H-36 Caracal helicopters. The Brazilian Navy will also be present with the A4 fighter jet.
In this sense, the Director of CRUZEX 2024, Brigadier Rezende, comments on the relevance of these innovations for the training of the Brazilian Armed Forces and their allies, as well as for international cooperation in times of uncertainty. “The introduction of the cyber domain and the diversity of aircraft allow us to strengthen our capabilities and ensure that we are prepared for current and future challenges,” he concludes.
International participation
The exercise will see the participation of several partner nations, including the United States, Argentina and Chile, which will contribute their own combat and refueling aircraft, such as F-15s, KC-130s and F-16s. This international collaboration emphasizes the importance of military cooperation in a world where threats are increasingly complex.
The Commander of the Chilean Air Force Group, Air Brigadier General Nelson Pardo Ocaranza, who is taking part in CRUZEX 2024, highlights the importance of the exercise and also the challenges it implies for his Force. “Due to the magnitude of the structure and resources participating in CRUZEX, this exercise allows the Chilean Air Force to strengthen interoperability with the other participating air forces. It strengthens our operational readiness, enriching the exchange of knowledge and experience in the use of air power in a multidomain scenario, all under the NATO planning methodology. Without a doubt, CRUZEX is an opportunity that strengthens ties between the participating forces, validating the importance of creating operational spaces for a common purpose,” he concludes.
Photos: Petty Officer Johnson, Sergeant Müller Marin, Sergeant Mônica/ CECOMSAER